Below Average

#1684 of 1,787 private schools in CA

Santa Cruz Childrens School

Elementary School

366 GAULT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Last updated: July 2026

Private

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

11.7:1

Score

4.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

11.7:1

Score

4.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 6th

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

California private schools

#1,684 of 1,787

In Santa Cruz

#8 of 8

public schools

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About Santa Cruz Childrens School

Santa Cruz Childrens School is a private elementary school in Santa Cruz, CA. Santa Cruz Childrens School serves approximately 48 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-6th, and has a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Santa Cruz Childrens School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,684 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

How it compares1.7 pts below CA schools

4.5

This school 4.5 · Below Average
CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 48 students, Santa Cruz Childrens School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Santa Cruz Childrens School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Santa Cruz Childrens School compares to 20 public schools serving similar grades in Santa Cruz, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio

11.7:1

This School

21.1:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

This School

276

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

4.5

This School

6.6

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 72.9% vs 0%

Hispanic 6.2% vs 0%

Asian 6.2% vs 0%

Santa Cruz Childrens School Santa Cruz Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
Santa Cruz Childrens School (this school)	—	48	11.7:1	4.5
Gault Elementary	0.3 mi	291	22.4:1	6.0
Branciforte Middle	0.4 mi	435	19.8:1	7.4
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch	0.4 mi	121	24.2:1	6.7
Ark Independent Studies	0.5 mi	52	26:1	4.9
Alternative Family Education	0.5 mi	110	27.5:1	5.8
De Laveaga Elementary	1.0 mi	507	24.1:1	6.8
Green Acres Elementary	1.1 mi	301	21.5:1	8.1
Tierra Pacifica Charter	1.1 mi	163	23.3:1	6.7
Ocean Alternative Education Center	1.1 mi	74	18.5:1	7.4
Live Oak Elementary	1.3 mi	362	22.6:1	7.5
Shoreline Middle	1.3 mi	463	17.8:1	7.6
Del Mar Elementary	1.5 mi	310	22.1:1	6.7
Mission Hill Middle	1.8 mi	500	20:1	6.8
Santa Cruz County Special Education	2.0 mi	99	7.1:1	4.8
Bay View Elementary	2.2 mi	378	18.9:1	6.1
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary	2.3 mi	204	25.5:1	5.4
Westlake Elementary	2.4 mi	471	24.8:1	6.2
Brook Knoll Elementary	3.0 mi	467	22.2:1	7.0
Happy Valley Elementary	3.2 mi	122	20.3:1	8.4
Bonny Doon Elementary	9.7 mi	97	13.9:1	6.4

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

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

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

B 6.1 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 11.7:1

Instructional Commitment

C- 2.0 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 6 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,020

Diversity & Inclusion

B- 4.9 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 44%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

C 3.3 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 48

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 72.9%

Two or More 14.6%

Hispanic 6.2%

Asian 6.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

366 GAULT ST, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Santa Cruz Childrens School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Green Acres Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Live Oak Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Ocean Alternative Education Center (rated 7.4/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz	0.0 mi	42	—
Gault Elementary Santa Cruz	0.3 mi	291	6.0
Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz	0.4 mi	435	7.4
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz	0.4 mi	121	6.7
Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz	0.5 mi	52	4.9
Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz	0.5 mi	87	4.7
Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz	0.5 mi	110	5.8
VHM Christian School Santa Cruz	0.7 mi	41	—
VHM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Santa Cruz	0.7 mi	62	6.1
Harbor High Santa Cruz	0.8 mi	1,040	6.9
De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz	1.0 mi	507	6.8
THE BAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz	0.9 mi	34	7.4
Green Acres Elementary Santa Cruz	1.1 mi	301	8.1
MIDTOWN MONTESSORI Santa Cruz	1.1 mi	5	—
Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz	1.1 mi	163	6.7
Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz	1.1 mi	74	7.4
Shoreline Middle Santa Cruz	1.3 mi	463	7.6
Live Oak Elementary Santa Cruz	1.3 mi	362	7.5
Holy Cross Santa Cruz	1.3 mi	164	—
HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz	1.3 mi	139	7.0

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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School	Enrollment	Rating
Castle Rock Elementary Castella, CA	40	4.5
HOLLISTER SDA CHRISTIAN SCHO Hollister, CA	34	4.5
KLA SCHOOLS OF WALNUT CREEK Walnut Creek, CA	33	4.5
PEPPERMINT JUNCTION Oxnard, CA	53	4.5
ST PETER CLAVER PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN Simi Valley, CA	32	4.5
CASTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Los Angeles, CA	45	4.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Santa Cruz Childrens School

What grades does Santa Cruz Childrens School serve?

Santa Cruz Childrens School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Santa Cruz Childrens School?

Santa Cruz Childrens School has an enrollment of approximately 48 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz Childrens School?

The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz Childrens School is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Santa Cruz Childrens School rank in CA?

Santa Cruz Childrens School ranks #1,684 of 1,787 private schools in CA.

What is Santa Cruz Childrens School's MySchoolScout rating?

Santa Cruz Childrens School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Santa Cruz Childrens School a private school?

Yes, Santa Cruz Childrens School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Santa Cruz Childrens School a religious school?

No, Santa Cruz Childrens School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

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Neighborhood Context

Walk Score: 87 Very Walkable
Transit Score: 43 Some Transit
Bike Score: 100 Biker’s Paradise

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment: 48
Gender Split: 42% M / 58% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 11.7:1
Teachers (FTE): 4
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Nonsectarian
School Day: 6 hours
Days Per Year: 170 days
Setting: Small City
County: Santa Cruz County
Phone: (831) 429-8444

Resources & Links

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Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 Census ACS2019-2023 MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

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