Best High Schools in Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz, CA has 12 high schools with 5,932 students. Below are the top high schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, high schools in Santa Cruz score 49% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 50% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, high schools in Santa Cruz meet expectations.

1. Santa Cruz High

A

SchoolGrade

75%

Actual Test Scores

61%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1092 Students

2. Soquel High

A-

SchoolGrade

65%

Actual Test Scores

57%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 974 Students

3. Scotts Valley High

B+

SchoolGrade

58%

Actual Test Scores

58%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Meets Expectations

Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 690 Students

4. San Lorenzo Valley High

B+

SchoolGrade

53%

Actual Test Scores

55%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Meets Expectations

San Lorenzo Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 643 Students

5. Harbor High

B-

SchoolGrade

45%

Actual Test Scores

44%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Meets Expectations

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1023 Students

6. Costanoa Continuation High

D+

SchoolGrade

25%

Actual Test Scores

35%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 90 Students

7. Santa Cruz County Community

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

54%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Santa Cruz County Office Of Education • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 741 Students

8. Pacific Collegiate Charter

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

54%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Pacific Collegiate Charter District • Charter • Grades 7 - 12 • 533 Students

9. Ark Independent Studies

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

52%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 47 Students

10. Santa Cruz County Court

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

42%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Santa Cruz County Office Of Education • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 65 Students

Best Middle Schools in Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz, CA has 7 middle schools with 2,323 students. Below are the top middle schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, middle schools in Santa Cruz score 36% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 39% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, middle schools in Santa Cruz don't meet expectations.

1. Scotts Valley Middle

A

SchoolGrade

62%

Actual Test Scores

55%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 481 Students

2. Shoreline Middle

D

SchoolGrade

20%

Actual Test Scores

26%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Doesn't Meet Expectations

Live Oak Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 441 Students

3. Mission Hill Middle

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

35%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 544 Students

4. San Lorenzo Valley Middle

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

34%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

San Lorenzo Valley Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 381 Students

5. Branciforte Middle

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

34%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 389 Students

Best Elementary Schools in Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz, CA has 25 elementary schools with 6,310 students. Below are the top elementary schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, elementary schools in Santa Cruz score 47% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 42% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, elementary schools in Santa Cruz exceed expectations.

1. Brook Knoll Elementary

A-

SchoolGrade

61%

Actual Test Scores

55%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 464 Students

2. Vine Hill Elementary

A-

SchoolGrade

58%

Actual Test Scores

55%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 531 Students

3. Tierra Pacifica Charter

B

SchoolGrade

45%

Actual Test Scores

42%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Live Oak Elementary • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 155 Students

4. Happy Valley Elementary

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

56%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Happy Valley Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 120 Students

5. Bonny Doon Elementary

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

50%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Bonny Doon Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 115 Students

6. Santa Cruz Waldorf School

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

50%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Santa Cruz Waldorf School • Private • Grades Pre K - 8 • 140 Students

7. Gateway School

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

48%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Gateway School • Private • Grades KG - 8 • 181 Students

8. San Lorenzo Valley Elementary

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

46%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

San Lorenzo Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 598 Students

9. Good Shepherd Catholic School

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

46%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Good Shepherd Catholic School • Private • Grades Pre K - 8 • 199 Students

10. Pacific Elementary

N/A

SchoolGrade

N/A

Actual Test Scores

45%

Projected Test Scores

Teacher Grade:N/A

Pacific Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 154 Students

Education & Community Snapshot in Santa Cruz, CA

City-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.

Community Factors

Santa Cruz, CA has a total population of 99,163 with 32% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 53% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Students in Santa Cruz, CA

14,773

K-12 Students

High School Graduates

94%

Adults 25+ with HS diplomas

College Graduates

53%

Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher

Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Santa Cruz, CA.

Safety

Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.

Overall Crime Grade

D+

26.90 per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crime Grade

D

5.17 per 1,000 Residents

Property Crime Grade

D

21.73 per 1,000 Residents

Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Santa Cruz, CA.

Connectivity

Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Santa Cruz, CA.

ISP Report Card

B+

Internet Infrastructure Grade

Average Download Speed

3,428 Mbps

Speed Most Residents Can Get

Digital Connectivity Index

79 / 100

ISP Connectivity Demand Report

To read more about these statistics, please visit Santa Cruz, CA Internet Health Assessment.

Best Schools in Cities Near Santa Cruz, CA

Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.

Capitola, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 43%
  • Projected Test Scores: 40%
  • Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Soquel, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 65%
  • Projected Test Scores: 49%
  • Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Scotts Valley, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 58%
  • Projected Test Scores: 52%
  • Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Mount Hermon, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 58%
  • Projected Test Scores: 49%
  • Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Felton, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 58%
  • Projected Test Scores: 54%
  • Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Aptos, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 78%
  • Projected Test Scores: 47%
  • Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Rio del Mar, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 20%
  • Projected Test Scores: 39%
  • Teacher Grade: Underperforms Expectations
Ben Lomond, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 53%
  • Projected Test Scores: 45%
  • Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
La Selva Beach, CA

  • Actual Test Scores: 20%
  • Projected Test Scores: 47%
  • Teacher Grade: Underperforms Expectations