School district · Santa Cruz County

Pajaro Valley Unified schools

Pajaro Valley Unified’s 19 public elementary schools run from the bottom 1% to the 71st percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Elementary · 19 schools

from bottom 1% to 71st · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Rio del Mar Elementary: 71st percentile, Solid
  • Valencia Elementary: 69th percentile, Solid
  • Watsonville Charter School of the Arts: 42nd percentile, Developing
  • Linscott Charter: 37th percentile, Developing
  • Mar Vista Elementary: 29th percentile, Developing
  • Bradley Elementary: 26th percentile, Developing
  • Starlight Elementary: 25th percentile, Developing
  • Alianza Charter: 20th percentile, Needs Support
  • Hall District Elementary: 18th percentile, Needs Support
  • Ohlone Elementary: 16th percentile, Needs Support
  • H. A. Hyde Elementary: 13th percentile, Needs Support
  • Calabasas Elementary: 8th percentile, Needs Support
  • Freedom Elementary: 6th percentile, Needs Support
  • Radcliff Elementary: 5th percentile, Needs Support
  • T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary: 3rd percentile, Needs Support
  • Ann Soldo Elementary: 1st percentile, Needs Support
  • Mintie White Elementary: 1st percentile, Needs Support
  • Landmark Elementary: 1st percentile, Needs Support
  • Amesti Elementary: bottom 1%, Needs Support
12Needs Support
5Developing
2Solid
0Strong

One dot per school.

Middle and high school pictures

Middle · 10 schools

from 1st to 58th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • Linscott Charter: 58th percentile, Solid
  • Ceiba College Preparatory Academy: 57th percentile, Solid
  • Aptos Junior High: 47th percentile, Developing
  • Watsonville Charter School of the Arts: 35th percentile, Developing
  • Lakeview Middle: 29th percentile, Developing
  • Alianza Charter: 17th percentile, Needs Support
  • Cesar E. Chavez Middle: 16th percentile, Needs Support
  • Rolling Hills Middle: 12th percentile, Needs Support
  • Pajaro Middle: 4th percentile, Needs Support
  • E. A. Hall Middle: 1st percentile, Needs Support
5Needs Support
3Developing
2Solid
0Strong

High · 4 schools

from 17th to 82nd · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests

  • Ceiba College Preparatory Academy: 82nd percentile, Strong
  • Aptos High: 51st percentile, Solid
  • Pajaro Valley High: 21st percentile, Needs Support
  • Watsonville High: 17th percentile, Needs Support
2Needs Support
0Developing
1Solid
1Strong

One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 4 of the 29 ranked schools teach two levels, so they appear in more than one picture.

  • 29 ranked schools
  • 3 schools not ranked statewide

Schools around Pajaro Valley Unified

32 listed public schools with mapped locations.

Open full map →

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in Pajaro Valley Unified score highest?

Rio del Mar Elementary is highest, at the 71st percentile.

That’s higher than 71 in 100 of the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Pajaro Valley Unified

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean

Show the other 16 elementary schools
Context

The average elementary school in Pajaro Valley Unified had 19 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.

Middle schools

Which middle schools in Pajaro Valley Unified score highest?

Linscott Charter is highest, at the 58th percentile.

That’s higher than 58 in 100 of the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in Pajaro Valley Unified

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Show the other 7 middle schools
Context

The average middle school in Pajaro Valley Unified had 19 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.

High schools

Which high schools in Pajaro Valley Unified score highest?

Ceiba College Preparatory Academy is highest, at the 82nd percentile.

That’s higher than 82 in 100 of the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Highest in Pajaro Valley Unified

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Show the other 1 high school
Context

The average high school in Pajaro Valley Unified had 19 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.

3 high schools not ranked statewide

Continuation schools and court and community schools enroll students differently from a regular school, so each is compared only with its own kind or not ranked. The others have no statewide percentile this year.

The district

Where does Pajaro Valley Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?

Pajaro Valley Unified spent $24,632 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

The typical California district spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every Pajaro Valley Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.

Spending by function

Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.

Share by function, 2024–25

  • Instruction57%
  • Instruction support17%
  • Student services13%
  • Administration4%
  • Buildings & maintenance8%
  • Other1%

Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.

What the district plans

$68.1 million

planned in its 2026–27 plan for 56 funded actions in 6 goals. That’s 18% of its $374.4 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.

The plan in short

Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 218 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 37% of the money. The plan itself puts 71% of it toward staff.

  • Early Literacy $12.0 million
  • Educational technology $7.9 million
  • Home to School Transportation $5.3 million
  • 53 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help

11 of the plan’s 56 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.

