Average
#5316 of 9,539 schools in CA
Pajaro Valley High
High School · Pajaro Valley Unified · Watsonville, CA
A Pajaro Valley Unified high school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
500 Harkins Slough Rd., Watsonville, CA 95076
- Math 15% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 37% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 87.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Pajaro Valley High score 26% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 7 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 26% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 26 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
78.9%
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 Valley High 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 27Car-Dependent
- Transit 31Some Transit
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New School Community DayEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | 9–12 | 0.8 mi | 40 | Compare → |
| Diamond Technology InstituteCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.9 | 9–12 | 1.2 mi | 83 | Compare → |
| Ceiba College Preparatory AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.1 | 6–12 | 1.9 mi | 507 | Compare → |
| Santa Cruz County Career Advancement CharterCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.2 | 12 | 2.0 mi | 167 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Pajaro Valley Unified
- Schools in district
- 34
- Rank in district
- #9 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 Valley High is listed in Pajaro Valley Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pajaro Valley High
Pajaro Valley High is a public high school in Watsonville, CA, part of Pajaro Valley Unified, serving approximately 1,428 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #5,316 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pajaro Valley High
What grades does Pajaro Valley High serve?
Pajaro Valley High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Pajaro Valley High?
Pajaro Valley High has an enrollment of approximately 1,428 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pajaro Valley High?
The student-teacher ratio at Pajaro Valley High is 22:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pajaro Valley High rank in CA?
Pajaro Valley High ranks #5,316 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Pajaro Valley High's MySchoolScout rating?
Pajaro Valley High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 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 Valley High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pajaro Valley High has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 41% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Pajaro Valley High a charter school?
No, Pajaro Valley High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pajaro Valley High a Title I school?
No, Pajaro Valley High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pajaro Valley High?
78.9% of students at Pajaro Valley High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 65
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 35.1%
- Phone
- (831) 728-8102
- 4-Year Graduation
- 87.0%
- Area population (ZIP 95076)
- 82,409
- Area average commute
- 27.8 min
- Area median age
- 36.8
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 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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