Very Good
#2557 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 27% in state
Santa Cruz County Special Education
School · Santa Cruz County Office of Education
400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Enrollment
99
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
99
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
7.4
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Cruz
#7 of 25
public schools
California schools
#36 of 475
In district
#1 of 3
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Academic growth
10.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Santa Cruz County Special Education
Santa Cruz County Special Education is a regular public school located in Santa Cruz, California, offering education from kindergarten through twelfth grade. With an enrollment of 99 students and a student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, the school provides personalized attention to each child. The setting is within a small city, making it accessible yet intimate.
The school’s MySchoolScout rating stands at 5.6 out of 10, placing it in the 52nd percentile among California schools. While the academic score is 3.5 out of 10, with only 18% proficiency in both ELA/Reading and Math across all grades, Santa Cruz County Special Education focuses on individual student development rather than standardized test performance. Santa Cruz County Special Education serves a unique community within a small city setting, offering specialized education tailored to meet the diverse needs of its students.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 99 students, Santa Cruz County Special Education 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.
While current test scores at Santa Cruz County Special Education 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.
With a student-teacher ratio of 7.1:1, Santa Cruz County Special Education offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Santa Cruz County Special Education — Students at Santa Cruz County Special Education score 25% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
38.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 10.0/10.
How Santa Cruz County Special Education Compares
See how Santa Cruz County Special Education performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 10% (2019) to 25% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 10% (2019) to 25% (2021).
Location
400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Santa Cruz County Special Education may also want to explore other 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), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar 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 Court Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | 6.2 |
| 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 Special Education 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 |
|---|---|
| ARMONA UNION ACADEMY Armona, CA | 7.4 |
| MANZANITA SCHOOL AND INSTITUTE Topanga, CA | 7.5 |
| NISHIYAMATO ACADEMY OF CALIFORNIA Lomita, CA | 7.5 |
| ACACIAWOOD PREPARATORY ACADEMY Anaheim, CA | 7.3 |
| JCS - Cedar Cove Julian, CA | 7.3 |
| MARDAN SCHOOL Irvine, CA | 7.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Santa Cruz County Special Education
What grades does Santa Cruz County Special Education serve?
Santa Cruz County Special Education serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Santa Cruz County Special Education?
Santa Cruz County Special Education has an enrollment of approximately 99 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz County Special Education?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz County Special Education is 7.1:1. 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 Special Education rank in CA?
Santa Cruz County Special Education is ranked #2557 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Santa Cruz County Special Education's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Cruz County Special Education has a composite rating of 7.4 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 Special Education?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Santa Cruz County Special Education has 17.5% math proficiency and 17.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Santa Cruz County Special Education a charter school?
No, Santa Cruz County Special Education is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Cruz County Special Education a Title I school?
No, Santa Cruz County Special Education is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Cruz County Special Education?
38.4% of students at Santa Cruz County Special Education 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
- Walk Score
- 45 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 24 Minimal Transit
- Bike Score
- 70 Very Bikeable
- 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 – 12th
- Enrollment
- 99
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 38.4%
- Type
- special_ed
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 466-5700
- 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
- #1 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.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.