Actions whose titles name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners
  • Reading $12.0 million
  • Math under $0.1 million
  • Catch-up help $2.4 million
  • English learners $2.7 million

Largest of these

  • Early Literacy$12.0 million
  • Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) -$2.0 million
  • Bilingual Stipends$1.6 million
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students

It plans $55.5 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $53.5 million and estimates it spent $52.5 million, $1.0 million (2%) less than planned (our arithmetic).

What changed

The total is $6.5 million (9%) lower than in the 2025–26 plan. We couldn’t match $34.9 million of this $68.1 million plan to individual actions in last year’s plan. These lists cover the rest.

Largest cuts

  • District Parent Engagement Opportunities−⁠$2.0 million
  • Home to School Transportation−⁠$1.4 million
  • Secondary Sports−⁠$1.3 million

Largest increases

  • Educational technology+⁠$6.6 million
  • Community Resources for counseling+⁠$1.4 million
  • Expand CTE Pathways+⁠$746,311

New in the 2026–27 plan

  • Early Literacy$12.0 million
  • College and career development$4.5 million
  • Supplemental Instructional Supports$4.2 million

Ask: What did District Parent Engagement Opportunities pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $2.0 million less?

What its goals measure

Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.

What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure2024–252025–26Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1, 3, 4 and 524%26%up 2 pts
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1, 3, 4 and 517%17%no change
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoals 2, 3, 4 and 526 in 10023 in 1003 fewer in 100
Suspended at least onceGoals 2, 3, 4 and 54.6%4.4%down 0.2 pts

Goal 6 isn’t shown because it tracks named schools.

Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.

The plan’s own titles and amounts
  • Early Literacy · $11,987,034
  • Educational technology · $7,856,294
  • Home to School Transportation · $5,253,934
The full plan6 goals, 72 measures and where the money goes

We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($68.1 million).

Where does the money go?

71% to Goal 1. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.

G2
G5

Change since the 2025–26 plan, same title

  • fell 25% or more
  • fell 10–25%
  • fell 2–10%
  • within 2%
  • grew 2–10%
  • grew 10–25%
  • grew 25% or more
  • new or renamed title
  • not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1PVUSD is committed to providing a high-quality educational program that focuses on raising the overall…$48.5 million71% of action budgets

“PVUSD is committed to providing a high-quality educational program that focuses on raising the overall academic achievement for all students. PVUSD prioritizes college and career readiness, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to succeed in post- secondary education and the workforce” p. 20 ↗

16 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $49.5 million (−⁠$949,882)

Largest funded actions

  1. Early Literacy$12.0 millionaction 1.1 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  2. Educational technology$7.9 millionaction 1.6 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $6.8 million is state funding counted toward those services
  3. College and career development$4.5 millionaction 1.9 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.3 million is state funding counted toward those services
  4. Supplemental Instructional Supports$4.2 millionaction 1.3 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $3.2 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Elementary Visual and Performing Arts$3.6 millionaction 1.27 · p. 158 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

11 more funded actions in this goal

  • Expand CTE Pathways · action 1.12 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$3.5 million
  • Personnel · action 1.23 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$3.3 million
  • Professional development · action 1.4 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $3.0 million is state funding counted toward those services$3.2 million
  • Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) - · action 1.13 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$2.0 million
  • Site-based allocations · action 1.26 · p. 158 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.8 million
  • STEAM and enrichment access for under represented students · action 1.20 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$1.2 million
  • Assessment · action 1.30 · p. 158 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.6 million
  • El Sistema · action 1.19 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
  • Culturally responsive classrooms and teaching · action 1.7 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
  • Early childhood education · action 1.2 · p. 156 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
  • Math supports middle/​high school · action 1.17 · p. 157 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Educational technology+⁠$6.6 million$1.3 million → $7.9 million · p. 156 ↗
  2. Expand CTE Pathways+⁠$0.7 million$2.8 million → $3.5 million · p. 156 ↗
  3. Site-based allocations−⁠$0.6 million$2.5 million → $1.8 million · p. 158 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Early Literacy · $12.0 million · p. 156 ↗new or renamed
  • College and career development · $4.5 million · p. 156 ↗new or renamed
  • Supplemental Instructional Supports · $4.2 million · p. 156 ↗new or renamed
  • Elementary Visual and Performing Arts · $3.6 million · p. 158 ↗new or renamed
  • Personnel · $3.3 million · p. 157 ↗new or renamed
  • Professional development · $3.2 million · p. 156 ↗new or renamed
  • Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) - · $2.0 million · p. 157 ↗new or renamed
  • STEAM and enrichment access for under represented students · $1.1 million → $1.2 million · p. 157 ↗+⁠$40,245
  • Assessment · $609,922 → $599,555 · p. 158 ↗−⁠$10,367
  • El Sistema · $341,550 · p. 157 ↗new or renamed
  • Culturally responsive classrooms and teaching · $240,818 → $249,246 · p. 156 ↗+⁠$8,428
  • Early childhood education · $91,986 → $90,188 · p. 156 ↗−⁠$1,798
  • Math supports middle/​high school · $10,439 → $10,350 · p. 157 ↗−⁠$89

A reworded title counts as new.

