Public school with a magnet program · Santa Cruz City High

Santa Cruz High — Rating & test scores

415 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz · 1,093 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 86

StrongScope Score · 86th percentile. Higher than 86 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 97% of the class graduated in four years (264 of 273); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 273
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is Santa Cruz High a good high school?

Strong. Santa Cruz High is higher than most California high schools on test results and attendance.

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced7269%
Math, Proficient or Advanced8551%
English, Advanced8341%
Math, Advanced9134%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance5819 in 100
Santa Cruz High’s place among California high schools, out of 100Santa Cruz City High’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

In grade 11, spring 2026, 72% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing) and 56% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

Each bar is Santa Cruz High’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11: 258 in English, 261 in math. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English and 413,523 in math tested).

In its own words

What does Santa Cruz High say about itself?

These lines come from the school’s own website. They are the school’s description. They are not parent reviews or test results.

“Here in a the historic center of Santa Cruz, we have created a learning community built on college prep , career training , self-discovery and leadership .”
schs.sccs.net (opens in a new tab), read October 23, 2026

Every line here is from schs.sccs.net, read October 23, 2026.

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

1 of the 5 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Santa Cruz High. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

6 high schools within 4.9 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Pacific Collegiate CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 9698th
  2. Santa CruzScope Score 8686th
  3. SoquelNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 8072nd
  4. HarborNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 7653rd
  5. California Online Public Schools Monterey BayCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 6919th
  6. Ark Independent StudiesSchool of choice · by applicationScope Score 6712th
Santa Cruz City HighCharterMagnet or school of choice

A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats. A magnet or other school of choice takes applications through its district.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

5 of 6 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does Santa Cruz High compare with schools like it?

Santa Cruz High’s Scope Score is 86. 111 California high schools, counting Santa Cruz High, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 84. Santa Cruz High’s result is higher than 64 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 111

  1. Students from low-income families: 27%

    Scope Score 98Strong · 99th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 21%

    Scope Score 97Strong · 98th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 21%

    Scope Score 97Strong · 98th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 18%

    Scope Score 96Strong · 98th percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 20%

    Scope Score 95Strong · 97th percentile

111 California public high schools where 17% to 29% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 17% to 29% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Santa Cruz High’s share. The count includes Santa Cruz High. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

English results were similar to 2025; math results were higher. English went from 69% to 72% and math from 51% to 56%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202660%58%72%Santa Cruz HighThis school64%Santa Cruz City HighDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202635%40%56%Santa Cruz HighThis school39%Santa Cruz City HighDistrict32%CaliforniaCalifornia

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Santa Cruz City High’s line combines its 5 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other schools. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. Santa Cruz City High’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSanta Cruz HighSanta Cruz City HighCaliforniaTested here
201758%60%60%231
201867%59%56%228
201971%69%57%251
202268%64%55%218
202362%64%55%273
202475%67%56%256
202569%65%57%242
202672%64%57%258
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSanta Cruz HighSanta Cruz City HighCaliforniaTested here
201740%35%32%231
201846%35%31%231
201963%48%32%249
202249%35%27%218
202346%33%27%272
202458%38%28%257
202551%35%30%241
202656%39%32%261

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Well above California in both subjects.

English

72%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

11173141
Santa Cruz City High62%California57%

Math

56%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

25192234
Santa Cruz City High38%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 72% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 56% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 16 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school41%31%17%11%258
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Santa Cruz City High31%31%22%16%849
Math, grade 11 · This school34%22%19%25%261
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Santa Cruz City High19%19%23%39%840

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 258 tested in English, 261 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

White students are the largest group here, at 55% of students. 200 of 1,075 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

19in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (200 of 1,075 students).

At the average high school in the Santa Cruz City High district: 25 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 1.1% of students were suspended at least once (12 of 1,087). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

1,093

students in grades 9–12.

White 55%Hispanic or Latino 32%Two or more races 9%Asian 2%Black or African American 2%

Family income

23%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 248 of 1,093. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

56

teachers, with 14 years of experience on average.

