Very Good
#2742 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 29% in state
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch
Elementary School · Santa Cruz City Elementary
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Enrollment
121
Student-Teacher
24.2:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
121
Student-Teacher
24.2:1
Score
7.3
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Cruz
#9 of 25
public schools
California elementary schools
#1,847 of 5,817
In district
#3 of 5
Santa Cruz City Elementary
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch serves 121 students in kindergarten through fifth grade as an alternative elementary school in Santa Cruz, California. With 5 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 24.2:1, providing a more intimate educational environment than many traditional schools. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, earning a 7.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking in the 72nd percentile statewide at #2707 out of 9566 California elementary schools.
Students show particular strength in English Language Arts, with 63% achieving proficiency or above across grade levels. Mathematics performance shows room for growth, with 47% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards. As an alternative education program, Monarch likely serves students who benefit from specialized instructional approaches or smaller learning environments.
The school's academic score of 8.1 out of 10 reflects its effectiveness in meeting the unique needs of its student population. Located on North Branciforte Avenue, the school sits in the 95062 ZIP code area, where families enjoy a median household income of $101,291 and nearly half of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The school serves this well-educated coastal community in Santa Cruz County's vibrant small city setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 121 students, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch 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.
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch is 24.2:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
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Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch — Students at Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
27.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 10 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.3/10.
How Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch Compares
See how Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 25% (2019) to 49.09% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 75% (2019) to 62.5% (2024).
Location
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ocean Alternative Education Center (rated 8.8/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 0.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Green Acres Elementary (rated 7.1/10, 1.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | 3.2 |
| Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | 5.3 |
| Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | 3.9 |
| Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz | 0.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Gault Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | 7.6 |
| Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | — |
| SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | 4.5 |
| Holy Cross Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | — |
| HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.0 mi | 7.0 |
| De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.2 mi | 6.8 |
| VHM Christian School Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | — |
| Harbor High Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | 6.6 |
| VHM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.1 mi | 6.1 |
| Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz | 1.3 mi | 7.7 |
| THE BAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.3 mi | 7.4 |
| Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz | 1.4 mi | 5.4 |
| Green Acres Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.4 mi | 7.1 |
| MIDTOWN MONTESSORI Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | — |
| Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 3.9 |
| Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 8.8 |
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 Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch 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 |
|---|---|
| El Nido Elementary El Nido, CA | 7.3 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Beverly Hills, CA | 7.3 |
| MAPLE VILLAGE WALDORF SCHOOL Long Beach, CA | 7.3 |
| Outside Creek Elementary Visalia, CA | 7.3 |
| Plainsburg Union Elementary Merced, CA | 7.3 |
| SAHAG-MESROB ARMENIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Altadena, CA | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch
What grades does Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch serve?
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch?
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch has an enrollment of approximately 121 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch is 24.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch rank in CA?
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch is ranked #2742 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch has a composite rating of 7.3 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 Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch has 42.7% math proficiency and 65.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch a charter school?
No, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch a Title I school?
No, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch?
27.3% of students at Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-monarch 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
- 92 Walker's Paradise
- Transit Score
- 48 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 99 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 121
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 24.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 5
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 27.3%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 429-3898
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Santa Cruz City Elementary- District Enrollment
- 1,768
- Schools in District
- 5
- District Rank
- #3 of 5
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.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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