Santa Cruz County Public Schools

Santa Cruz County, California

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Total Schools

public schools

Total Enrollment

37,059

students

School Districts

districts

Directory guide

How to use the Santa Cruz County public school directory

Start with the county-level shape, then use the school table for exact records. This directory is built from NCES public school data for California; it is best for narrowing research, checking district context, and finding school records to verify with local sources.

District shape

Santa Cruz County has 19 district entries. Pajaro Valley Unified is the largest listed district in this county slice, with 34 schools.

Community spread

School records are spread across 16 listed communities. Santa Cruz has the most listed schools, with 28 records.

Grade-level mix

Primary schools are the largest listed grade-level group, with 41 schools. Filter the table by level before comparing enrollment or district context.

Choice-program flags

NCES flags 15 schools as charter, magnet, or virtual in this county file: 14 charter, 2 virtual. Confirm eligibility and enrollment rules with the relevant district.

Filter before comparing

Search by school or district name, then narrow by grade level or program flag so the table matches the student stage you are researching.

Open profiles where available

7 schools in this county currently have generated profile pages. Listed-only schools still remain in the NCES directory table.

Verify assignment locally

County directories do not determine attendance zones, transfer eligibility, magnet admission, charter lotteries, or program placement.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Santa Cruz County

Reported Enrollment

37,059

80 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

17% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary41

Middle12

High20

Other10

19 School Districts in Santa Cruz County

Pajaro Valley Unified

Santa Cruz City High

Ocean Grove Charter District

1 school

3,023 students

San Lorenzo Valley Unified

6 schools

2,379 students

Scotts Valley Unified

4 schools

2,166 students

Santa Cruz City Elementary

5 schools

1,723 students

Live Oak Elementary

7 schools

1,689 students

Soquel Union Elementary

5 schools

1,654 students

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

4 schools

1,069 students

Pacific Collegiate Charter District

1 school

533 students

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 data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 83 matching schools

Public schools in Santa Cruz County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
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

ProfileKG–12Charter3,023 students

Watsonville High

Pajaro Valley Unified

Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small

Profile9–12High2,244 students

Pajaro Valley High

Pajaro Valley Unified

Watsonville, 95076 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,489 students

Aptos High

Pajaro Valley Unified

Aptos, 95003 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,360 students

Santa Cruz High

Santa Cruz City High

Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,092 students

Harbor High

Santa Cruz City High

Santa Cruz, 95062 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,023 students

Soquel High

Santa Cruz City High

Soquel, 95073 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High974 students

Santa Cruz County Community

Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small

Record7–12Alternative741 students

Scotts Valley High

Scotts Valley Unified

Scotts Valley, 95066 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High690 students

New Brighton Middle

Soquel Union Elementary

Capitola, 95010 / Suburb: Midsize

Record6–8Middle648 students

San Lorenzo Valley High

San Lorenzo Valley Unified

Felton, 95018 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High643 students

Alianza Charter

Pajaro Valley Unified

Watsonville, 95076 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–8Charter640 students

Rolling Hills Middle

Pajaro Valley Unified

Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle619 students

E. A. Hall Middle

Pajaro Valley Unified

Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle608 students

San Lorenzo Valley Elementary

San Lorenzo Valley Unified

Felton, 95018 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary598 students

Aptos Junior High

Pajaro Valley Unified

Aptos, 95003 / Suburb: Midsize

Record7–8Middle594 students

Cesar E. Chavez Middle

Pajaro Valley Unified

Watsonville, 95076 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle552 students

Mission Hill Middle

Santa Cruz City High

Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle544 students

Pacific Collegiate Charter

Pacific Collegiate Charter District

Santa Cruz, 95060 / City: Small

Record7–12Charter533 students

Vine Hill Elementary

Scotts Valley Unified

Scotts Valley, 95066 / Suburb: Midsize

RecordKG–5Primary531 students

Citeable records

Every public school record in Santa Cruz County

Each school below has a stable directory anchor, so listed-only schools can still be referenced from this county page. Profile links open deeper generated pages when available; directory anchors keep every NCES school record findable without creating thin standalone pages.

