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5.5 avg / 10

Pajaro Valley Unified School District

School District · Watsonville, California

Students: 17,013
Teachers (FTE): 804

Avg Rating

5.5

out of 10

Schools

33

19 elem, 6 mid, 6 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$20,409

Student-Teacher Ratio

21.2:1

How this district compares

California rank

#559 of 713

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

-0.8

below California avg

Per-pupil spending

$20,409

+$2,762 vs California median

District size

17,013 students

Much larger than California median

About Pajaro Valley Unified

Pajaro Valley Unified is a Watsonville, California school district serving 33 schools. The district educates 17,013 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.2:1. The district invests $20,409 per student annually.

With an average rating of 5.5/10, Pajaro Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Valencia Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.5/10.

In standardized testing, Pajaro Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 20.6% and ELA proficiency of 27.7%.

The district includes 19 elementary schools , 6 middle schools , and 6 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 20.6%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 27.7%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with test data.

District Details

City
Watsonville
Total Enrollment
17,013
Teachers (FTE)
804
Child Poverty Rate
0.2%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Pajaro Valley Unified?

Pajaro Valley Unified has 33 schools in total — 19 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Pajaro Valley Unified?

The average composite rating for Pajaro Valley Unified is 5.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in Pajaro Valley Unified?

Pajaro Valley Unified spends $20,409 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Pajaro Valley Unified?

The average student-teacher ratio in Pajaro Valley Unified is 21.2:1.

What is the top-rated school in Pajaro Valley Unified?

Valencia Elementary is the highest-rated school in Pajaro Valley Unified with a composite score of 8.5/10.

What are the test scores in Pajaro Valley Unified?

Across schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 20.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 27.7%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Pajaro Valley Unified compare to other districts in California?

Pajaro Valley Unified has an average school rating of 5.5/10 across 33 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings are based on a comprehensive methodology that weighs Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
5.5/10
Math Proficiency
20.6%
ELA Proficiency
27.7%

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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.

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