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Schools in 95076 — Watsonville, California

95076 has 26 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 27.8 — 16.0 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 15.8 to 50.1, a 34.3-point spread.

Avg Scope Score
27.8
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
34.3
15.8 – 50.1
Avg Exceeded %
5.1%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
26.9%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
26
With Scope Scores

How 95076 schools perform

The top-ranked school is Watsonville High with a Scope Score of 50 and 8.6% of students exceeding standard.

Ceiling effect detected: Schools in 95076 average 17.3% meeting standard but only 5.1% exceeding it. Students are clearing the bar, but few are pushed past it — worth examining school by school.

Chronic absenteeism across 95076 averages 26.9%, below the state average of 18.1%. This elevated rate may indicate systemic attendance challenges in the area.

How 95076 compares to nearby zip codes

Zip CodeCitySchoolsAvg Scorevs 95076
95076Watsonville2627.8
95073Soquel457.8+30.1
95070Saratoga982.3+54.5
95066Scotts Valley360.4+32.7

School archetypes in 95076

7 On the Rise19 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 7 schools in 95076 are classified as On the Rise (7) — 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

All schools in 95076

#SchoolScoreCountyExceededMet+AbsentSusp.
1Watsonville High
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
50Santa Cruz8.6%29.4%20.1%4.0%
2Pajaro Valley High
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
49Santa Cruz5.8%24.4%26.1%3.3%
3Diamond Technology Institute
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
45Santa Cruz13.3%36.9%25.2%3.2%
4Linscott Charter
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
38Santa Cruz11.2%35.3%17.7%0.6%
5Alianza Charter
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
38Santa Cruz12.7%35.9%21.0%1.3%
6Watsonville Prep
SBE - Watsonville Prep Building Momentum
33Santa Cruz12.6%34.5%18.4%1.9%
7New School Community Day
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
30Santa Cruz0.0%3.3%40.5%14.2%
8Bradley Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
30Santa Cruz14.3%29.7%29.5%2.9%
9Watsonville Charter School of the Arts
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
29Santa Cruz5.2%24.5%20.2%1.2%
10Ohlone Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
26Santa Cruz4.3%13.8%25.2%0.6%
11Renaissance High Continuation
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
26Santa Cruz1.5%3.0%61.2%7.2%
12Calabasas Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
26Santa Cruz3.5%15.2%23.4%0.5%
13Rolling Hills Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
26Santa Cruz2.2%13.3%15.7%7.6%
14Starlight Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
25Santa Cruz7.8%23.9%25.5%0.6%
15H. A. Hyde Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
25Santa Cruz4.4%14.5%27.5%1.6%
16Landmark Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
24Santa Cruz2.6%11.6%27.2%3.5%
17Ann Soldo Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
24Santa Cruz3.5%13.9%27.7%0.8%
18Hall District Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
24Santa Cruz2.6%9.0%20.2%2.0%
19Radcliff Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
22Santa Cruz2.1%8.5%20.8%3.6%
20Amesti Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise
21Santa Cruz2.5%9.2%30.9%1.7%
21T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
20Santa Cruz1.9%7.4%29.2%3.1%
22Pajaro Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
20Santa Cruz2.9%12.8%20.7%8.7%
23Mintie White Elementary
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
19Santa Cruz2.2%10.3%28.3%2.5%
24Cesar E. Chavez Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
18Santa Cruz1.6%11.5%33.1%1.5%
25E. A. Hall Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
17Santa Cruz1.0%6.3%32.6%11.7%
26Lakeview Middle
Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum
16Santa Cruz2.0%10.2%30.4%16.3%

Schools in 95076 on the map

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 95076

  • 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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Watsonville good?
Watsonville's 26 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 27.8/100, which is 16.0 points below the California state average of 43.8. 5.1% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights six dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Watsonville?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Watsonville is Watsonville High with a Scope Score of 50/100 and 8.6% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Watsonville schools compare to the state average?
Watsonville elementary schools average a Scope Score of 27.8 vs. the statewide average of 43.8 (16.0 points below). The exceeded rate averages 5.1% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 26.9% vs. 18.1% statewide. Scores range from 15.8 to 50.1, a 34.3-point spread.
How many schools are in Watsonville?
Watsonville has 26 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.