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Very Good

#288 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 16% of private schools

The Bay School

School

1026 CAPITOLA RD, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 25 schools in Santa Cruz. Learn more

Enrollment

34

Student-Teacher

6.8:1

Score

7.4

Grades

UG – UG

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Santa Cruz

#1 of 8

public schools

California schools

#68 of 366

About The Bay School

THE BAY SCHOOL serves 34 students with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 6.8:1, providing an intimate learning environment with 5 full-time equivalent teachers. This regular public school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #321 out of 1790 schools statewide and achieving a 9.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating, placing it in the 82nd percentile among California schools. The small enrollment creates opportunities for individualized attention and close student-teacher relationships that larger schools often cannot provide.

With nearly half of the surrounding community holding bachelor's degrees or higher, THE BAY SCHOOL operates in an academically-oriented environment where education is highly valued. Located on Capitola Road in Santa Cruz, the school sits in a mid-size suburban setting where the median household income of $101,291 reflects a relatively affluent community. The neighborhood's median home value of $968,300 indicates a stable, established area with families invested in their community.

THE BAY SCHOOL's combination of small size, strong academic reputation, and dedicated teaching staff creates a unique educational environment where every student can receive personalized attention. The school serves families in one of Santa Cruz's desirable suburban neighborhoods, surrounded by a community that prioritizes educational achievement and maintains strong property values.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 34 students, The Bay School 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.8:1, The Bay School 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.

As a private school, The Bay School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$822,862
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$865,555
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.05x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
89%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$73.0M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 34 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How The Bay School compares to 26 public schools serving similar grades in Santa Cruz, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.8:1
This School
vs
20.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
34
This School
vs
348
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.4
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 47.1% vs 0%
Asian 29.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 17.6% vs 0%
Black 5.9% vs 0%
The Bay School Santa Cruz Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
The Bay School (this school) 7.4
Live Oak Elementary 4.3
Tierra Pacifica Charter 3.9
Green Acres Elementary 7.1
Ocean Alternative Education Center 8.8
Harbor High 6.6
Shoreline Middle 6.7
Del Mar Elementary 5.8
De Laveaga Elementary 6.8
Gault Elementary 7.6
Branciforte Middle 6.0
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch 7.3
Ark Independent Studies 3.2
Costanoa Continuation High 5.3
Alternative Family Education 3.9
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary 3.5
Santa Cruz High 7.7
Mission Hill Middle 5.4
Santa Cruz County Special Education 7.4
Santa Cruz County Community 6.2
Santa Cruz County Court

Showing 20 of 26 schools. View all schools in Santa Cruz

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.8:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,419.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 66%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C- 2.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 34
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 47.1%
Asian 29.4%
Hispanic 17.6%
Black 5.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1026 CAPITOLA RD, Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The Bay School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Ocean Alternative Education Center (rated 8.8/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Gault Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch (rated 7.3/10, 1.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
VHM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Santa Cruz 0.3 mi 6.1
VHM Christian School Santa Cruz 0.3 mi
Green Acres Elementary Santa Cruz 0.5 mi 7.1
Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz 0.5 mi 3.9
Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz 0.5 mi 8.8
Live Oak Elementary Santa Cruz 0.4 mi 4.3
MIDTOWN MONTESSORI Santa Cruz 0.5 mi
Harbor High Santa Cruz 0.6 mi 6.6
Shoreline Middle Santa Cruz 0.7 mi 6.7
Del Mar Elementary Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 5.8
De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz 1.0 mi 6.8
SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz 0.9 mi 4.5
Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz 0.9 mi
GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Santa Cruz 1.0 mi 7.2
Gault Elementary Santa Cruz 1.1 mi 7.6
Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz 1.2 mi 6.0
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz 1.3 mi 7.3
Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz 1.4 mi 3.2
Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz 1.4 mi 5.3
Alternative Family Education Santa Cruz 1.4 mi 3.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 95062 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$108,261

Median Home Value

$1,064,600

Median Rent

$2,291/mo

Population

36,047

College Educated

50.7%

Homeownership

53.6%

Avg Commute

22.6 min

Poverty Rate

13.3%

Median Age

42.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding The Bay School has a median household income of $108,261. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,064,600, with a median rent of $2,291/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.3%. The average commute for residents is 23 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
SHIELD OF FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL El Monte, CA 7.4
San Mateo County Special Education Redwood City, CA 7.4
BEACH CITIES LEARNING SAN GABRIEL San Gabriel, CA 7.3
Harry P B Carden Marysville, CA 7.3
Kelseyville Learning Academy Kelseyville, CA 7.3
A BETTER CHANCE SCHOOL/CAL AUTISM FOUNDATION Richmond, CA 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The Bay School

What grades does The Bay School serve?

The Bay School serves students in grades UG through UG.

How many students attend The Bay School?

The Bay School has an enrollment of approximately 34 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Bay School?

The student-teacher ratio at The Bay School is 6.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does The Bay School rank in CA?

The Bay School is ranked #288 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is The Bay School's MySchoolScout rating?

The Bay School 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.

Is The Bay School a private school?

Yes, The Bay School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is The Bay School a religious school?

No, The Bay School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
75 Very Walkable
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
84 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,203/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Cruz). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
UG – UG
Enrollment
34
Gender Split
68% M / 32% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
5
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.2 hours
Days Per Year
229 days
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
SANTA CRUZ
Data Year
2022–2023

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 methodology

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