Below Average
#7737 of 9,539 schools in CA
Pajaro Middle
Middle School · Pajaro Valley Unified · Watsonville, CA
A Pajaro Valley Unified middle school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
250 Salinas Rd., Watsonville, CA 95076
- Math 8% vs CA 34% (2024)
- Reading 17% vs CA 47% (2024)
- 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pajaro Middle score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 18 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 12% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 16% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 28 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
96.5%
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 Pajaro 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 62Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 55Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,589/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Watsonville), 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
$86,685
Median home value
$767,200
Median rent
$1,851/mo
College educated
19.3%
Homeownership
56.2%
Poverty rate
13.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95076; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 3–12 | 0.9 mi | 29 | Compare → |
| Pvusd Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 7.6 | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 74 | Compare → |
| E. A. Hall MiddleEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | 1.4 mi | 556 | Compare → |
| Aptos Junior HighEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | 7–8 | Not available | 588 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Pajaro Valley Unified
- Schools in district
- 34
- Rank in district
- #20 of 33
- District spending per student
- $20,409NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pajaro Middle is listed in Pajaro Valley Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pajaro Middle
Pajaro Middle is a public middle school in Watsonville, CA, part of Pajaro Valley Unified, serving approximately 286 students in grades 7th-8th with a 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #7,737 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pajaro Middle
What grades does Pajaro Middle serve?
Pajaro Middle serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Pajaro Middle?
Pajaro Middle has an enrollment of approximately 286 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pajaro Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Pajaro Middle is 20.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pajaro Middle rank in CA?
Pajaro Middle ranks #7,737 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Pajaro Middle's MySchoolScout rating?
Pajaro Middle has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 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 Pajaro Middle?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pajaro Middle has 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Pajaro Middle a charter school?
No, Pajaro Middle is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pajaro Middle a Title I school?
No, Pajaro Middle is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pajaro Middle?
96.5% of students at Pajaro 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
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 286
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Monterey County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 62.6%
- Phone
- (831) 728-6238
- Area population (ZIP 95076)
- 82,409
- Area average commute
- 27.8 min
- Area median age
- 36.8
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 95076; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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