Santa Cruz County Schools & Education
Santa Cruz County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
85.7%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
85.7%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,901
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
44/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#50
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Santa Cruz County
Measured School Summary
Santa Cruz County performs at an average level with a school score of 44/100 and a solid graduation rate of 85.7%.
Funding Context
At $7,901 per pupil, Santa Cruz County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 20% below the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 10% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Santa Cruz County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
83 public schools and 19 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
44/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #50 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
85.7%
1.8 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,901
$861 below the state average
School coverage
83
19 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Santa Cruz County has 83 public schools across 19 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Santa Cruz County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Santa Cruz County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#50
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 96% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Pajaro Valley Unified
Elementary to high school visible
16,075 students
31 listed schools in this county slice.
Santa Cruz City High
Middle and high visible
4,383 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Ocean Grove Charter District
Other grade structure
3,023 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Elementary to high school visible
2,379 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Pajaro Valley Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 34 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Santa Cruz County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Santa Cruz County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Santa Cruz County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Community-Focused Learning on the Coast
Santa Cruz County provides 83 public schools for 37,059 students across 19 districts. The system is balanced between 41 elementary schools and 20 high schools, ensuring coverage from the coast to the redwoods. Charter schools play a major role in the local landscape, accounting for 16.9% of all public institutions.
Pajaro Valley Unified Leads the County
Pajaro Valley Unified is the dominant district, managing 34 schools and over 17,000 students. In the charter sector, Ocean Grove Charter serves a massive population of 3,023 students across the region. Watsonville High stands out as the largest traditional campus, providing a home to 2,244 students.
From Coastal Cities to Rural Redwoods
The county offers a diverse geographic mix, with 37 schools in cities and 15 in rural areas. While the average school size is 469 students, the experience varies from the bustling halls of Watsonville High to smaller, specialized rural campuses. This variety allows families to choose between large urban high schools and intimate charter environments.
School Overview
Total Schools
83
in Santa Cruz County
Reported Enrollment
37,059
80 schools reporting
School Districts
19
districts
Charter Schools
14
17% of total
School Level Breakdown
19 School Districts in Santa Cruz County
Pajaro Valley Unified
GuideSanta Cruz City High
GuideOcean Grove Charter District
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Scotts Valley Unified
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Live Oak Elementary
Soquel Union Elementary
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Pacific Collegiate Charter District
83 Public Schools in Santa Cruz County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 7 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 83 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Grove Charter | Profile | Ocean Grove Charter District | Placerville, 95667Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 3,023 |
| Watsonville High | Profile | Pajaro Valley Unified | Watsonville, 95076City: Small | 9–12 | High | 2,244 |
| Pajaro Valley High | Profile | Pajaro Valley Unified | Watsonville, 95076Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,489 |
| Aptos High | Profile | Pajaro Valley Unified | Aptos, 95003Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,360 |
| Santa Cruz High | Profile | Santa Cruz City High | Santa Cruz, 95060City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,092 |
| Harbor High | Profile | Santa Cruz City High | Santa Cruz, 95062City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,023 |
| Soquel High | Profile | Santa Cruz City High | Soquel, 95073Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 974 |
| Santa Cruz County Community | Record | Santa Cruz County Office of Education | Santa Cruz, 95060City: Small | 7–12 | Alternative | 741 |
| Scotts Valley High | Record | Scotts Valley Unified | Scotts Valley, 95066Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 690 |
| New Brighton Middle | Record | Soquel Union Elementary | Capitola, 95010Suburb: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 648 |
| San Lorenzo Valley High | Record | San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Felton, 95018Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 643 |
| Alianza Charter | Record | Pajaro Valley Unified | Watsonville, 95076Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Charter | 640 |
| Rolling Hills Middle | Record | Pajaro Valley Unified | Watsonville, 95076City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 619 |
| E. A. Hall Middle | Record | Pajaro Valley Unified | Watsonville, 95076City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 608 |
| San Lorenzo Valley Elementary | Record | San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Felton, 95018Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 598 |
| Aptos Junior High | Record | Pajaro Valley Unified | Aptos, 95003Suburb: Midsize | 7–8 | Middle | 594 |
| Cesar E. Chavez Middle | Record | Pajaro Valley Unified | Watsonville, 95076City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 552 |
| Mission Hill Middle | Record | Santa Cruz City High | Santa Cruz, 95060City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 544 |
| Pacific Collegiate Charter | Record | Pacific Collegiate Charter District | Santa Cruz, 95060City: Small | 7–12 | Charter | 533 |
| Vine Hill Elementary | Record | Scotts Valley Unified | Scotts Valley, 95066Suburb: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 531 |
Ocean Grove Charter
Ocean Grove Charter District
Placerville, 95667 / Rural: Fringe
Watsonville High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small
Pajaro Valley High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Watsonville, 95076 / Rural: Fringe
Aptos High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Aptos, 95003 / Rural: Fringe
Santa Cruz High
Santa Cruz City High
Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small
Harbor High
Santa Cruz City High
Santa Cruz, 95062 / City: Small
Soquel High
Santa Cruz City High
Soquel, 95073 / Suburb: Midsize
Santa Cruz County Community
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small
Scotts Valley High
Scotts Valley Unified
Scotts Valley, 95066 / Suburb: Midsize
New Brighton Middle
Soquel Union Elementary
Capitola, 95010 / Suburb: Midsize
San Lorenzo Valley High
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Felton, 95018 / Rural: Fringe
Rolling Hills Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified
Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small
San Lorenzo Valley Elementary
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Felton, 95018 / Rural: Fringe
Cesar E. Chavez Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified
Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small
Pacific Collegiate Charter
Pacific Collegiate Charter District
Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small
Vine Hill Elementary
Scotts Valley Unified
Scotts Valley, 95066 / Suburb: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,901
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Santa Cruz County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in Santa Cruz County?
What is the graduation rate in Santa Cruz County?
How much does Santa Cruz County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Santa Cruz County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Santa Cruz County, California?
Santa Cruz County provides 83 public schools for 37,059 students across 19 districts. The system is balanced between 41 elementary schools and 20 high schools, ensuring coverage from the coast to the redwoods. Charter schools play a major role in the local landscape, accounting for 16.9% of all public institutions.
What are the major school districts in Santa Cruz County, California?
Pajaro Valley Unified is the dominant district, managing 34 schools and over 17,000 students. In the charter sector, Ocean Grove Charter serves a massive population of 3,023 students across the region. Watsonville High stands out as the largest traditional campus, providing a home to 2,244 students.
What is the school experience like in Santa Cruz County?
The county offers a diverse geographic mix, with 37 schools in cities and 15 in rural areas. While the average school size is 469 students, the experience varies from the bustling halls of Watsonville High to smaller, specialized rural campuses. This variety allows families to choose between large urban high schools and intimate charter environments.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.