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Very Good

#472 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 26% of private schools

Holy Cross School

Elementary School

150 EMMETT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 25 schools in Santa Cruz. Learn more

Enrollment

139

Student-Teacher

12.3:1

Score

7.0

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Santa Cruz

#3 of 8

public schools

California elementary schools

#262 of 1,102

About Holy Cross School

Holy Cross School serves 139 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Santa Cruz, California. With 11 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an intimate learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 12.3 to 1, allowing for personalized attention and strong relationships between educators and students. The school has earned an impressive 8.5 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #989 out of 1790 California schools, placing it in the 45th percentile statewide.

This solid academic standing reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education in a supportive, small-school setting. Holy Cross School is located at 150 Emmett Street in a vibrant neighborhood where 55% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, creating an education-focused community environment. The area's median household income of $101,962 reflects a generally well-resourced community, though the 18.2% poverty rate indicates economic diversity among families.

As an elementary school in Santa Cruz's small city setting, Holy Cross School benefits from being part of a close-knit coastal community known for its natural beauty and family-friendly atmosphere. The school's size and location provide students with both academic opportunity and the charm of a smaller educational community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 139 students, Holy Cross School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Holy Cross School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Holy Cross School compares to 23 public schools serving similar grades in Santa Cruz, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
This School
vs
20.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
139
This School
vs
297
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.0
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 51.1% vs 0%
Hispanic 36% vs 0%
Asian 2.9% vs 0%
Black 1.4% vs 0%
Holy Cross School Santa Cruz Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Holy Cross School (this school) 7.0
Mission Hill Middle 5.4
Alternative Family Education 3.9
Ark Independent Studies 3.2
Santa Cruz County Special Education 7.4
Santa Cruz County Community 6.2
Santa Cruz County Court
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch 7.3
Bay View Elementary 7.3
Westlake Elementary 6.5
Gault Elementary 7.6
Branciforte Middle 6.0
Pacific Collegiate Charter 9.0
De Laveaga Elementary 6.8
Green Acres Elementary 7.1
Tierra Pacifica Charter 3.9
Ocean Alternative Education Center 8.8
Shoreline Middle 6.7
Del Mar Elementary 5.8
Live Oak Elementary 4.3
Brook Knoll Elementary 7.1

Showing 20 of 23 schools. View all schools in Santa Cruz

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B 5.8 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 12.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,274
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.0 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 60%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 139
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 51.1%
Hispanic 36.0%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 2.9%
Black 1.4%
Native American 0.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

150 EMMETT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Holy Cross School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Bay View Elementary (rated 7.3/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch (rated 7.3/10, 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 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Holy Cross Santa Cruz 0.0 mi
Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz 0.5 mi 7.7
Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz 0.4 mi 5.4
SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 5.7
Santa Cruz County Special Education Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 7.4
Santa Cruz County Court Santa Cruz 0.9 mi
Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 6.2
Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School Santa Cruz 0.9 mi
Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 3.9
Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 3.2
Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 5.3
Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz 1.0 mi 7.3
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz 1.0 mi 7.3
Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz 1.1 mi 6.5
Gault Elementary Santa Cruz 1.1 mi 7.6
Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz 1.2 mi 6.0
Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz 1.3 mi
SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz 1.3 mi 4.5
GATEWAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz 2.0 mi 7.0
Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz 2.1 mi 9.0

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 Holy Cross School 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
COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Orange, CA 7.0
El Mirage Adelanto, CA 7.0
GATEWAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz, CA 7.0
Lake County International Charter Middletown, CA 7.0
Mountain View San Diego, CA 7.0
SOUTH BAY JUNIOR ACADEMY Torrance, CA 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Holy Cross School

What grades does Holy Cross School serve?

Holy Cross School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Holy Cross School?

Holy Cross School has an enrollment of approximately 139 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Holy Cross School?

The student-teacher ratio at Holy Cross School is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Holy Cross School rank in CA?

Holy Cross School is ranked #472 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Holy Cross School's MySchoolScout rating?

Holy Cross School has a composite rating of 7.0 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.

Is Holy Cross School a private school?

Yes, Holy Cross School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Holy Cross School a religious school?

Holy Cross School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
96 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
51 Good Transit
Bike Score
87 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,203/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Cruz). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
139
Gender Split
36% M / 64% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
11
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
182 days
Setting
Small City
County
SANTA CRUZ
Data Year
2022–2023

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

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