Best traditional public schools in Pajaro Valley Unified (2025)

District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 25 schools in Pajaro Valley Unified, California. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and California.

1
72
Rio del Mar ElementaryAptos · Public Elementary63% Math proficiency · 393 students
2
63
Valencia ElementaryAptos · Public Elementary56% Math proficiency · 487 students
3
53
Aptos Junior HighAptos · Public Middle49% Math proficiency · 587 students
4
51
Aptos HighAptos · Public High39% Math proficiency · 1,274 students
5
43
Mar Vista ElementaryAptos · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 270 students
6
34
Bradley ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 520 students
7
20
Watsonville HighWatsonville · Public High17% Math proficiency · 2,215 students
8
17
Pajaro Valley HighWatsonville · Public High13% Math proficiency · 1,293 students
9
17
Freedom ElementaryFreedom · Public Elementary26% Math proficiency · 479 students
10
16
Ann Soldo ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary25% Math proficiency · 377 students
11
14
Ohlone ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 391 students
12
13
Starlight ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary28% Math proficiency · 383 students
13
12
Landmark ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary18% Math proficiency · 419 students
14
10
Cesar E. Chavez MiddleWatsonville · Public Middle11% Math proficiency · 548 students
15
10
Hall District ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 470 students
16
10
H. A. Hyde ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary19% Math proficiency · 476 students
17
9
Mintie White ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary19% Math proficiency · 493 students
18
9
T. S. MacQuiddy ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary16% Math proficiency · 438 students
19
9
Amesti ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary18% Math proficiency · 431 students
20
8
Calabasas ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary18% Math proficiency · 512 students
21
7
Lakeview MiddleWatsonville · Public Middle10% Math proficiency · 425 students
22
7
Rolling Hills MiddleWatsonville · Public Middle10% Math proficiency · 588 students
23
7
Pajaro MiddleWatsonville · Public Middle7% Math proficiency · 398 students
24
7
Radcliff ElementaryWatsonville · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 409 students
25
5
E. A. Hall MiddleWatsonville · Public Middle6% Math proficiency · 491 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	Rio del Mar Elementary Aptos · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	71.6 Top 25%	63% Math proficiency	393
2	Valencia Elementary Aptos · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	62.5 Top 50%	56% Math proficiency	487
3	Aptos Junior High Aptos · Middle · Grades 7–8	Public	53.4 Top 50%	49% Math proficiency	587
4	Aptos High Aptos · High · Grades 9–12	Public	51.1 Top 50%	39% Math proficiency	1,274
5	Mar Vista Elementary Aptos · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	42.7 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	270
6	Bradley Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	33.8 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	520
7	Watsonville High Watsonville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	20.3 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	2,215
8	Pajaro Valley High Watsonville · High · Grades 9–12	Public	17.4 Lower 50%	13% Math proficiency	1,293
9	Freedom Elementary Freedom · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	16.9 Lower 50%	26% Math proficiency	479
10	Ann Soldo Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	15.7 Lower 50%	25% Math proficiency	377
11	Ohlone Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	14.1 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	391
12	Starlight Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	12.9 Lower 50%	28% Math proficiency	383
13	Landmark Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	11.7 Lower 50%	18% Math proficiency	419
14	Cesar E. Chavez Middle Watsonville · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	10.1 Lower 50%	11% Math proficiency	548
15	Hall District Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	9.8 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	470
16	H. A. Hyde Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	9.6 Lower 50%	19% Math proficiency	476
17	Mintie White Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	9.3 Lower 50%	19% Math proficiency	493
18	T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	9.1 Lower 50%	16% Math proficiency	438
19	Amesti Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	8.6 Lower 50%	18% Math proficiency	431
20	Calabasas Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	8.4 Lower 50%	18% Math proficiency	512
21	Lakeview Middle Watsonville · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	6.8 Lower 50%	10% Math proficiency	425
22	Rolling Hills Middle Watsonville · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	6.7 Lower 50%	10% Math proficiency	588
23	Pajaro Middle Watsonville · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	6.6 Lower 50%	7% Math proficiency	398
24	Radcliff Elementary Watsonville · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	6.6 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	409
25	E. A. Hall Middle Watsonville · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	4.6 Lower 50%	6% Math proficiency	491

Rio del Mar Elementary in Aptos leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with a Success Index (US) of 71.6. Of the 25 schools shown, 25 are public.

For the full picture see the wider California traditional public schools rankings, every school on the Pajaro Valley Unified page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best public school in Pajaro Valley Unified?

Rio del Mar Elementary in Aptos, California ranks first among traditional public schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with a Success Index (US) of 71.6 out of 100 (Enrollment: 393).

How are traditional public schools in Pajaro Valley Unified ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.