How the plan measures it · 30 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 20 ↗.

Goal 2PVUSD is committed to fostering a collaborative, improvement-driven culture that prioritizes the creation of…$13.8 million20% of action budgets

“PVUSD is committed to fostering a collaborative, improvement-driven culture that prioritizes the creation of engaging, relevant, and rigorous learning environments. Through the cultivation of effective school site systems, programs, and practices, PVUSD will increase and improve positive and safe school climates conducive to student academic growth, emotional resilience, and overall wellness. PVUSD is committed to increasing empathy, respect, and acceptance within the PVUSD community, ensuring that every student thrives and reaches their full potential. This commitment includes prioritizing family engagement, fostering strong partnerships between schools and families to support student success and development” p. 49 ↗

16 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $19.6 million (−⁠$5.8 million)

Largest funded actions

  1. Home to School Transportation$5.3 millionaction 2.4 · p. 159 ↗
  2. Secondary Sports$2.7 millionaction 2.20 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.2 million is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Community Resources for counseling$2.4 millionaction 2.9 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. Student Supports$1.7 millionaction 2.8 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.1 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Family Engagement and Wellness Centers$0.5 millionaction 2.1 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $220,925 is state funding counted toward those services

11 more funded actions in this goal

  • District Parent Engagement Opportunities · action 2.16 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.3 million
  • Family Engagement Plan · action 2.15 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
  • Parent Education Specialists · action 2.14 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
  • MTSS Implementation/ MTSS Tier 2/​3 Supplemental materials support for MTSS implementation · action 2.2 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $111,983 is state funding counted toward those services$0.2 million
  • Secondary sports and extra curricular activities · action 2.21 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $87,975 is state funding counted toward those services$0.1 million
  • School culture and climate survey · action 2.10 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
  • Monitoring suspension rates · action 2.12 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Clubs and social activities · action 2.19 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Trauma informed training · action 2.6 · p. 159 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Student Leadership, CTE · action 2.22 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • College and Career Night · action 2.18 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. District Parent Engagement Opportunities−⁠$2.0 million$2.3 million → $0.3 million · p. 160 ↗
  2. Community Resources for counseling+⁠$1.4 million$1.0 million → $2.4 million · p. 159 ↗
  3. Home to School Transportation−⁠$1.4 million$6.7 million → $5.3 million · p. 159 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Secondary Sports · $4.0 million → $2.7 million · p. 160 ↗−⁠$1.3 million
  • Student Supports · $1.7 million · p. 159 ↗new or renamed
  • Family Engagement and Wellness Centers · $942,079 → $463,762 · p. 159 ↗−⁠$478,317
  • Family Engagement Plan · $231,000 → $239,085 · p. 160 ↗+⁠$8,085
  • Parent Education Specialists · $282,106 → $211,875 · p. 159 ↗−⁠$70,231
  • MTSS Implementation/ MTSS Tier 2/​3 Supplemental materials support for MTSS implementation · $193,236 → $193,384 · p. 159 ↗+⁠$148
  • Secondary sports and extra curricular activities · $123,951 → $117,975 · p. 160 ↗−⁠$5,976
  • School culture and climate survey · $63,741 → $69,189 · p. 159 ↗+⁠$5,448
  • Monitoring suspension rates · $22,131 → $21,945 · p. 159 ↗−⁠$186
  • Clubs and social activities · $20,878 → $20,704 · p. 160 ↗−⁠$174
  • Trauma informed training · $20,878 → $20,702 · p. 159 ↗−⁠$176
  • Student Leadership, CTE · $9,395 → $9,315 · p. 160 ↗−⁠$80
  • College and Career Night · $5,220 → $5,175 · p. 160 ↗−⁠$45

A reworded title counts as new.

