Excellent
#1446 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 15% in state
Valencia Elementary
Elementary School · Pajaro Valley Unified · Aptos, CA
A Pajaro Valley Unified elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
250 Aptos School Rd., Aptos, CA 95003
- Math 58% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 66% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Valencia Elementary score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 5 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 62% recently.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 64% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
36.3%
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 Valencia 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 30Car-Dependent
- Bike 60Bikeable
- County Safety: Average487/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$140,990
Median home value
$1,154,000
Median rent
$2,548/mo
College educated
54.5%
Homeownership
72.2%
Poverty rate
3.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95003; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysostom Classical AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 45 | Compare → |
| Mar Vista ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–6 | 1.4 mi | 311 | Compare → |
| Orchard SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | K–6 | 1.4 mi | 45 | Compare → |
| Alianza CharterCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.9 | K–8 | Not available | 648 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment 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
- #2 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
Valencia Elementary is listed in Pajaro Valley Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Valencia Elementary
Valencia Elementary is a public elementary school in Aptos, CA, part of Pajaro Valley Unified, serving approximately 487 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 20.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,446 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Valencia Elementary
What grades does Valencia Elementary serve?
Valencia Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Valencia Elementary?
Valencia Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 487 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valencia Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Valencia Elementary is 20.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Valencia Elementary rank in CA?
Valencia Elementary ranks #1,446 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Valencia Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Valencia Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Valencia Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valencia Elementary has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Valencia Elementary a charter school?
No, Valencia Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valencia Elementary a Title I school?
No, Valencia Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valencia Elementary?
36.3% of students at Valencia 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 – 6th
- Enrollment
- 487
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.6%
- Phone
- (831) 728-7836
- Area population (ZIP 95003)
- 24,708
- Area average commute
- 27.9 min
- Area median age
- 48.1
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 95003; 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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