4% were in their first year.

86% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

26%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (5 of 19 students).

Santa Cruz City High: 45%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
White55%
Hispanic or Latino32%
Two or more races9%
Asian2%
Black or African American2%
Filipino—
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 46.1 of 53.5 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Hispanic or Latino students here scored well above the same group across California in math.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Low-incomeEnglish · 53 tested58%California 49%
  • Low-incomeMath · 54 tested22%California 23%
  • WhiteEnglish · 151 tested81%California 68%
  • WhiteMath · 153 tested65%California 44%
  • Hispanic or LatinoEnglish · 80 tested51%California 49%
  • Hispanic or LatinoMath · 81 tested33%California 21%

33% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in math (grade 11, spring 2026), against 21% for the same group across California.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs Santa Cruz City Highvs California
Low-income · 53 tested in English, 54 in math
English58%+1147%+949%
Math22%+616%−123%
White · 151 tested in English, 153 in math
English81%+873%+1368%
Math65%+1451%+2144%
Hispanic or Latino · 80 tested in English, 81 in math
English51%+546%+249%
Math33%+1320%+1221%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Santa Cruz City High, and across California. ■ Green: a group that is behind across California does much better here, by 10 points or more and more than twice the margin of error.

Students of two or more races and students with disabilities: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Asian, Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students, English learners and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

97% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 71% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 80% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

71%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

80%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

97%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 264 of 273 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

71%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 193 of 273 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

80%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 210 of 264 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

80% enrolled in college within 12 months · 224 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓22 · 10%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓35 · 16%
  • California community college79 · 35%
  • In-state private3 · 1%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year39 · 17%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 · 0%
  • Not enrolled46 · 21%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
80%enrolled in college within a year

224 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California22 (10%)
  • California State University35 (16%)
  • California community college79 (35%)
  • In-state private3 (1%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year39 (17%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 (0%)
  • Not enrolled46 (21%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 264 of 273 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 193 of 273 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 210 of 264 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
122
Admitted
92
Enrolled
34

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 92 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled 6
  • UC San DiegoApplied 84 · Admitted 18 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC DavisApplied 80 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled 6
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 75 · Admitted 13 · Enrolled 7
  • UCLAApplied 73 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled 4
  • UC IrvineApplied 52 · Admitted 25 · Enrolled 6
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 48 · Admitted 39 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC RiversideApplied 25 · Admitted 21 · Enrolled 3
  • UC MercedApplied 24 · Admitted 24 · Enrolled under 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 122 · Admitted 92 · Enrolled 34
  • Fall 2024Applied 104 · Admitted 72 · Enrolled 37
  • Fall 2023Applied 99 · Admitted 58 · Enrolled 27
  • Fall 2022Applied 128 · Admitted 78 · Enrolled 30
  • Fall 2021Applied 77 · Admitted 49 · Enrolled 21
  • Fall 2020Applied 74 · Admitted 54 · Enrolled 21
  • Fall 2019Applied 63 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled 20
  • Fall 2018Applied 84 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled 20
  • Fall 2017Applied 69 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled 19
  • Fall 2016Applied 58 · Admitted 41 · Enrolled 17

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
149
Admitted
138
Enrolled
41

