Best Schools in Santa Cruz County, CA
Santa Cruz County, CA has 111 public schools (22 high, 14 middle, 59 elementary) serving 46,808 students. On average they score 39% on state proficiency tests against a projected 39%, so schools in Santa Cruz County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Santa Cruz County, CA
The top high schools in Santa Cruz County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Saratoga High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Gatos-saratoga Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1194 Students
2. Pacific Collegiate Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pacific Collegiate Charter District • Charter • Grades 7 - 12 • 533 Students
3. Los Gatos High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Los Gatos-saratoga Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2067 Students
4. Scotts Valley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 690 Students
5. Santa Cruz High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1092 Students
6. San Lorenzo Valley High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Lorenzo Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 643 Students
7. Soquel High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 974 Students
8. Diamond Technology Institute
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pajaro Valley Unified • Charter • Grades 9 - 12 • 83 Students
9. Harbor High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1023 Students
10. Aptos High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pajaro Valley Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1360 Students
Best Middle Schools in Santa Cruz County, CA
The top middle schools in Santa Cruz County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. C. T. English Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 167 Students
2. Rolling Hills Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Campbell Union • Charter • Grades 6 - 8 • 861 Students
3. Scotts Valley Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 481 Students
4. Mission Hill Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 544 Students
5. New Brighton Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Soquel Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 648 Students
6. Branciforte Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City High • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 389 Students
7. Shoreline Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Live Oak Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 441 Students
8. San Lorenzo Valley Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Lorenzo Valley Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 381 Students
9. Aptos Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pajaro Valley Unified • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 594 Students
10. Pajaro Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pajaro Valley Unified • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 440 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Santa Cruz County, CA
The top elementary schools in Santa Cruz County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Lakeside Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lakeside Joint • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 73 Students
2. Happy Valley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Happy Valley Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 120 Students
3. Loma Prieta Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 266 Students
4. Westlake Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 472 Students
5. Mountain Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mountain Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 160 Students
6. Vine Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 531 Students
7. Boulder Creek Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
San Lorenzo Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 460 Students
8. Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Santa Cruz City Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 117 Students
9. Brook Knoll Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Scotts Valley Unified • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 464 Students
10. Pacific Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pacific Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 154 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Santa Cruz County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Santa Cruz County, CA has a total population of 270,861 with 28% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 87%, and 42% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Santa Cruz County, CA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Santa Cruz County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
26.56 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.98 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
21.58 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Santa Cruz County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Santa Cruz County, CA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Santa Cruz County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Santa Cruz County, CA
How many schools are in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Santa Cruz County, CA has 111 public schools: 22 high schools, 14 middle schools and 59 elementary schools, serving 46,808 students in total.
How do schools in Santa Cruz County perform on state tests?
On average, 111 schools in Santa Cruz County score 39% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 39%, so on average schools in Santa Cruz County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Santa Cruz County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Santa Cruz County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 26%
- Projected: 25%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 27%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 27%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 22%
- Projected: 26%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 48%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 37%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Santa Cruz County
11 places in Santa Cruz County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (11)
- Santa Cruz (25)
- Watsonville (23)
- Aptos (6)
- Soquel (4)
- Felton (3)
- Scotts Valley (3)
- Boulder Creek (2)
- Capitola (2)
- Freedom (2)
- Ben Lomond (1)
- Davenport (1)
School districts (8)
- Pajaro Valley Unified (33 schools)
- Santa Cruz City High (9 schools)
- Live Oak Elementary (6 schools)
- San Lorenzo Valley Unified (5 schools)
- Santa Cruz City Elementary (5 schools)
- Soquel Union Elementary (5 schools)
- Santa Cruz County Office of Education (4 schools)
- Scotts Valley Unified (4 schools)