Directory records

Showing here

Profile pages

Primary schools

Bonny Doon Elementary
Bonny Doon Union Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
115 students
Listed on this county directory
Happy Valley Elementary
Happy Valley Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Santa Cruz, 95065
Enrollment
120 students
Listed on this county directory
Del Mar Elementary
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
342 students
Listed on this county directory
Green Acres Elementary
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
315 students
Listed on this county directory
Live Oak Elementary
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
352 students
Listed on this county directory
Ocean Alternative Education Center
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
84 students
Listed on this county directory
Tierra Pacifica Charter
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
155 students
Listed on this county directory
Loma Prieta Elementary
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Los Gatos, 95033
Enrollment
266 students
Listed on this county directory
Mountain Elementary
Mountain Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Soquel, 95073
Enrollment
160 students
Listed on this county directory
Pacific Elementary
Pacific Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Davenport, 95017
Enrollment
154 students
Listed on this county directory
Alianza Charter
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
640 students
Listed on this county directory
Amesti Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
456 students
Listed on this county directory
Ann Soldo Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
369 students
Listed on this county directory
Bradley Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
507 students
Listed on this county directory
Calabasas Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
515 students
Listed on this county directory
Freedom Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Freedom, 95019
Enrollment
527 students
Listed on this county directory
H. A. Hyde Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
455 students
Listed on this county directory
Landmark Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
412 students
Listed on this county directory
Linscott Charter
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
259 students
Listed on this county directory
Mar Vista Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Aptos, 95003
Enrollment
344 students
Listed on this county directory
Mintie White Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
521 students
Listed on this county directory
Radcliff Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
441 students
Listed on this county directory
Rio del Mar Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Aptos, 95003
Enrollment
404 students
Listed on this county directory
Starlight Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
447 students
Listed on this county directory
T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
421 students
Listed on this county directory
Valencia Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–6
Location
Aptos, 95003
Enrollment
488 students
Listed on this county directory
Watsonville Charter School of the Arts
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
385 students
Listed on this county directory
Boulder Creek Elementary
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Boulder Creek, 95006
Enrollment
460 students
Listed on this county directory
San Lorenzo Valley Elementary
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Felton, 95018
Enrollment
598 students
Listed on this county directory
Bay View Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
336 students
Listed on this county directory
De Laveaga Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95065
Enrollment
488 students
Listed on this county directory
Gault Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
310 students
Listed on this county directory
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
117 students
Listed on this county directory
Westlake Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
472 students
Listed on this county directory
Brook Knoll Elementary
Scotts Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
464 students
Listed on this county directory
Vine Hill Elementary
Scotts Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Scotts Valley, 95066
Enrollment
531 students
Listed on this county directory
Main Street Elementary
Soquel Union Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Soquel, 95073
Enrollment
413 students
Listed on this county directory
Opal Cliffs
Soquel Union Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Capitola, 95010
Enrollment
3 students
Listed on this county directory
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
Soquel Union Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Santa Cruz, 95065
Enrollment
232 students
Listed on this county directory
Soquel Elementary
Soquel Union Elementary
Record
Grades
KG–5
Location
Soquel, 95073
Enrollment
358 students
Listed on this county directory
Watsonville Prep
Watsonville Prep District
Record
Grades
KG–8
Location
Hollister, 95023
Enrollment
396 students
Listed on this county directory

Middle schools

Shoreline Middle
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
441 students
Listed on this county directory
C. T. English Middle
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Los Gatos, 95033
Enrollment
167 students
Listed on this county directory
Aptos Junior High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
7–8
Location
Aptos, 95003
Enrollment
594 students
Listed on this county directory
Cesar E. Chavez Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
552 students
Listed on this county directory
E. A. Hall Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
608 students
Listed on this county directory
Lakeview Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
438 students
Listed on this county directory
Rolling Hills Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
619 students
Listed on this county directory
San Lorenzo Valley Middle
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Felton, 95018
Enrollment
381 students
Listed on this county directory
Branciforte Middle
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
389 students
Listed on this county directory
Mission Hill Middle
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
544 students
Listed on this county directory
Scotts Valley Middle
Scotts Valley Unified
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Scotts Valley, 95066
Enrollment
481 students
Listed on this county directory
New Brighton Middle
Soquel Union Elementary
Record
Grades
6–8
Location
Capitola, 95010
Enrollment
648 students
Listed on this county directory

