Average
#5214 of 9,533 schools in CA
Santa Cruz County Community
High School · Santa Cruz County Office of Education
400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Enrollment
733
Student-Teacher
23.6:1
Score
6.2
Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
733
Student-Teacher
23.6:1
Score
6.2
Grades
7th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Cruz
#16 of 25
public schools
California high schools
#1,098 of 1,892
In district
#3 of 3
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
School environment
8.6 / 10
Exceptional
About Santa Cruz County Community
Santa Cruz County Community is an alternative high school located in Santa Cruz, California. Serving students from seventh through twelfth grade, the school has a total enrollment of 733 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 23.6:1 with 31 full-time equivalent teachers. As an alternative school, it offers unique educational opportunities for students who may not thrive in traditional settings.
Academically, Santa Cruz County Community scores a MySchoolScout Rating of 3.8 out of 10 and ranks 7389th among California’s 9566 schools, placing it around the 23rd percentile. The school's academic score is 2.3 out of 10, with 31% proficiency or above in ELA/Reading and only 6% proficient or above in Math across all grades. While these numbers indicate areas for improvement, the school continues to focus on student development and support.
The setting of Santa Cruz County Community is within a small city, providing students with a close-knit community atmosphere that encourages personal growth and individual attention.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Santa Cruz County Community are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz County Community is 23.6:1, 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
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Santa Cruz County Community — Students at Santa Cruz County Community score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
50.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 6 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: 7.5/10.
How Santa Cruz County Community Compares
See how Santa Cruz County Community performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 7.5% (2019) to 5.49% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 32% (2019) to 29.76% (2024).
Location
400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Santa Cruz County Community may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Pacific Collegiate Charter (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Santa Cruz High (rated 7.7/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Costanoa Continuation High (rated 5.3/10, 1.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County Special Education Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | 7.4 |
| Santa Cruz County Court Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | — |
| Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | — |
| Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | 5.4 |
| Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | 6.5 |
| HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Holy Cross Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz | 1.2 mi | 7.7 |
| Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 7.3 |
| SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 5.7 |
| Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 3.9 |
| Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 5.3 |
| Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 3.2 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 7.3 |
| Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 6.0 |
| Brook Knoll Elementary Santa Cruz | 2.0 mi | 7.1 |
| Gault Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.9 mi | 7.6 |
| Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz | 2.2 mi | 9.0 |
| Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz | 1.9 mi | — |
| SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 2.0 mi | 4.5 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95060 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$106,040
Median Home Value
$1,189,300
Median Rent
$2,356/mo
Population
46,024
College Educated
55.2%
Homeownership
51.9%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
17.1%
Median Age
36.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Santa Cruz County Community has a median household income of $106,040. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,189,300, with a median rent of $2,356/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.1%. The average commute for residents is 25 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 |
|---|---|
| Aspire Ollin University Preparatory Academy Huntington Park, CA | 6.2 |
| Da Vinci Charter Academy Davis, CA | 6.2 |
| Foothill Technology High Ventura, CA | 6.2 |
| Inglewood High Inglewood, CA | 6.2 |
| Madison Park Academy 6-12 Oakland, CA | 6.2 |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL San Jose, CA | 6.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Santa Cruz County Community
What grades does Santa Cruz County Community serve?
Santa Cruz County Community serves students in grades 7th through 12th.
How many students attend Santa Cruz County Community?
Santa Cruz County Community has an enrollment of approximately 733 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz County Community?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz County Community is 23.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Santa Cruz County Community rank in CA?
Santa Cruz County Community is ranked #5214 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Santa Cruz County Community's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Cruz County Community has a composite rating of 6.2 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 County Community?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Santa Cruz County Community has 6.3% math proficiency and 30.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Santa Cruz County Community a charter school?
No, Santa Cruz County Community is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Cruz County Community a Title I school?
No, Santa Cruz County Community is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Cruz County Community?
50.9% of students at Santa Cruz County Community qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (3,203/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Cruz). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 7th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 733
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 23.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 31
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 50.9%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 466-5728
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Santa Cruz County Office of Education- District Enrollment
- 1,024
- Schools in District
- 4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $47,265
- District Rank
- #3 of 3
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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