Excellent
#350 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 4% in state
Ocean Alternative Education Center
Elementary School · Live Oak Elementary
984 Bostwick Ln. Ste. 6, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Enrollment
74
Student-Teacher
18.5:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
74
Student-Teacher
18.5:1
Score
8.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Cruz
#2 of 25
public schools
California elementary schools
#267 of 5,817
In district
#1 of 6
Live Oak Elementary
Academic growth
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Ocean Alternative Education Center
Ocean Alternative Education Center is a public elementary school in Santa Cruz, CA, part of the Live Oak Elementary. The school serves approximately 74 students in grades Kindergarten – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 18.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8/10, placing it in the 96.3th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 40% proficiency in math, 4 points above the state average and 61% in reading/language arts, 15 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.9/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $108,261, where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a midsize suburban setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 74 students, Ocean Alternative Education Center 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.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Ocean Alternative Education Center — Students at Ocean Alternative Education Center score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
48.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.9/10.
How Ocean Alternative Education Center Compares
See how Ocean Alternative Education Center performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 24.5% (2019) to 36.21% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 54.5% (2019) to 55.17% (2024).
Location
984 Bostwick Ln. Ste. 6, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Ocean Alternative Education Center may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch (rated 7.3/10, 1.5 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 0.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | 3.9 |
| Green Acres Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | 7.1 |
| MIDTOWN MONTESSORI Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | — |
| VHM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | 6.1 |
| THE BAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.5 mi | 7.4 |
| Harbor High Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | 6.6 |
| VHM Christian School Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | — |
| Live Oak Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.6 mi | 4.3 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.7 mi | 7.2 |
| De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Shoreline Middle Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | 6.7 |
| Del Mar Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.3 mi | 5.8 |
| SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | 4.5 |
| Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.4 mi | 3.5 |
| Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz | 1.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Gault Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.4 mi | 7.6 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 7.3 |
| Soquel High Soquel | 1.5 mi | 7.4 |
| Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 5.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95062 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$108,261
Median Home Value
$1,064,600
Median Rent
$2,291/mo
Population
36,047
College Educated
50.7%
Homeownership
53.6%
Avg Commute
22.6 min
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Median Age
42.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Ocean Alternative Education Center has a median household income of $108,261. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,064,600, with a median rent of $2,291/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.3%. The average commute for residents is 23 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 |
|---|---|
| ABC Virtual Academy Cerritos, CA | 8.8 |
| Vista de Las Cruces Gaviota, CA | 8.8 |
| Carpinteria Family Carpinteria, CA | 8.7 |
| Cordua Elementary Marysville, CA | 8.7 |
| Latrobe Elementary Shingle Springs, CA | 8.7 |
| THE RENAISSANCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Oakland, CA | 8.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ocean Alternative Education Center
What grades does Ocean Alternative Education Center serve?
Ocean Alternative Education Center serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Ocean Alternative Education Center?
Ocean Alternative Education Center has an enrollment of approximately 74 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ocean Alternative Education Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Ocean Alternative Education Center is 18.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ocean Alternative Education Center rank in CA?
Ocean Alternative Education Center is ranked #350 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Ocean Alternative Education Center's MySchoolScout rating?
Ocean Alternative Education Center has a composite rating of 8.8 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 Ocean Alternative Education Center?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Ocean Alternative Education Center has 40.2% math proficiency and 60.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Ocean Alternative Education Center a charter school?
No, Ocean Alternative Education Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ocean Alternative Education Center a Title I school?
No, Ocean Alternative Education Center is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ocean Alternative Education Center?
48.6% of students at Ocean Alternative Education Center 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
- 61 Somewhat Walkable
- Transit Score
- 40 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 92 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 – 8th
- Enrollment
- 74
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 4
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 48.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 475-0767
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Live Oak Elementary- District Enrollment
- 1,675
- Schools in District
- 7
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $18,863
- District Rank
- #1 of 6
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.
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