How the plan measures it · 16 measures · 3 quoted

  • As measured by the survey, percent of elementary parents who agree or strongly agree about feel engaged with their child(ren)'s school p. 49 ↗
    Baseline
    76%
    Target for year 3
    78%
  • As measured by the percent middle school parents who agree or strongly agree they feel engaged with their child(ren)'s school p. 50 ↗
    Baseline
    63%
    Target for year 3
    68%
  • As measured by the percent of high school parents who agree or strongly agree they feel engaged with their child(ren)'s school p. 50 ↗
    Baseline
    48%
    Target for year 3
    50%

13 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 3 · Focus GoalPVUSD will provide intervention and support to adequately address the needs of foster students to ensure…$753,4461% of action budgets

“PVUSD will provide intervention and support to adequately address the needs of foster students to ensure their educational experience limits disruption, facilitates learning, and promotes academic and social-emotional success” p. 66 ↗

5 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $676,984 (+⁠$76,462)

Largest funded actions

  1. Inclusive School Environment$508,941action 3.2 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $473,029 is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Academic Support$154,207action 3.1 · p. 160 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  3. Transition Support$33,862action 3.4 · p. 161 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. Individualized academic learning plan$33,862action 3.5 · p. 161 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  5. MTSS Action Planning$22,574action 3.6 · p. 161 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Inclusive School Environment+⁠$47,918$461,023 → $508,941 · p. 160 ↗
  2. Academic Support+⁠$24,630$129,577 → $154,207 · p. 160 ↗
  3. Transition Support+⁠$1,468$32,394 → $33,862 · p. 161 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Individualized academic learning plan · $32,394 → $33,862 · p. 161 ↗+⁠$1,468
  • MTSS Action Planning · $21,596 → $22,574 · p. 161 ↗+⁠$978

How the plan measures it · 8 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 66 ↗.

Goal 4 · Focus GoalIn order to address state priorities for students with disabilities, which include ELA and Math proficiency…$00% of action budgets

“In order to address state priorities for students with disabilities, which include ELA and Math proficiency, least restrictive environment (LRE) targets, suspension rates, and graduation rates, PVUSD will provide training in high quality curricular programs, coaching to create multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) including all academic, social/​emotional and behavior areas, and a comprehensive graduation pathway plan for students with disabilities” p. 74 ↗

No funded actions in this plan · reworded since the 2025–26 plan

How the plan measures it · 8 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 74 ↗.

Goal 5Through a collaborative, improvement-driven approach, PVUSD will provide programs to support all students in…$4.8 million7% of action budgets

“Through a collaborative, improvement-driven approach, PVUSD will provide programs to support all students in achieving at grade level on California State Standards and that achievement gaps are reduced. We will prioritize emerging multilingual students’ language acquisition, biliteracy, reclassification, and academic achievement” p. 84 ↗

11 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $4.6 million (+⁠$148,486)

Largest funded actions

  1. College and Career Readiness$1.6 millionaction 5.8 · p. 163 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.5 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Bilingual Stipends$1.6 millionaction 5.10 · p. 164 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $842,081 is state funding counted toward those services
  3. English Language Development Enrollment$0.6 millionaction 5.4 · p. 163 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  4. International Academy$0.3 millionaction 5.5 · p. 163 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  5. Dual Language programs$0.3 millionaction 5.6 · p. 163 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

6 more funded actions in this goal

  • English Learner placement and support · action 5.1 · p. 162 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.2 million
  • Language Line · action 5.7 · p. 163 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.1 million
  • Course Access · action 5.3 · p. 163 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Support for the pathway to multilingualism · action 5.11 · p. 164 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Supplemental ELD instructional materials · action 5.12 · p. 164 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million
  • Secondary Professional Development · action 5.9 · p. 164 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need servicesunder $0.1 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Bilingual Stipends+⁠$0.5 million$1.1 million → $1.6 million · p. 164 ↗
  2. College and Career Readiness−⁠$0.2 million$1.8 million → $1.6 million · p. 163 ↗
  3. English Language Development Enrollment−⁠$169,051$757,570 → $588,519 · p. 163 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • International Academy · $489,116 → $333,320 · p. 163 ↗−⁠$155,796
  • Dual Language programs · $179,523 → $314,931 · p. 163 ↗+⁠$135,408
  • English Learner placement and support · $197,404 → $230,698 · p. 162 ↗+⁠$33,294
  • Language Line · $52,195 → $51,750 · p. 163 ↗−⁠$445
  • Course Access · $34,177 → $34,609 · p. 163 ↗+⁠$432
  • Support for the pathway to multilingualism · $20,878 → $20,700 · p. 164 ↗−⁠$178
  • Supplemental ELD instructional materials · $20,878 → $20,700 · p. 164 ↗−⁠$178
  • Secondary Professional Development · $1,566 → $11,035 · p. 164 ↗+⁠$9,469

How the plan measures it · 8 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 84 ↗.

Goal 6 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy fostering a supportive and engaging school environment, Renaissance Continuation School and New School…$302,475under 1% of action budgets

“By fostering a supportive and engaging school environment, Renaissance Continuation School and New School Community Day School will see at least a 5% improvement in attendance and graduation rates, reflecting the increased sense of connectedness and overall student well-being” p. 96 ↗

8 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $316,573 (−⁠$14,098)

Largest funded actions

  1. Renaissance PBIS$86,955action 6.1 · p. 164 ↗
  2. Renaissance Graduation Plans$59,030action 6.5 · p. 165 ↗
  3. Renaissance College and Career$36,078action 6.4 · p. 165 ↗
  4. New School Student Activities$33,111action 6.8 · p. 166 ↗
  5. New School College and Career$32,374action 6.7 · p. 166 ↗

3 more funded actions in this goal

  • New School Family Connection · action 6.6 · p. 165 ↗$24,590
  • Renaissance Student Activities · action 6.3 · p. 165 ↗$16,909
  • Renaissance Attendance Program · action 6.2 · p. 164 ↗$13,428

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. New School College and Career+⁠$27,374$5,000 → $32,374 · p. 166 ↗
  2. Renaissance Student Activities−⁠$17,091$34,000 → $16,909 · p. 165 ↗
  3. Renaissance College and Career−⁠$16,922$53,000 → $36,078 · p. 165 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Renaissance PBIS · $79,000 → $86,955 · p. 164 ↗+⁠$7,955
  • Renaissance Graduation Plans · $61,627 → $59,030 · p. 165 ↗−⁠$2,597
  • New School Student Activities · $47,946 → $33,111 · p. 166 ↗−⁠$14,835
  • New School Family Connection · $11,000 → $24,590 · p. 165 ↗+⁠$13,590
  • Renaissance Attendance Program · $25,000 → $13,428 · p. 164 ↗−⁠$11,572

How the plan measures it · 2 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 96 ↗.

All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.

Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends

Student mix

2024–25 · October enrollment count, 17,089 students
1. Hispanic or Latino: 85%2. White: 13%3. Two or more races: 1%4. Filipino: <1%5. Asian: <1%6. Black or African American: <1%7. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%8. Pacific Islander: <1%9. Not reported: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. Hispanic or Latino85%
  2. White13%
  3. Two or more races1%
  4. Filipino<1%
  5. Asian<1%
  6. Black or African American<1%
  7. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
  8. Pacific Islander<1%
  9. Not reported<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools. Rounded labels may not total 100%; segments use the original shares.

Free or reduced-price meals

80%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 13,610 of 16,983 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.

The district’s state records

Is the state giving the district extra help?

The state is giving Pajaro Valley Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.

How English learners moved up on the state’s English test

From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 47% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (1,916 of 4,108 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

3 schools getting state support, 2025–26

E. A. Hall Middle (Targeted support) · Lakeview Middle (Targeted support) · Mintie White Elementary (Targeted support)

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗ · School support (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (3)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in Pajaro Valley Unified rank highest?

Elementary: Rio del Mar Elementary, 71st percentile (Solid). Middle: Linscott Charter, 58th percentile (Solid). High: Ceiba College Preparatory Academy, 82nd percentile (Strong). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

Does living in the Pajaro Valley Unified district decide which school my child attends?

Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)

Are the public schools in Pajaro Valley Unified good?

Pajaro Valley Unified’s 19 public elementary schools run from the bottom 1% to the 71st percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Solid, 5 Developing and 12 Needs Support. Pajaro Valley Unified’s 10 public middle schools run from the 1st to the 58th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 2 Solid, 3 Developing and 5 Needs Support. Pajaro Valley Unified’s 4 public high schools run from the 17th to the 82nd percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 1 Solid and 2 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.

How does chronic absence in Pajaro Valley Unified compare with California?

The average elementary school in Pajaro Valley Unified had 19 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average middle school in Pajaro Valley Unified had 19 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in Pajaro Valley Unified had 19 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.

How much does Pajaro Valley Unified spend per student?

Pajaro Valley Unified spent $24,632 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 57 cents of every Pajaro Valley Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.

What is in Pajaro Valley Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $68.1 million into 56 funded actions in 6 goals, 18% of its $374.4 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $48.5 million, 71% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.

Where do these results come from?

California’s state tests (CAASPP): spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools, spring 2025 for high schools, and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Pajaro Valley Unified, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.