Very Good
#1816 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 19% in state
Santa Cruz High
High School · Santa Cruz City High · Santa Cruz, CA
A Santa Cruz City High high school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.
415 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Math 58% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 75% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 95.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Santa Cruz High score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 9 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 67% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
25.5%
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 High 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 90Walker's Paradise
- Transit 47Some Transit
- Bike 92Biker’s Paradise
- 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
$106,040
Median home value
$1,189,300
Median rent
$2,356/mo
College educated
55.2%
Homeownership
51.9%
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95060; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 6–12 | 1.2 mi | 130 | Compare → |
| Santa Cruz County CommunityEnrollment path unverified | 6.9 | 7–12 | 1.2 mi | 733 | Compare → |
| Santa Cruz County CourtEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | 7–12 | 1.2 mi | 24 | Compare → |
| Santa Cruz County Special EducationEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | K–12 | 1.2 mi | 99 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Santa Cruz City High
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #1 of 9
- District spending per student
- The source marked this value as not applicable.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Santa Cruz High is listed in Santa Cruz City High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Santa Cruz High
Santa Cruz High is a public high school in Santa Cruz, CA, part of Santa Cruz City High, serving approximately 1,104 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,816 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Santa Cruz High
What grades does Santa Cruz High serve?
Santa Cruz High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Santa Cruz High?
Santa Cruz High has an enrollment of approximately 1,104 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz High?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Cruz High is 22.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Santa Cruz High rank in CA?
Santa Cruz High ranks #1,816 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Santa Cruz High's MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Cruz High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 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 High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Santa Cruz High has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Santa Cruz High a charter school?
No, Santa Cruz High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Cruz High a Title I school?
No, Santa Cruz High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Cruz High?
25.5% of students at Santa Cruz High 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
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,104
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 22.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 50
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.3%
- Phone
- (831) 429-3960
- 4-Year Graduation
- 95.0%
- Area population (ZIP 95060)
- 46,024
- Area average commute
- 25 min
- Area median age
- 36.5
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 95060; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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