Pajaro Valley Unified
Pajaro Valley Unified has 30 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 30.1/100 — 13.7 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Aptos High at 58/100, where 15.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,608 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.1%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Needs Support 28.8/100 | 19 | 8.0% | 23.7% |
| Middle | Needs Support 19.2/100 | 5 | 1.9% | 26.5% |
| High | Developing 43.2/100 | 6 | 7.5% | 33.2% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Pajaro Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Pajaro Valley Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 43.2.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.8pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.
Consistency: Score range of 42.5 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 26.1%, 8.0pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 4.2%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Aptos High leads the district at 58 with 15.8% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Pajaro Valley Unified
Hidden gems: 9 schools in Pajaro Valley Unified are classified as On the Rise (7) or Growth Engine (2) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Pajaro Valley Unified spends $15,608 per student in current expenditures — $794 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (19)
Pajaro Valley Unified has 19 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 28.8 — 14.9 points below the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +0.8pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Valencia Elementary with a Scope Score of 54 and 32.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valencia Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Growth Engine | Solid 54/100 |
| 2 | Rio del Mar Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Growth Engine | Solid 53/100 |
| 3 | Linscott Charter Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Developing 38/100 |
| 4 | Alianza Charter Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Developing 38/100 |
| 5 | Mar Vista Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 34/100 |
| 6 | Bradley Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 30/100 |
| 7 | Watsonville Charter School of the Arts Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 8 | Ohlone Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 9 | Calabasas Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 10 | Starlight Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 11 | H. A. Hyde Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 12 | Landmark Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 13 | Ann Soldo Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 14 | Hall District Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 15 | Radcliff Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 16 | Amesti Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Needs Support 21/100 |
| 17 | T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 18 | Mintie White Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 19/100 |
| 19 | Freedom Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 16/100 |
Middle Schools (5)
Pajaro Valley Unified has 5 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 19.2 — 21.2 points below the state average of 40.5.
District-wide growth averages +2.2pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Rolling Hills Middle with a Scope Score of 26 and 2.2% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rolling Hills Middle Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 2 | Pajaro Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 20/100 |
| 3 | Cesar E. Chavez Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 4 | E. A. Hall Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 17/100 |
| 5 | Lakeview Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 16/100 |
High Schools (6)
Pajaro Valley Unified has 6 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 43.2 — 4.3 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Aptos High with a Scope Score of 58 and 15.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aptos High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Solid 58/100 |
| 2 | Watsonville High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Solid 50/100 |
| 3 | Pajaro Valley High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 49/100 |
| 4 | Diamond Technology Institute Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 45/100 |
| 5 | New School Community Day Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Developing 30/100 |
| 6 | Renaissance High Continuation Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | Needs Support 26/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Pajaro Valley Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology