Below Average
#7638 of 9,539 schools in CA
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
4.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
99
Student-Teacher
7.1:1
Score
4.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#7,638 of 9,539
In Santa Cruz
#24 of 25
public schools
In district
#3 of 3
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
School environment
9.8 / 10
Excellent
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Santa Cruz County Special Education
School in Santa Cruz · grades Kindergarten – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
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About Santa Cruz County Special Education
Santa Cruz County Special Education is a public school in Santa Cruz, CA, part of Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Santa Cruz County Special Education serves approximately 99 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-12th, and has a 7.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Santa Cruz County Special Education has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #7,638 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Santa Cruz County Special Education show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).
- This school 4.8 · Below Average
- District avg 5.6
- CA avg 6.3
What Parents Should Know
At 99 students, Santa Cruz County Special Education 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.
At 7.1:1 students to teachers, Santa Cruz County Special Education sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
58% of students at Santa Cruz County Special Education were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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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 20 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 4.6/10.
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
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 9.4/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Santa Cruz High (rated 7.9/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Branciforte Middle (rated 7.4/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. 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 | 6.9 |
| Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | — |
| Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | 6.8 |
| Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | 6.2 |
| 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 | 7.9 |
| Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 6.1 |
| SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 5.7 |
| Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 5.8 |
| Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 4.7 |
| Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 4.9 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 6.7 |
| Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 7.4 |
| Brook Knoll Elementary Santa Cruz | 2.0 mi | 7.0 |
| Gault Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.9 mi | 6.0 |
| Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz | 2.2 mi | 9.4 |
| 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
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln Alternative Rosamond, CA | 4.8 |
| La Vida Charter Ukiah, CA | 4.8 |
| RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Glenn, CA | 4.8 |
| District Special Education Stockton, CA | 4.7 |
| MONTECITO BAPTIST SCHOOL Ontario, CA | 4.7 |
| Madera County Independent Academy Madera, CA | 4.7 |
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 ranks #7,638 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Santa Cruz County Special Education's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Cruz County Special Education has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Santa Cruz County Special Education?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Santa Cruz County Special Education has 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).
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
Powered by 
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
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 57.6%
- Phone
- (831) 466-5700
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
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