Best Schools in Santa Cruz, California
41 schools · 26 Elementary · 3 Middle · 9 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Santa Cruz?
Use this page to compare every school in Santa Cruz by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Pacific Collegiate Charter
High · Pacific Collegiate Charter District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Happy Valley Elementary
Elementary · Happy Valley Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Green Acres Elementary
Elementary · Live Oak Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Santa Cruz for 2026 are Pacific Collegiate Charter (9.4/10), Happy Valley Elementary (8.4/10), and Green Acres Elementary (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 33 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
41
26 public · 15 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$1,148,700
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Schools
41
26 public · 15 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$1,148,700
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 10% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Santa Cruz schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +11.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Santa Cruz schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Santa Cruz
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (33 of 41). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pacific Collegiate Charter | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Happy Valley Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Green Acres Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Santa Cruz High | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Shoreline Middle | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Live Oak Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Ocean Alternative Education Center | 7.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Branciforte Middle | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | The Bay School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Good Shepherd Catholic School | 7.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $119,023
- Median home value
- $1,148,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 52%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
39% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Santa Cruz compares
California rank
#238 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$119k
119% of California median
Schools in this city
33
About Schools in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz runs 25 ranked public schools across a mix of traditional neighborhood campuses, alternative programs, and charter options. The city averages 6.4 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks real variation. Thirteen of those 25 schools, 52%, score 7 or above, meaning more than half the city's ranked schools clear a meaningful performance threshold. Parents who research actively can land their kids in a strong school; those who default to neighborhood assignment may not.
At the top sits Pacific Collegiate Charter, a public charter high school rated 9.4 out of 10 — the city's clear outlier and highest-rated school by a wide margin. It runs a rigorous college-prep curriculum and draws applicants from across Santa Cruz County. Admission is by lottery, so families need to apply early and understand the odds. Ocean Alternative Education Center earns an 8.8 at the elementary level, the second-highest rating in the city and the top non-charter option for younger students. Bonny Doon Elementary, a small K-8 school in the mountains north of downtown, scores 8.5 and rounds out the top three.
The mid-range holds real options too. Santa Cruz High scores 7.9, making it the top-rated traditional public high school in the city and a strong alternative if the charter lottery doesn't work out. Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch adds another solid elementary option at 7.7. Both serve families who want above-average performance without an application process.
The practical takeaway: Santa Cruz rewards families who plan ahead. The Pacific Collegiate lottery is the single highest-leverage move in the city, but seats are limited and competition is real. For families who miss it or prefer a traditional school, Ocean Alternative, Bonny Doon, and Santa Cruz High each deliver well above the city average. With 52% of schools scoring 7 or better, the floor is respectable — but the gap between a 6.4 average and a 9.4 ceiling is wide enough to shape a child's trajectory.
Elementary Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 122 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.4 |
| 2 | 301 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 |
| 3 | 362 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 74 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.4 |
| 5 | 467 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 6 | 507 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 7 | 310 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 8 | 163 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.7 |
| 9 | 121 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 10 | 97 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.4 |
Show all 26 elementary schools in Santa Cruz
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 463 students · 6th–8th | 7.6 |
| 2 | 435 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 500 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
High Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 540 students · 7th–12th | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | 1,104 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 3 | 1,040 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 4 | 733 students · 7th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 5 | 52 students · 6th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 6 | 87 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 7 | 24 students · 7th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 130 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Merit Academy
Private
24 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 110 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 99 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.8 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Bay School
Private
34 students · UG–UG | 7.4 | ||
Schools in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California · 41 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$119,023
Median Home Value
$1,148,700
Median Rent
$2,422/mo
Population
90,102
College Educated
52%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Community Profile
Santa Cruz has a median household income of $119,023. It is a well-educated community where 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,148,700, with a median rent of $2,422/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.0%. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 26
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 9
- Other
- 3
Resources
School Districts (9)
Scotts Valley Unified
4 schools · 2,107 students
Pacific Collegiate Charter District
1 school · 540 students
Bonny Doon Union Elementary
1 school · 97 students
Happy Valley Elementary
1 school · 122 students
Live Oak Elementary
7 schools · 1,675 students
Santa Cruz City Elementary
5 schools · 1,768 students
Santa Cruz City High
9 schools · 4,504 students
Soquel Union Elementary
5 schools · 1,566 students
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
4 schools · 1,024 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Santa Cruz, California
How many schools are in Santa Cruz, California?
Santa Cruz has 41 schools, including 26 public and 15 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Santa Cruz, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Santa Cruz is 6.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Santa Cruz, California?
The top-ranked school in Santa Cruz on MySchoolScout is Pacific Collegiate Charter with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Cruz, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santa Cruz on MySchoolScout is Happy Valley Elementary with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Santa Cruz, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Santa Cruz on MySchoolScout is Shoreline Middle with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What is the best high school in Santa Cruz, California?
The top-ranked high school in Santa Cruz on MySchoolScout is Pacific Collegiate Charter with a composite score of 9.4/10.
How many school districts serve Santa Cruz, California?
Santa Cruz is served by 9 school districts: Scotts Valley Unified, Pacific Collegiate Charter District, Bonny Doon Union Elementary, Happy Valley Elementary, Live Oak Elementary, Santa Cruz City Elementary, Santa Cruz City High, Soquel Union Elementary, Santa Cruz County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Santa Cruz, California?
According to Census data, 52% of adults in Santa Cruz have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Santa Cruz, California?
The median household income in Santa Cruz is approximately $119,023 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Santa Cruz, California?
Yes, Santa Cruz has 15 private schools alongside 26 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Bay School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Cruz, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santa Cruz is 16.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Santa Cruz, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.