Top Rankings
Santa Cruz City High School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 1,097 students in Santa Cruz City High School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in California.
Public Elementary Schools in Santa Cruz City High School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the California public elementary school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 45% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public elementary school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
9 Schools
7,700 Schools
# Students
4,492 Students
3,822,920 Students
# Teachers
224 Teachers
174,006 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Cruz City High School District, which is ranked #516 of all 1,910 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has increased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#488 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
12%
% Hispanic
41%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
47%
21%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
Best Santa Cruz City High School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Mission Hill Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
425 King St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Grades: 6-8
| 500 students
Rank: #22.
Alternative Family Education
Alternative School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: K-12
| 110 students
Rank: #33.
Ark Independent Studies
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: 6-12
| 52 students
Rank: #44.
Branciforte Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
315 Poplar St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Grades: 6-8
| 435 students
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