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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.
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Santa Cruz, CA
Public School Ratings




Santa Cruz Public Schools

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:
  • Test Scores: Edfacts (U.S. Department of Education), State departments of education.
  • Expenditures: National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Educational Environment: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau).
Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Test data: Reflects 2023 – 2024 school year.
  • Expenditures: 2022
  • Educational Environment: 2023 (latest available). Updated annually.
  • All data updated June 2025

Methodology:   Only NeighborhoodScout gives you nationally comparable school ranks based on test scores, so you can directly compare the quality of schools in any location. Read more about Scout's School Data


School Districts in Santa Cruz


Live Oak Elementary School District details

Live Oak Elementary School District
984 Bostwick Ln. Ste. 1
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

1,675 Students enrolled in District

7 Schools in District

20 Students Per Classroom (State average is 22)

Live Oak Elementary School District School Quality Ratings

District Quality Compared to California

7

(10 is best)

Better than 61.9% of all CA school districts.

District Quality Compared to U.S.

5

(10 is best)

Better than 47.6% of all U.S. school districts.



Public School Test Scores

60 50 40 30 20 10 0
41%
41%
45%
47%
36%
35%
    Proficiency in Reading and Math
    Proficiency in Reading
    Proficiency in Math

Schools in this District

School Grades
Del Mar Elementary School
1959 Merrill St.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-05
Green Acres Elementary School
966 Bostwick Ln.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-05
Live Oak Elementary School
1916 Capitola Rd.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-05
Ocean Alternative Education Center School
984 Bostwick Ln. Ste. 6
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-08
Shoreline Middle School
855 17th Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
06-08
Special Education Preschool School
984 1 Bostwick Ln.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
M-M
Tierra Pacifica Charter School
986 Bostwick Ln.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-08

School District Enrollment by Group

Ethnic/Racial Groups This District This State
White (non-hispanic) 36.8% 22.0%
Black 2.2% 5.2%
Hispanic 57.1% 58.8%
Asian Or Pacific Islander 2.7% 13.1%
American Indian Or Native Of Alaska 1.1% 0.9%
Economic Groups This District This State
Economically disadvantaged 58.8% 61.5%
Free lunch eligible 52.4% 53.9%
Reduced lunch eligible 6.4% 7.7%

Educational Expenditures

For this District Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $8,214 $13,759,000 46.5%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,503 $2,517,000 8.5%
Staff $1,148 $1,923,000 6.5%
General Administration $508 $851,000 2.9%
School Administration $1,528 $2,559,000 8.6%
Operation $1,459 $2,444,000 8.3%
Transportation $145 $243,000 0.8%
Other $1,368 $2,292,000 7.7%
Total Support $7,659 $12,829,000 43.4%
Non-instructional Expenditures $1,795 $3,006,000 10.2%
Total Expenditures $17,668 $29,594,000 100.0%
For the State Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $9,792 $57,171,955,000 48.2%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,305 $7,621,589,000 6.4%
Staff $1,038 $6,060,606,000 5.1%
General Administration $268 $1,564,258,000 1.3%
School Administration $1,087 $6,348,022,000 5.4%
Operation $1,559 $9,102,997,000 7.7%
Transportation $331 $1,933,983,000 1.6%
Other $886 $5,174,697,000 4.4%
Total Support $6,475 $37,806,152,000 31.9%
Non-instructional Expenditures $4,051 $23,650,179,000 19.9%
Total Expenditures $20,319 $118,628,286,000 100.0%
For the Nation Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $9,169 $453,314,948,000 49.6%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,031 $50,976,033,477 5.6%
Staff $799 $39,519,417,000 4.3%
General Administration $308 $15,224,255,000 1.7%
School Administration $850 $42,029,112,000 4.6%
Operation $1,430 $70,704,769,000 7.7%
Transportation $613 $30,295,759,523 3.3%
Other $623 $30,798,344,000 3.4%
Total Support $5,654 $279,547,690,000 30.6%
Non-instructional Expenditures $3,675 $181,697,172,000 19.9%
Total Expenditures $18,499 $914,559,810,000 100.0%

Santa Cruz City Elementary School District details

Santa Cruz City Elementary School District
133 Mission Street Ste. 100
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

1,768 Students enrolled in District

5 Schools in District

22 Students Per Classroom (State average is 22)

Santa Cruz City Elementary School District School Quality Ratings

District Quality Compared to California

8

(10 is best)

Better than 79.7% of all CA school districts.

District Quality Compared to U.S.

8

(10 is best)

Better than 74.2% of all U.S. school districts.



Public School Test Scores

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
80 60 40 20 0
51%
41%
58%
47%
45%
35%
51%
41%
58%
47%
45%
35%
    Proficiency in Reading and Math
    Proficiency in Reading
    Proficiency in Math

Schools in this District

School Grades
Bay View Elementary School
1231 Bay St.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
KG-05
De Laveaga Elementary School
1145 Morrissey Blvd.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95065
KG-05
Gault Elementary School
1320 Seabright Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-05
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch School
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
KG-05
Westlake Elementary School
1000 High St.
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
KG-05

School District Enrollment by Group

Ethnic/Racial Groups This District This State
White (non-hispanic) 51.0% 22.0%
Black 0.9% 5.2%
Hispanic 44.5% 58.8%
Asian Or Pacific Islander 3.1% 13.1%
American Indian Or Native Of Alaska 0.5% 0.9%
Economic Groups This District This State
Economically disadvantaged 36.6% 61.5%
Free lunch eligible 34.8% 53.9%
Reduced lunch eligible 1.8% 7.7%

Educational Expenditures

For this District Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures Unreported Unreported Unreported
Support Expenditures
Student Unreported Unreported Unreported
Staff Unreported Unreported Unreported
General Administration Unreported Unreported Unreported
School Administration Unreported Unreported Unreported
Operation Unreported Unreported Unreported
Transportation Unreported Unreported Unreported
Other Unreported Unreported Unreported
Total Support Unreported Unreported Unreported
Non-instructional Expenditures Unreported Unreported Unreported
Total Expenditures Unreported Unreported Unreported
For the State Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $9,792 $57,171,955,000 48.2%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,305 $7,621,589,000 6.4%
Staff $1,038 $6,060,606,000 5.1%
General Administration $268 $1,564,258,000 1.3%
School Administration $1,087 $6,348,022,000 5.4%
Operation $1,559 $9,102,997,000 7.7%
Transportation $331 $1,933,983,000 1.6%
Other $886 $5,174,697,000 4.4%
Total Support $6,475 $37,806,152,000 31.9%
Non-instructional Expenditures $4,051 $23,650,179,000 19.9%
Total Expenditures $20,319 $118,628,286,000 100.0%
For the Nation Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $9,169 $453,314,948,000 49.6%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,031 $50,976,033,477 5.6%
Staff $799 $39,519,417,000 4.3%
General Administration $308 $15,224,255,000 1.7%
School Administration $850 $42,029,112,000 4.6%
Operation $1,430 $70,704,769,000 7.7%
Transportation $613 $30,295,759,523 3.3%
Other $623 $30,798,344,000 3.4%
Total Support $5,654 $279,547,690,000 30.6%
Non-instructional Expenditures $3,675 $181,697,172,000 19.9%
Total Expenditures $18,499 $914,559,810,000 100.0%

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