El Camino Junior High

Santa Maria is a working-class Central Coast city with a strong agricultural and Latino community, and El Camino Junior High reflects that hardworking spirit while quietly putting up some of the most modest academic numbers in the state. Families who are navigating middle school options in the Santa Maria-Bonita district will want to look closely at other schools in the area, as El Camino's scores in English, math, and science place it near the lower end of California's rankings. That said, for families already rooted in this neighborhood, the school offers a familiar, community-connected environment during what can be a challenging transition into the teen years.