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 397 · Admitted 142 · Enrolled 75
  • San Diego StateApplied 367 · Admitted 161 · Enrolled 20
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 254 · Admitted 132 · Enrolled 12
  • San José StateApplied 167 · Admitted 133 · Enrolled 19
  • San Francisco StateApplied 164 · Admitted 151 · Enrolled 13
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 154 · Admitted 149 · Enrolled 16
  • Chico StateApplied 147 · Admitted 143 · Enrolled 15
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 90 · Admitted 67 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 85 · Admitted 83 · Enrolled 7
  • Sonoma StateApplied 71 · Admitted 71 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 52 · Admitted 47 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 51 · Admitted 50 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sacramento StateApplied 50 · Admitted 49 · Enrolled 6
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 40 · Admitted 38 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 37 · Admitted 30 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State LAApplied 34 · Admitted 33 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State East BayApplied 27 · Admitted 25 · Enrolled —
  • Fresno StateApplied 27 · Admitted 26 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 15 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled —
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied 9 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled under 6
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 7 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 7 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 149 · Admitted 138 · Enrolled 41
  • Fall 2024Applied 148 · Admitted 146 · Enrolled 48
  • Fall 2023Applied 106 · Admitted 98 · Enrolled 41
  • Fall 2022Applied 139 · Admitted 136 · Enrolled 50
  • Fall 2021Applied 90 · Admitted 79 · Enrolled 22
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 16 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science4
  • Sciences5
  • English2
  • History & Social Science2
  • World Languages & Cultures2
  • Arts1
Every approved AP course16 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 4
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science A
  • Statistics
Sciences 5
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
  • Physics 2
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 2
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
World Languages & Cultures 2
  • French Language and Culture
  • Spanish Language and Culture
Arts 1
  • Music Theory

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
21 students took one

2023–24

Students taking a college course for credit while in high school, often through a community college. Federal Civil Rights Data Collection, school-reported.

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families can answer a short set of questions about Santa Cruz High. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  2. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  3. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

Staff can’t answer for this school yet

We don’t check staff emails for Santa Cruz City High yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.

Ask us to add your district

Money

How much is spent on each student here?

$16,703 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student.

$16,703

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$9,853
The school’s share of district office costs
$6,850
Of the total, from federal funds
$750
  • Santa Cruz High$16,703
  • Santa Cruz City High high schools$18,272
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

The neighborhood

What is the area around Santa Cruz High like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 95060. They are not figures for the families at Santa Cruz High.

Typical household income in a year

$108,591

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 95060.

Typical home value
$1,207,200
People who live in this ZIP code
46,268
Typical age
36.5 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
55%

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 9 questions to Santa Cruz High. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do low-income students get, and how do you know it’s working?22% of low-income students scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (54 students tested); the same group across California: 23%
  2. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  3. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  4. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?
  5. How does this approach show up in an ordinary lesson?From its own words, on how it teaches.
  6. Which grades take part in these programs, and how often?From its own words, on programs.
  7. Which grades learn each language, and for how much of the day?From its own words, on languages.

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into Santa Cruz High, and how do I get in?

Ask Santa Cruz City High which school serves your address.

  1. Elementary
    Link not recorded
    Ask the district about this stage.
  2. Middle
    Scope Score 82Strong · 80th percentile · 2026Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder
  3. High · this school
    Santa Cruz High
    Grades 9–12Scope Score 86Strong · 86th percentile

These links come from past records and from distance. Confirm your child’s school with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map

All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Middle-school links

  • Mission Hill Middle

    Nearby same-district option · distance estimate, not a confirmed feeder

    Scope Score 82 · Strong · 80th percentile · middle · 2026

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking.

Where it is

Where is Santa Cruz High?

Address
415 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz 95060Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Casey DenningAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated March 12, 2025.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Santa Cruz City High which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Santa Cruz High a good high school?

Santa Cruz High has a Scope Score of 86. It scored higher than 86 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Strong, 86th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 19 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 25 in 100 at the average high school in the Santa Cruz City High district. 1.1% of students (12 of 1,087) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 16 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 58% of low-income students in grade 11 at Santa Cruz High scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 16 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 21 students took a college course for credit in 2023–24, by the federal Civil Rights Data Collection

See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

80% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #195 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #1 of 5 in Santa Cruz City High
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate97%6125%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math38%7422%
Ready for college or career (state measure)71%6620%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math60%6818%
Chronically absent18 in 100595%
Suspension rate1.4% (16 of 1,117)595%
English learners: top level36%825%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–258686#195California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–1912 in 1001.6% (19 of 1,175)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2419 in 1003.0% (34 of 1,136)
2024–2518 in 1001.4% (16 of 1,117)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1125841%31%17%11%72%57%+15

