Very Good
#2741 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 29% in state
Bay View Elementary
Elementary School · Santa Cruz City Elementary
1231 Bay St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Enrollment
378
Student-Teacher
18.9:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
378
Student-Teacher
18.9:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Cruz
#8 of 25
public schools
California elementary schools
#1,846 of 5,817
In district
#2 of 5
Santa Cruz City Elementary
School environment
8.4 / 10
Very strong
About Bay View Elementary
Bay View Elementary is a charming public elementary school nestled in the heart of Santa Cruz, California. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade, Bay View has an enrollment of 378 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 18.9:1 with 20 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's MySchoolScout rating is 5.9 out of 10, placing it at the 57th percentile among California schools.
Academic performance shows that Bay View Elementary has room for growth in both English Language Arts and Math, where 45% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading and 31% in Math. Despite these figures, the school is dedicated to student development and continuously works on enhancing its curriculum and support systems. Bay View Elementary stands out as a community-focused institution within Santa Cruz, fostering strong bonds between parents, teachers, and local residents.
The setting provides a small-town feel that encourages close-knit relationships and collaborative learning environments for students.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Bay View Elementary — Students at Bay View Elementary score 38% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
48.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.
How Bay View Elementary Compares
See how Bay View Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 35% (2019) to 30.41% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 45.51% (2024).
Location
1231 Bay St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Bay View Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch (rated 7.3/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, GATEWAY SCHOOL (rated 7.0/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz | 0.3 mi | 5.7 |
| Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz | 0.6 mi | 7.7 |
| Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz | 0.7 mi | 5.4 |
| GATEWAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.0 mi | 7.0 |
| Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.0 mi | 6.5 |
| HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.0 mi | 7.0 |
| Holy Cross Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | — |
| Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | 9.0 |
| Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz County Special Education Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 7.4 |
| Santa Cruz County Court Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 6.2 |
| Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz | 1.8 mi | 3.9 |
| Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz | 1.8 mi | 3.2 |
| Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz | 1.8 mi | 5.3 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz | 1.9 mi | 7.3 |
| Gault Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.9 mi | 7.6 |
| Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz | 2.1 mi | 6.0 |
| SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 2.2 mi | 4.5 |
| Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz | 2.2 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95060 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$106,040
Median Home Value
$1,189,300
Median Rent
$2,356/mo
Population
46,024
College Educated
55.2%
Homeownership
51.9%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Median Age
36.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Bay View Elementary has a median household income of $106,040. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,189,300, with a median rent of $2,356/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.1%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ANNUNCIATION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Stockton, CA | 7.3 |
| Abram Agnew Elementary San Jose, CA | 7.3 |
| Aileen Colburn Elementary Atwater, CA | 7.3 |
| Almaden Elementary San Jose, CA | 7.3 |
| Amy Imai Elementary Mountain View, CA | 7.3 |
| Bella Vista Elementary Monterey Park, CA | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bay View Elementary
What grades does Bay View Elementary serve?
Bay View Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Bay View Elementary?
Bay View Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 378 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bay View Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bay View Elementary is 18.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bay View Elementary rank in CA?
Bay View Elementary is ranked #2741 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Bay View Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bay View Elementary has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bay View Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Bay View Elementary has 31.0% math proficiency and 44.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Bay View Elementary a charter school?
No, Bay View Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bay View Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bay View Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bay View Elementary?
48.9% of students at Bay View Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 89 Very Walkable
- Transit Score
- 36 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 100 Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety
- High (3,203/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Cruz). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 378
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 48.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 429-3991
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Santa Cruz City Elementary- District Enrollment
- 1,768
- Schools in District
- 5
- District Rank
- #2 of 5
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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