Then: Public schooling in Montecito began in the 1830s when community-minded Victor Juarez began gathering together Montecito's children, all of whom were Spanish-speaking at the time, in his adobe for instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic. His efforts became recognized as important when the numbers grew, and, in 1859 the City of Santa Barbara came up with ten acres of land on San Ysidro Road where a one-room schoolhouse was constructed. The school's population soon outgrew this facility. By 1868, the school's population was reported to be over 200 students and rooms were added to the school. In 1897, the local Santa Barbara newspaper stirred action in the Montecito community by pointing out that "Montecito has the finest grounds and the poorest school house in the county!" So, in 1900, the second Montecito School was built, just south on San Ysidro Road from its original location, a project supported by voters who approved a $5000 bond issue.
Now: The Montecito Union School District is a public elementary school district with one school serving children in grades Kindergarten through Sixth Grades. In 1998, the school was awarded the State of California's "Distinguished School" status. Montecito Union is governed by a five-member board of trustees and administered by a district Superintendent, a Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Students. Enrollment has risen from 264 students in 1983/84 to over 400 students today.