Pajaro Valley Unified School District
School District · Watsonville, California
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
33
19 elem, 6 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
17,013
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
Avg Rating
5.5
out of 10
Schools
33
19 elem, 6 mid, 6 high
Enrollment
17,013
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
How this district compares
California rank
#592 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
The short answer
Pajaro Valley Unified ranks #592 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Pajaro Valley Unified's schools with real test data average 5.5/10 across 33 schools. Its top-rated schools are Alianza Charter (7.9/10), Pvusd Virtual Academy (7.4/10), and Watsonville High (7.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.9/10 despite 79% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 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 Pajaro Valley Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +9.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pajaro Valley Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (33 of 33). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alianza Charter | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Pvusd Virtual Academy | 7.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Watsonville High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Pacific Coast Charter | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Rio Del Mar Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Mar Vista Elementary | 6.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Starlight Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Bradley Elementary | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Rolling Hills Middle | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Linscott Charter | 6.0 / 10 |
See all 33 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
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. District-level spending was $20,409 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.5/10, Pajaro Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Alianza Charter, which has a composite score of 7.9/10.
In standardized testing, Pajaro Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 26.7% and ELA proficiency of 32.0%.
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
Average proficiency across all schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with test data.
Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified
33 schoolsElementary Schools19
Middle Schools6
High Schools6
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Watsonville
- Total Enrollment
- 17,013
- Teachers (FTE)
- 804
- District spending per student
- $20,409NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory 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 district spending per student in Pajaro Valley Unified?
Pajaro Valley Unified's district-level spending was $20,409 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
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?
Alianza Charter is the highest-rated school in Pajaro Valley Unified with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What are the test scores in Pajaro Valley Unified?
Across schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 26.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 32.0%. 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 blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.5/10
- Math Proficiency
- 26.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 32.0%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Pajaro Valley Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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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