Schools in Santa Cruz, California (2025)
20 schools · 7,779 students · 18 public, 2 charter · median Enrollment 394.
Santa Cruz, in California, has 20 schools in United States's 2025 data, together educating about 7,779 students. By level there are 13 elementary, 3 high, 3 middle, 1 other; by sector 18 public, 2 charter.
The median Enrollment across Santa Cruz's schools is 394, below the California median of 503. Students enrolled in the latest NCES directory year.
19 of the 20 schools qualify for the Success Index (US). The highest-scoring is Happy Valley Elementary (87.2, top 5% of elementary schools nationally), followed by Brook Knoll Elementary (76.4, top 25% of elementary schools nationally), and Tierra Pacifica Charter (75.3, top 25% of elementary schools nationally). One school sits in the top 10% of United States for its type. Scores are percentiles within school type, so compare an elementary school with other elementary schools.
The largest schools are Santa Cruz High (1,093 students), Harbor High (1,013 students), Pacific Collegiate Charter (536 students).
Ranked schools in Santa Cruz
Ordered by Success Index (US). Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and California.
- 187Happy Valley ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary77% Math proficiency · 106 students
- 276Brook Knoll ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary69% Math proficiency · 498 students
- 375Tierra Pacifica CharterSanta Cruz · Charter Elementary72% Math proficiency · 166 students
- 475Westlake ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary68% Math proficiency · 453 students
- 572Pacific Collegiate CharterSanta Cruz · Charter High9.7% Free/reduced-price lunch · 536 students
- 669Santa Cruz HighSanta Cruz · Public High63% Math proficiency · 1,093 students
- 768Bonny Doon ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 92 students
- 866Mission Hill MiddleSanta Cruz · Public Middle50% Math proficiency · 510 students
- 964Santa Cruz Gardens ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary57% Math proficiency · 214 students
- 1058Harbor HighSanta Cruz · Public High42% Math proficiency · 1,013 students
- 1156Branciforte MiddleSanta Cruz · Public Middle41% Math proficiency · 409 students
- 1254De Laveaga ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 481 students
- 1353Live Oak ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 362 students
- 1448Green Acres ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 262 students
- 1544Ocean Alternative Education CenterSanta Cruz · Public Elementary24.5% Math proficiency · 76 students
- 1642Del Mar ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 322 students
- 1741Shoreline MiddleSanta Cruz · Public Middle38% Math proficiency · 478 students
- 1839Bay View ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 394 students
- 1930Gault ElementarySanta Cruz · Public Elementary32% Math proficiency · 314 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (US) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Happy Valley Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 87.2 Top 5% | 77% Math proficiency | 106 |
| 2 | Brook Knoll Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 76.4 Top 25% | 69% Math proficiency | 498 |
| 3 | Tierra Pacifica Charter Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–8 | Charter | 75.3 Top 25% | 72% Math proficiency | 166 |
| 4 | Westlake Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 74.8 Top 25% | 68% Math proficiency | 453 |
| 5 | Pacific Collegiate Charter Santa Cruz · High · Grades 7–12 | Charter | 71.9 Top 25% | 9.7% Free/reduced-price lunch | 536 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 68.8 Top 25% | 63% Math proficiency | 1,093 |
| 7 | Bonny Doon Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 68.2 Top 25% | 52% Math proficiency | 92 |
| 8 | Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 66.2 Top 50% | 50% Math proficiency | 510 |
| 9 | Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 64.2 Top 50% | 57% Math proficiency | 214 |
| 10 | Harbor High Santa Cruz · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 57.7 Top 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 1,013 |
| 11 | Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 56.0 Top 50% | 41% Math proficiency | 409 |
| 12 | De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 53.9 Top 50% | 46% Math proficiency | 481 |
| 13 | Live Oak Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 52.6 Top 50% | 52% Math proficiency | 362 |
| 14 | Green Acres Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 47.8 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 262 |
| 15 | Ocean Alternative Education Center Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–8 | Public | 44.1 Lower 50% | 24.5% Math proficiency | 76 |
| 16 | Del Mar Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 41.6 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 322 |
| 17 | Shoreline Middle Santa Cruz · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 40.7 Lower 50% | 38% Math proficiency | 478 |
| 18 | Bay View Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 39.2 Lower 50% | 35% Math proficiency | 394 |
| 19 | Gault Elementary Santa Cruz · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 30.4 Lower 50% | 32% Math proficiency | 314 |
Other schools in Santa Cruz
Schools without a rank: fewer than 60 students, no published Enrollment, or a school type that is not scored.
Compare the top 4 schools in Santa Cruz side by side →
Other places in California
- Los Angeles(501)
- San Diego(268)
- San Jose(214)
- Sacramento(182)
- Fresno(165)
- Bakersfield(142)
- San Francisco(120)
- Oakland(112)
- Stockton(111)
- Santa Ana(76)
- Long Beach(74)
- Modesto(72)
- San Bernardino(70)
- Riverside(66)
- Anaheim(65)
- Chula Vista(65)
- Santa Rosa(59)
- Fontana(56)
- Salinas(53)
- Oxnard(49)
- Irvine(49)
- Garden Grove(49)
- Visalia(47)
- Moreno Valley(45)
- Whittier(40)
- Fremont(40)
- Elk Grove(38)
- Lancaster(38)
- Victorville(37)
- Palmdale(37)
- Roseville(37)
- Escondido(36)
- Hayward(36)
- El Cajon(36)
- Madera(35)
- Corona(34)
- Oceanside(34)
- Redding(34)
- Compton(34)
- Santa Maria(34)
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Santa Cruz?
Happy Valley Elementary is the highest-ranked school in Santa Cruz with a Success Index (US) of 87.2 out of 100 (Top 5% of elementary schools in United States).
How many schools are in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has 20 schools (13 elementary, 3 high, 3 middle, 1 other) educating 7,779 students in 2025.
What is the typical Enrollment in Santa Cruz?
The median Enrollment across schools in Santa Cruz is 394. Students enrolled in the latest NCES directory year.