Excellent
#685 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 7% in state
Valencia Elementary
Elementary School · Pajaro Valley Unified
250 Aptos School Rd., Aptos, CA 95003
Enrollment
487
Student-Teacher
20.3:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
487
Student-Teacher
20.3:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Aptos
#1 of 6
public schools
California elementary schools
#508 of 5,817
In district
#1 of 33
Pajaro Valley Unified
Equity
8.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Valencia Elementary
Valencia Elementary is a public elementary school in Aptos, CA, part of the Pajaro Valley Unified. The school serves approximately 487 students in grades Kindergarten – 6th with a student-teacher ratio of 20.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 92.8th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 58% proficiency in math, 20 points above the state average and 65% in reading/language arts, 20 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.7/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $140,990, where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a midsize suburban setting.
What Parents Should Know
The student-teacher ratio at Valencia Elementary is 20.3:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Valencia Elementary — Students at Valencia Elementary score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
36.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 12 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.7/10.
How Valencia Elementary Compares
See how Valencia Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 56% (2019) to 57.93% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 64% (2019) to 65.06% (2024).
Location
250 Aptos School Rd., Aptos, CA 95003
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Valencia Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Mountain Elementary (rated 7.6/10, 4.5 miles away, in nearby Soquel), with a comparable rating. Another option is Main Street Elementary (rated 6.6/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Soquel), a more accessible option. Additionally, Soquel Elementary (rated 6.6/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby Soquel), a more accessible option. For more schools in Aptos, see our Aptos schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Seacliff Academy Aptos | 0.6 mi | — |
| Chrysostom Classical Academy Aptos | 0.7 mi | — |
| Aptos Junior High Aptos | 0.7 mi | 5.0 |
| ORCHARD SCHOOL Aptos | 1.4 mi | 5.2 |
| Mar Vista Elementary Aptos | 1.4 mi | 5.2 |
| Rio del Mar Elementary Aptos | 1.6 mi | 5.0 |
| Delta Charter Aptos | 1.8 mi | 6.1 |
| Aptos High Aptos | 1.8 mi | 6.8 |
| TWIN LAKES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Aptos | 1.9 mi | 5.1 |
| St. Abraham's Classical Christian Academy Aptos | 2.1 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz Montessori School Wavecrest Junior High Soquel | 2.4 mi | — |
| New Brighton Middle Capitola | 2.9 mi | 5.4 |
| Tara Redwood School Soquel | 3.2 mi | — |
| Main Street Elementary Soquel | 3.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Soquel Elementary Soquel | 3.5 mi | 6.6 |
| Opal Cliffs Capitola | 3.6 mi | — |
| Soquel High Soquel | 3.7 mi | 7.4 |
| Renaissance High Continuation La Selva Beach | 4.4 mi | 6.4 |
| Mountain Elementary Soquel | 4.5 mi | 7.6 |
| MERIT ACADEMY Santa Cruz | 4.6 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95003 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$140,990
Median Home Value
$1,154,000
Median Rent
$2,548/mo
Population
24,708
College Educated
54.5%
Homeownership
72.2%
Avg Commute
27.9 min
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Median Age
48.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Valencia Elementary has a median household income of $140,990. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,154,000, with a median rent of $2,548/month. The local poverty rate of 3.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 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 |
|---|---|
| Aspire Firestone Academy Charter Oakland, CA | 8.5 |
| Birney Tech Academy Pico Rivera, CA | 8.5 |
| Carver Elementary Los Angeles, CA | 8.5 |
| Charles W. Barrett Elementary Los Angeles, CA | 8.5 |
| Cherry Chase Elementary Sunnyvale, CA | 8.5 |
| Cherrywood Elementary San Jose, CA | 8.5 |
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 is ranked #685 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Valencia Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Valencia Elementary has a composite rating of 8.5 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.
What are the test scores at Valencia Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Valencia Elementary has 57.9% math proficiency and 65.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 487
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 36.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 728-7836
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Pajaro Valley Unified- District Enrollment
- 17,013
- Schools in District
- 34
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $20,409
- District Rank
- #1 of 33
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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