Below Average
#7448 of 9,539 schools in CA
Starlight Elementary
Elementary School · Pajaro Valley Unified · Watsonville, CA
A Pajaro Valley Unified elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.
225 Hammer Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076
- Math 22% vs CA 39% (2024)
- Reading 20% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Starlight Elementary score 21% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 22 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 21% recently.
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 25% (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
93.5%
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 Starlight 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 75Very Walkable
- Transit 41Some Transit
- Bike 72Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,589/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Watsonville), 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
$86,685
Median home value
$767,200
Median rent
$1,851/mo
College educated
19.3%
Homeownership
56.2%
Poverty rate
13.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95076; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. A. Hyde ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | K–5 | 0.4 mi | 444 | Compare → |
| Landmark ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–5 | 0.6 mi | 405 | Compare → |
| Green Valley Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 161 | Compare → |
| Freedom ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.6 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 499 | 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.
Pajaro Valley Unified
- Schools in district
- 34
- Rank in district
- #17 of 33
- District spending per student
- $20,409NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Starlight Elementary is listed in Pajaro Valley Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Starlight Elementary
Starlight Elementary is a public elementary school in Watsonville, CA, part of Pajaro Valley Unified, serving approximately 414 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #7,448 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Starlight Elementary
What grades does Starlight Elementary serve?
Starlight Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Starlight Elementary?
Starlight Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 414 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Starlight Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Starlight Elementary is 20.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Starlight Elementary rank in CA?
Starlight Elementary ranks #7,448 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Starlight Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Starlight Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 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 Starlight Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Starlight Elementary has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Starlight Elementary a charter school?
No, Starlight Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Starlight Elementary a Title I school?
No, Starlight Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Starlight Elementary?
93.5% of students at Starlight 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
- 414
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 44.4%
- Phone
- (831) 728-6974
- Area population (ZIP 95076)
- 82,409
- Area average commute
- 27.8 min
- Area median age
- 36.8
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 95076; 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
Related 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.