Santa Cruz County schools ranked by test score
Latest CAASPP year (2024-25). 61 schools in Santa Cruz County, California with reported English Language Arts scores. California state average: 49.4%.
| Rank | School | Level | English Language Arts | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Happy Valley Elementary Santa Cruz · Happy Valley Elementary | Elementary | 80.0% | +30.6pp |
| 2 | Loma Prieta Elementary Los Gatos · Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary | Elementary | 78.4% | +28.9pp |
| 3 | C. T. English Middle Los Gatos · Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary | Middle | 73.9% | +24.5pp |
| 4 | Brook Knoll Elementary Santa Cruz · Scotts Valley Unified | Elementary | 73.4% | +23.9pp |
| 5 | Soquel High Soquel · Santa Cruz City High | High | 72.5% | +23.1pp |
| 6 | Scotts Valley Middle Scotts Valley · Scotts Valley Unified | Middle | 69.5% | +20.1pp |
| 7 | Scotts Valley High Scotts Valley · Scotts Valley Unified | High | 69.0% | +19.6pp |
| 8 | Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City High | High | 69.0% | +19.6pp |
| 9 | Mountain Elementary Soquel · Mountain Elementary | Elementary | 68.8% | +19.3pp |
| 10 | Vine Hill Elementary Scotts Valley · Scotts Valley Unified | Elementary | 68.8% | +19.3pp |
| 11 | Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City Elementary | Elementary | 66.8% | +17.4pp |
| 12 | San Lorenzo Valley High Felton · San Lorenzo Valley Unified | High | 66.1% | +16.7pp |
| 13 | SLVUSD Charter Ben Lomond · San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Combined | 64.3% | +14.9pp |
| 14 | Valencia Elementary Aptos · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 63.2% | +13.8pp |
| 15 | Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City High | Middle | 60.0% | +10.5pp |
| 16 | Boulder Creek Elementary Boulder Creek · San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Elementary | 59.8% | +10.4pp |
| 17 | Harbor High Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City High | High | 59.7% | +10.3pp |
| 18 | Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City High | Middle | 58.9% | +9.5pp |
| 19 | New Brighton Middle Capitola · Soquel Union Elementary | Middle | 57.9% | +8.5pp |
| 20 | Rio del Mar Elementary Aptos · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 57.6% | +8.2pp |
| 21 | Bonny Doon Elementary Santa Cruz · Bonny Doon Union Elementary | Elementary | 56.5% | +7.1pp |
| 22 | De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City Elementary | Elementary | 55.9% | +6.5pp |
| 23 | Pacific Elementary Davenport · Pacific Elementary | Elementary | 55.7% | +6.3pp |
| 24 | Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City Elementary | Elementary | 55.3% | +5.8pp |
| 25 | Linscott Charter Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 54.3% | +4.9pp |
| 26 | Main Street Elementary Soquel · Soquel Union Elementary | Elementary | 53.4% | +3.9pp |
| 27 | Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz · Live Oak Elementary | Elementary | 52.2% | +2.7pp |
| 28 | Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz · Live Oak Elementary | Elementary | 50.0% | +0.6pp |
| 29 | Shoreline Middle Santa Cruz · Live Oak Elementary | Middle | 50.0% | +0.6pp |
| 30 | San Lorenzo Valley Elementary Felton · San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Elementary | 49.6% | +0.2pp |
| 31 | Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary Santa Cruz · Soquel Union Elementary | Elementary | 49.5% | +0.0pp |
| 32 | Gault Elementary Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz City Elementary | Elementary | 47.1% | -2.3pp |
| 33 | San Lorenzo Valley Middle Felton · San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Middle | 46.5% | -2.9pp |
| 34 | Aptos High Aptos · Pajaro Valley Unified | High | 46.5% | -2.9pp |
| 35 | Green Acres Elementary Santa Cruz · Live Oak Elementary | Elementary | 46.1% | -3.3pp |
| 36 | Pacific Coast Charter Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Combined | 44.3% | -5.2pp |
| 37 | Soquel Elementary Soquel · Soquel Union Elementary | Elementary | 44.0% | -5.4pp |
| 38 | Aptos Junior High Aptos · Pajaro Valley Unified | Middle | 43.3% | -6.1pp |
| 39 | Alianza Charter Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 42.5% | -6.9pp |
| 40 | Del Mar Elementary Santa Cruz · Live Oak Elementary | Elementary | 40.4% | -9.0pp |
| 41 | Mar Vista Elementary Aptos · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 40.1% | -9.3pp |
| 42 | Pajaro Valley High Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | High | 40.0% | -9.4pp |
| 43 | Live Oak Elementary Santa Cruz · Live Oak Elementary | Elementary | 39.1% | -10.3pp |
| 44 | Watsonville High Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | High | 38.9% | -10.5pp |
| 45 | Bradley Elementary Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 35.3% | -14.1pp |
| 46 | Watsonville Charter School of the Arts Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 29.9% | -19.5pp |
| 47 | Delta Charter Aptos · Santa Cruz City High | High | 24.4% | -25.0pp |
| 48 | Starlight Elementary Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 22.7% | -26.8pp |
| 49 | Rolling Hills Middle Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Middle | 18.7% | -30.7pp |
| 50 | Ann Soldo Elementary Watsonville · Pajaro Valley Unified | Elementary | 16.6% | -32.9pp |
About this ranking
Schools are ranked by the percentage of students who scored at or above the CAASPP % met or exceeded standard threshold on the latest available CAASPP English Language Arts test (school year 2024-25). Only public schools in Santa Cruz County, California with a reasonable cohort size are shown. A higher percentage is better.
The comparison column shows the gap to the California statewide enrollment-weighted average. To compare against neighboring counties, use the full California ranking.