Elementary Schools in Watsonville, California

Below Average2024–25 data25 schools · avg 27.8/100

Watsonville, California has 25 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 27.8/100 — 15.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Watsonville High at 50/100, where 8.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Watsonville schools average 5.2% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.5% (above the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score

27.8

State avg: 43.8

SchoolScope composite

Score Range

34.3

15.8 – 50.1

Avg Exceeded %

5.2%

State avg: 21.6%

CDE CAASPP 2025

Chronic Absenteeism

25.5%

State avg: 18.1%

CDE Attendance 2025

Schools Ranked

With Scope Scores

How Watsonville schools compare

Watsonville's 25 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 27.8 — 15.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. Scores range from 15.8 to 50.1, a 34.3-point spread.

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

Ceiling effect detected: Watsonville schools average 17.8% meeting standard but only 5.2% exceeding it. Most students clear the bar but few are pushed past it — a pattern worth investigating school by school.

Chronic absenteeism in Watsonville averages 25.5%, which is below the state average of 18.1%.

How we score · Scope Score weights exceeded (40%), met (22%), growth (15%), absenteeism (10%), suspension (5%), ELPAC (5%), baseline (3%)

Schools in Watsonville ranked by Scope Score

#	School	Exceeded	Score
1	Watsonville High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	8.6%	Solid 50/100
2	Pajaro Valley High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	5.8%	Developing 49/100
3	Diamond Technology Institute Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	13.3%	Developing 45/100
4	Linscott Charter Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	11.2%	Developing 38/100
5	Alianza Charter Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	12.7%	Developing 38/100
6	Watsonville Prep SBE - Watsonville Prep Building Momentum	12.6%	Developing 33/100
7	New School Community Day Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	0.0%	Developing 30/100
8	Bradley Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	14.3%	Developing 30/100
9	Watsonville Charter School of the Arts Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	5.2%	Needs Support 29/100
10	Ohlone Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	4.3%	Needs Support 26/100
11	Calabasas Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	3.5%	Needs Support 26/100
12	Rolling Hills Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.2%	Needs Support 26/100
13	Starlight Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	7.8%	Needs Support 25/100
14	H. A. Hyde Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	4.4%	Needs Support 25/100
15	Landmark Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.6%	Needs Support 24/100
16	Ann Soldo Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	3.5%	Needs Support 24/100
17	Hall District Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.6%	Needs Support 24/100
18	Radcliff Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.1%	Needs Support 22/100
19	Amesti Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.5%	Needs Support 21/100
20	T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	1.9%	Needs Support 20/100
21	Pajaro Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.9%	Needs Support 20/100
22	Mintie White Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.2%	Needs Support 19/100
23	Cesar E. Chavez Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	1.6%	Needs Support 18/100
24	E. A. Hall Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	1.0%	Needs Support 17/100
25	Lakeview Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum	2.0%	Needs Support 16/100

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.

Private Schools in Watsonville

Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.

Monte Vista Christian School

Brethren · Grades 6-12 · 711 students

12:1Private

Moreland Notre Dame School

Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 263 students

18:1Private

St. Francis High School Salesian College Prep

Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 221 students

13:1Private

Green Valley Christian School

Brethren · Grades Pre-K-8 · 161 students

13:1Private

Mount Madonna School

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-12 · 150 students

5:1Private

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Watsonville

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 25 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 27.8/100, which is 15.9 points below the California state average of 43.8. 5.2% 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 (15.9 points below). The exceeded rate averages 5.2% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.5% 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 25 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.

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