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1126134%22%19%25%56%32%+24

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English25841%72%
2026 · Math26134%56%
2025 · English24241%69%
2025 · Math24134%51%
2024 · English25640%75%
2024 · Math25734%58%
2023 · English27326%62%
2023 · Math27220%46%
2022 · English21833%68%
2022 · Math21826%49%
2019 · English25135%71%
2019 · Math24933%63%
2018 · English22827%67%
2018 · Math23124%46%
2017 · English23121%58%
2017 · Math23112%40%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English24269%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math24151%
2024 · Grade 11 · English25675%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math25758%
2023 · Grade 11 · English27362%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math27246%
2022 · Grade 11 · English21868%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math21849%
2019 · Grade 11 · English25171%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math24963%
2018 · Grade 11 · English22867%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math23146%
2017 · Grade 11 · English23158%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math23140%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide26527%35%35%3%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income5358%+11+9
White15181%+8+13
Hispanic or Latino8051%+5+2
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 18 in 100 → 2025–26 · 19 in 100 · +1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 1.4% (16 of 1,117) → 2025–26 · 1.1% (12 of 1,087) · −0.3 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female13 in 10020 in 100+7 in 100
Male10 in 10018 in 100+8 in 100
Asian1 of 420 of 20—
Black or African American1 of 286 of 17—
Hispanic or Latino16 in 10021 in 100+5 in 100
Two or more races7 of 6420 of 96—
White10 in 10017 in 100+7 in 100
Students with disabilities24 in 10024 in 1000 in 100
English learners8 of 3910 of 32—
Military families5 of 27——
Low-income16 in 10025 in 100+9 in 100
All students12 in 10019 in 100+7 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 71% · numerator 193 students classified Prepared · denominator 273 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 64% · AP-pathway numerator 123 · denominator 193 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 193 of 273 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
97%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
64%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
80%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
80%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
202512292343.924.004.07
202410472373.944.014.13
20239958273.954.044.14
202212878303.984.034.11
20217749213.924.074.14
20207454214.034.084.14
20196346203.964.024.06
20188443203.874.034.01
20176938193.804.014.05
20165841173.904.034.04

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley202575137
Berkeley20246595
Berkeley20237095
Berkeley20227965
Berkeley20214973
Davis202580356
Davis202472307
Davis2023622411
Davis202295287
Davis202142203
Irvine202552256
Irvine20244212under 3
Irvine20234010under 3
Irvine20225713under 3
Irvine202129103
Los Angeles20257384
Los Angeles20246075
Los Angeles20236343
Los Angeles20227953
Los Angeles20215074
Merced20252424under 3
Merced20241515under 3
Merced202376under 3
Merced202230304
Merced202177under 3
Riverside202525213
Riverside2024128under 3
Riverside202375under 3
Riverside20221812under 3
Riverside202197under 3
San Diego20258418under 3
San Diego202480174
San Diego202356104
San Diego20229093
San Diego20215517under 3
Santa Barbara202592236
Santa Barbara202475197
Santa Barbara2023629under 3
Santa Barbara20228815under 3
Santa Barbara202156113
Santa Cruz20254839under 3
Santa Cruz202445308
Santa Cruz20234115under 3
Santa Cruz202276215
Santa Cruz202135203
Universitywide20251229234
Universitywide20241047237
Universitywide2023995827
Universitywide20221287830
Universitywide2021774921

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Computer Science Athis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
French Language and Culturethis school
Music Theorythis school
Physics 1this school
Physics 2this school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count37
AP enrollment (male/female)395
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 21 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections8
Physics sections12
Chemistry sections8
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)1,094

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California2210%
California State University3516%
California community college7935%
In-state private31%
Out-of-state, 4-year3917%
Out-of-state, 2-year00%
Not enrolled4621%

224 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 80% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure
School-level federal expenditures$298 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,093

Central federal expenditures attributed here$452 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 1,093

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders1.3%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 95060 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 95060 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$108,591
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)55%
ZIP-area population46,268
Median age36.5 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 95060 →

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Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026