Vista del Mar Union School District, at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 1, has the largest enrollment it has seen since 2018.

The TK-8 school district, made up of one school, has increased its enrollment from 28 to more than 60 students for the 2023-24 academiic year.

The Vista del Mar District prides itself on having a family atmosphere and small class sizes, said Superintendent Bree Valla.

“We are a family here and can provide a level of support, both academically and emotionally, that wouldn’t be feasible in a larger school,” she said.
 
Even with the increased enrollment, the district is able to maintain a 12:1 student to teacher ratio, Valla said.

“We are excited to have a larger Vista community this year. It provides more opportunities for our students,” Valla said.

Vista now has enough students to participate in additional extracurricular activities. One the students and staff are anticipating is the ability to participate in the Santa Ynez Valley Middle School Sports League for the first time in many years.

Middle school students will be able to compete with other Santa Ynez Valley schools in volleyball, basketball and track.

“The kids are really excited to be able to compete and represent Vista,” Valla said.