Average
#6659 of 9,539 schools in CA
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
Elementary School · Soquel Union Elementary · Santa Cruz, CA
A Soquel Union Elementary elementary school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.
8005 Winkle Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95065
- Math 46% vs CA 39% (2024)
- Reading 41% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 25.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary score 43% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 16 points since 2018, to 43% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
38.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 15Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,203/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Santa Cruz), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$142,768
Median home value
$1,192,200
Median rent
$2,618/mo
College educated
49.6%
Homeownership
69.9%
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95065; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Laveaga ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 507 | Compare → |
| Good Shepherd Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–8 | 1.3 mi | 163 | Compare → |
| Midtown MontessoriPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 1.4 mi | 5 | Compare → |
| Ocean Alternative Education CenterEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | K–8 | 1.4 mi | 74 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Soquel Union Elementary
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #4 of 4
- District spending per student
- $15,473NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary is listed in Soquel Union Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary is a public elementary school in Santa Cruz, CA, part of Soquel Union Elementary, serving approximately 204 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 25.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #6,659 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
What grades does Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary serve?
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary?
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 204 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary is 25.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary rank in CA?
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary ranks #6,659 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Gardens Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary a charter school?
No, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary a Title I school?
No, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary?
38.2% of students at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 204
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 25.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 8
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 28.4%
- Phone
- (831) 464-5670
- Area population (ZIP 95065)
- 8,031
- Area average commute
- 23.8 min
- Area median age
- 43.1
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 95065; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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