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Elementary Schools in Santa Cruz, California: Santa Cruz schools average 2.3 points above the state — but the range is 32.7 points wide.

Near Average2024–25 data13 schools · avg 47.1/100

Santa Cruz, California has 13 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 47.1/100 — 2.3 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-M at 62/100, where 30.9% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Santa Cruz schools average 25.9% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.8% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
47.1
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
32.7
29.4 – 62.1
Avg Exceeded %
25.9%
State avg: 21.3%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
15.8%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
13
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary13Developing
47.1/100
25.9%+2.3
High6Developing
46.5/100
22.2%+2.7
Middle3Developing
49.7/100
21.5%+7.1

How Santa Cruz schools compare

Santa Cruz has 13 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 47.1/100 — 2.3 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-M with a Scope Score of 62 and 30.9% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Santa Cruz averages 15.8% — below the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

School archetypes in Santa Cruz

3 Strong All-Around3 Culture First1 Solid Base6 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Santa Cruz

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Pacific Collegiate Charter
Santa Cruz County Office of Education High Ceiling
53.2%Strong
82/100
2Santa Cruz High
Santa Cruz City High Strong All-Around
37.5%Solid
65/100
3Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-M
Santa Cruz City Elementary Strong All-Around
30.9%Solid
62/100
4Westlake Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary Strong All-Around
41.5%Solid
62/100
5Brook Knoll Elementary
Scotts Valley Unified Strong All-Around
37.0%Solid
58/100
6Happy Valley Elementary
Happy Valley Elementary Solid Base
41.0%Solid
58/100
7Mission Hill Middle
Santa Cruz City High Building Momentum
25.4%Solid
55/100
8De Laveaga Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary Culture First
25.5%Solid
53/100
9Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
Soquel Union Elementary Culture First
20.1%Solid
52/100
10Branciforte Middle
Santa Cruz City High Building Momentum
21.3%Developing
47/100
11Shoreline Middle
Live Oak Elementary Building Momentum
17.8%Developing
47/100
12Gault Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary Culture First
22.3%Developing
45/100
13Harbor High
Santa Cruz City High Building Momentum
19.9%Developing
45/100
14Bay View Elementary
Santa Cruz City Elementary Building Momentum
26.8%Developing
43/100
15Live Oak Elementary
Live Oak Elementary Building Momentum
15.4%Developing
40/100
16Green Acres Elementary
Live Oak Elementary Building Momentum
22.6%Developing
39/100
17Ark Independent Studies
Santa Cruz City High Building Momentum
16.7%Developing
38/100
18Bonny Doon Elementary
Bonny Doon Union Elementary Building Momentum
23.8%Developing
35/100
19Tierra Pacifica Charter
Live Oak Elementary Building Momentum
16.1%Developing
35/100
20Santa Cruz County Community
Santa Cruz County Office of Education Building Momentum
5.7%Needs Support
30/100
21Del Mar Elementary
Live Oak Elementary Building Momentum
14.1%Needs Support
29/100
22Costanoa Continuation High
Santa Cruz City High Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
19/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 22 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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 Santa Cruz

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.

Gateway School
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 181 students
9:1Private
Good Shepherd Catholic School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 163 students
7:1Private
Holy Cross School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 139 students
12:1Private
Santa Cruz Waldorf School
Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 128 students
9:1Private
Vhm Christian School
Pentecostal · Grades Pre-K-8 · 62 students
12:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Santa Cruz

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

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Santa Cruz good?
Santa Cruz's 13 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 47.1/100, which is 2.3 points above the state average. 25.9% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Cruz?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Santa Cruz is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-M with a Scope Score of 62/100 and 30.9% 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 Santa Cruz schools compare to the state average?
Santa Cruz elementary schools average a Scope Score of 47.1/100 — 2.3 points above the state average of 44.8. The exceeded rate averages 25.9% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.8% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has 13 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 seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline 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.

Related

All California SchoolsTop Schools in Santa CruzSanta Cruz County Office of EducationSanta Cruz City HighSanta Cruz City ElementaryScotts Valley UnifiedHappy Valley ElementarySoquel Union ElementaryLive Oak ElementaryBonny Doon Union ElementaryZip 95060Zip 95062Zip 95065

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