Pajaro Valley Unified: Pajaro Valley Unified high schools lead at 39.3. A 40.3-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.
Pajaro Valley Unified has 31 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 32.5/100 — 12.4 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Valencia Elementary at 57/100, where 32.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,608 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 32.4/100 | 20 | 8.1% | 23.2% |
| Middle | Needs Support 24.5/100 | 5 | 1.9% | 26.5% |
| High | Developing 39.3/100 | 6 | 7.5% | 32.7% |
Pajaro Valley Unified's high schools average 39.3/100 — 4.4 points below the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Pajaro Valley Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Pajaro Valley Unified has 31 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 32.5/100 — 12.4 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Pajaro Valley Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 39.3.
District-wide elementary growth averages +0.9pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are making incremental gains.
Score range of 40.3 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 25.6%, 7.7pp above the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 4.0%, above the state average of 1.6%.
Valencia Elementary leads the district at 57 with 32.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Pajaro Valley Unified
Hidden gems: 10 schools in Pajaro Valley Unified are classified as On the Rise (8) or Growth Engine (2) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Pajaro Valley Unified spends $15,608 per student in current expenditures — $794 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Every school in Pajaro Valley Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (20)
Pajaro Valley Unified has 20 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.4 — 12.4 points below the state average of 44.8.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +0.9pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Valencia Elementary with a Scope Score of 57 and 32.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valencia Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Growth Engine | 32.6% | Solid 57/100 |
| 2 | Rio del Mar Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Growth Engine | 26.3% | Solid 56/100 |
| 3 | Alianza Charter Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 12.7% | Developing 41/100 |
| 4 | Linscott Charter Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 11.2% | Developing 40/100 |
| 5 | Ceiba College Preparatory Academy Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 9.3% | Developing 40/100 |
| 6 | Mar Vista Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 11.1% | Developing 35/100 |
| 7 | Bradley Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 14.3% | Developing 33/100 |
| 8 | Watsonville Charter School of the Arts Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 5.2% | Developing 32/100 |
| 9 | Landmark Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 2.6% | Developing 31/100 |
| 10 | Ohlone Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 4.3% | Developing 30/100 |
| 11 | Calabasas Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 3.5% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 12 | H. A. Hyde Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 4.4% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 13 | Hall District Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 2.6% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 14 | Ann Soldo Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 3.5% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 15 | Amesti Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 2.5% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 16 | Radcliff Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 2.1% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 17 | T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 1.9% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 18 | Starlight Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 7.8% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 19 | Mintie White Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 2.2% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 20 | Freedom Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 2.0% | Needs Support 17/100 |
Middle Schools (5)
Pajaro Valley Unified has 5 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 24.5 — 18.1 points below the state average of 42.6.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +2.2pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Rolling Hills Middle with a Scope Score of 32 and 2.2% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rolling Hills Middle Pajaro Valley Unified On the Rise | 2.2% | Developing 32/100 |
| 2 | Pajaro Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 2.9% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 3 | E. A. Hall Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 1.0% | Needs Support 23/100 |
| 4 | Lakeview Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 2.0% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 5 | Cesar E. Chavez Middle Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 1.6% | Needs Support 21/100 |
High Schools (6)
Pajaro Valley Unified has 6 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.3 — 4.4 points below the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Aptos High with a Scope Score of 53 and 15.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aptos High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 15.8% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | Pajaro Valley High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 5.8% | Developing 46/100 |
| 3 | Watsonville High Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 8.6% | Developing 45/100 |
| 4 | Diamond Technology Institute Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 13.3% | Developing 41/100 |
| 5 | New School Community Day Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 6 | Renaissance High Continuation Pajaro Valley Unified Building Momentum | 1.5% | Needs Support 24/100 |
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology