Excellent
#967 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 10% in state
Happy Valley Elementary
Elementary School · Happy Valley Elementary · Santa Cruz, CA
An elementary school in Santa Cruz, CA where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3125 Branciforte Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95065
- Math 75% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 83% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Happy Valley Elementary score 78% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 8 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 79% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 76% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 84% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
10.7%
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 Happy Valley Elementary 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 13Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$142,768
Median home value
$1,192,200
Median rent
$2,618/mo
College educated
49.6%
Homeownership
69.9%
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95065; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Gardens ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–5 | 1.6 mi | 204 | Compare → |
| Brook Knoll ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.0 | K–5 | 2.3 mi | 467 | Compare → |
| De Laveaga ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | K–5 | 2.3 mi | 507 | Compare → |
| Mountain ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | K–6 | 2.3 mi | 163 | 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.
Happy Valley Elementary
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $16,825NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Happy Valley Elementary is listed in Happy Valley Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Happy Valley Elementary
Happy Valley Elementary is a public elementary school in Santa Cruz, CA, part of Happy Valley Elementary, serving approximately 122 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #967 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Happy Valley Elementary
What grades does Happy Valley Elementary serve?
Happy Valley Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Happy Valley Elementary?
Happy Valley Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 122 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Happy Valley Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Happy Valley Elementary is 20.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Happy Valley Elementary rank in CA?
Happy Valley Elementary ranks #967 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Happy Valley Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Happy Valley Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 Happy Valley Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Happy Valley Elementary has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Happy Valley Elementary a charter school?
No, Happy Valley Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Happy Valley Elementary a Title I school?
No, Happy Valley Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Happy Valley Elementary?
10.7% of students at Happy Valley 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 122
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.6%
- Phone
- (831) 429-1456
- Area population (ZIP 95065)
- 8,031
- Area average commute
- 23.8 min
- Area median age
- 43.1
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 95065; 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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