Very Good
#2817 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 30% in state
Branciforte Middle
Middle School · Santa Cruz City High · Santa Cruz, CA
A Santa Cruz City High middle school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
315 Poplar St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Math 38% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 46% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 19.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Branciforte Middle score 41% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 8 points since 2018, to 42% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
42.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Branciforte Middle sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 71Very Walkable
- Transit 44Some Transit
- Bike 100Biker’s Paradise
- City Safety: High3,203/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Santa Cruz), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$108,261
Median home value
$1,064,600
Median rent
$2,291/mo
College educated
50.7%
Homeownership
53.6%
Poverty rate
13.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95062; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Family EducationEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | K–12 | 0.3 mi | 110 | Compare → |
| Mission Hill MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | 6–8 | 1.6 mi | 500 | Compare → |
| Santa Cruz County Special EducationEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | K–12 | 1.6 mi | 99 | Compare → |
| Shoreline MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | 6–8 | 1.7 mi | 463 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Santa Cruz City High
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #3 of 9
- District spending per student
- The source marked this value as not applicable.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Branciforte Middle is listed in Santa Cruz City High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Branciforte Middle
Branciforte Middle is a public middle school in Santa Cruz, CA, part of Santa Cruz City High, serving approximately 435 students in grades 6th-8th with a 19.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,817 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Branciforte Middle
What grades does Branciforte Middle serve?
Branciforte Middle serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Branciforte Middle?
Branciforte Middle has an enrollment of approximately 435 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Branciforte Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Branciforte Middle is 19.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Branciforte Middle rank in CA?
Branciforte Middle ranks #2,817 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Branciforte Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Branciforte Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Branciforte Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Branciforte Middle has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Branciforte Middle a charter school?
No, Branciforte Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Branciforte Middle a Title I school?
No, Branciforte Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Branciforte Middle?
42.8% of students at Branciforte Middle qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 435
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.2%
- Phone
- (831) 429-3883
- Area population (ZIP 95062)
- 36,047
- Area average commute
- 22.6 min
- Area median age
- 42.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 95062; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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