High schools

Ceiba College Preparatory Academy
Ceiba College Preparatory Academy District
Record
Grades
6–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
511 students
Listed on this county directory
Pacific Collegiate Charter
Pacific Collegiate Charter District
Record
Grades
7–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
533 students
Listed on this county directory
Aptos High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Aptos, 95003
Enrollment
1,360 students
Diamond Technology Institute
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
83 students
Listed on this county directory
New School Community Day
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
37 students
Listed on this county directory
Pajaro Valley High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
1,489 students
Renaissance High Continuation
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
La Selva Beach, 95076
Enrollment
143 students
Listed on this county directory
Watsonville High
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
2,244 students
San Lorenzo Valley High
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Felton, 95018
Enrollment
643 students
Listed on this county directory
Ark Independent Studies
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
6–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
47 students
Listed on this county directory
Costanoa Continuation High
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
90 students
Listed on this county directory
Delta Charter
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Aptos, 95003
Enrollment
116 students
Listed on this county directory
Harbor High
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
1,023 students
Santa Cruz High
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
1,092 students
Soquel High
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Soquel, 95073
Enrollment
974 students
Santa Cruz County Career Advancement Charter
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Record
Grades
12
Location
Freedom, 95076
Enrollment
163 students
Listed on this county directory
Santa Cruz County Community
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Record
Grades
7–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
741 students
Listed on this county directory
Santa Cruz County Court
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Record
Grades
7–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
65 students
Listed on this county directory
Santa Cruz County ROP
Santa Cruz County ROP
Record
Grades
10–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
0 students
Listed on this county directory
Scotts Valley High
Scotts Valley Unified
Record
Grades
9–12
Location
Scotts Valley, 95066
Enrollment
690 students
Listed on this county directory

Other schools

California Connections Academy Monterey Bay
California Connections Academy Monterey Bay District
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Ripon, 95366
Enrollment
476 students
Listed on this county directory
Special Education Preschool
Live Oak Elementary
Record
Grades
Grades not reported
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
Enrollment not reported
Listed on this county directory
Ocean Grove Charter
Ocean Grove Charter District
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Placerville, 95667
Enrollment
3,023 students
Duncan Holbert
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
Grades not reported
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
Enrollment not reported
Listed on this county directory
Pacific Coast Charter
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
165 students
Listed on this county directory
PVUSD Virtual Academy
Pajaro Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Watsonville, 95076
Enrollment
152 students
Listed on this county directory
Ludlow Preschool
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Record
Grades
Grades not reported
Location
Felton, 95018
Enrollment
Enrollment not reported
Listed on this county directory
SLVUSD Charter
San Lorenzo Valley Unified
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Ben Lomond, 95005
Enrollment
297 students
Listed on this county directory
Alternative Family Education
Santa Cruz City High
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95062
Enrollment
108 students
Listed on this county directory
Santa Cruz County Special Education
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Record
Grades
KG–12
Location
Santa Cruz, 95060
Enrollment
100 students
Listed on this county directory

Santa Cruz County school directory FAQ

Does this list show which Santa Cruz County school serves my address?

No. This is a county-level NCES directory for public school records in California. Attendance zones, transfer policies, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, and program placement must be verified with the local district or school.

What is included in the Santa Cruz County public school directory?

The directory lists 83 public schools from NCES records, including school name, district, grade range, type flags, and enrollment where reported.

Does this page rank the best schools in Santa Cruz County?

No. This page is a public school directory, not a ranking or recommendation. Use it to find records, compare similar school types, and identify district sources to verify locally.

Are private schools included in this Santa Cruz County list?

No. SchoolsByCounty uses NCES public school records for this directory. Private schools, homeschool programs, and some local program options are outside this public-school listing.

Why do some Santa Cruz County schools have profiles while others are listed only?

SchoolsByCounty generates profile pages for a high-enrollment subset of school records. 7 schools in this county currently have profile links, while every listed school remains available in the directory table.

How should I compare school districts in Santa Cruz County?

Start with the 19 district entries, then compare schools with similar grade ranges. County-level lists can include district slices, so use district websites to confirm boundaries and program rules.

What do charter or virtual flags mean in this Santa Cruz County directory?

Charter and virtual flags come from NCES school records. They identify school record types, not admission eligibility, transfer availability, or program quality. Confirm application rules and current program status with the district or school.

← Back to Santa Cruz County Education OverviewCounty school score: 44/100

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.