Schools in 95060 — Santa Cruz, California: 95060 schools aren't just reaching proficiency — they're pushing students beyond it.
95060 has 8 ranked schools in Santa Cruz, averaging a Scope Score of 53.8/100 — 9.0 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025). Scores range from 29.8 to 81.8, a 52.0-point spread. 2 schools rank in the 90th percentile or above statewide.
How 95060 schools perform
The top-ranked school is Pacific Collegiate Charter with a Scope Score of 82 and 53.2% of students exceeding standard.
These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Schools here average 31.3% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.
Average proficiency falls 10.6 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 95060. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.
Chronic absenteeism across 95060 averages 17.2%, near the state average of 17.9%. CDE CAASPP 2025.
How 95060 compares to nearby zip codes
| Zip | City | Schools | Avg Score | vs 95060 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95060 | Santa Cruz | 8 | Solid 53.8/100 | — |
| 95062 | Santa Cruz | 11 | Developing 40.6/100 | -13.2 |
| 95065 | Santa Cruz | 3 | Solid 54.3/100 | +0.5 |
| 95054 | Santa Clara | 4 | Solid 51.7/100 | -2.1 |
| 95066 | Scotts Valley | 4 | Solid 55.7/100 | +1.9 |
| 95051 | Santa Clara | 13 | Solid 56.1/100 | +2.2 |
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
School archetypes in 95060
Hidden gems: 1 school in 95060 is classified as Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
All schools in 95060
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz County Office of Education High Ceiling | 53.2% | Strong 82/100 |
| 2 | Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz City High Strong All-Around | 37.5% | Solid 65/100 |
| 3 | Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz City Elementary Growth Engine | 41.5% | Solid 62/100 |
| 4 | Brook Knoll Elementary Scotts Valley Unified Solid Base | 37.0% | Solid 58/100 |
| 5 | Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz City High Building Momentum | 25.4% | Solid 55/100 |
| 6 | Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz City Elementary Building Momentum | 26.8% | Developing 43/100 |
| 7 | Bonny Doon Elementary Bonny Doon Union Elementary Building Momentum | 23.8% | Developing 35/100 |
| 8 | Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz County Office of Education Building Momentum | 5.7% | Needs Support 30/100 |
Schools in 95060 on the map
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology