Santa Cruz City High School District

133 Mission St. Ste. 100
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-3747
(District boundaries shown in map)
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

Santa Cruz City High School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 1,097 students in Santa Cruz City High School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Santa Cruz City High School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the California public middle school average of 31%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 50% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
9 Schools
3,501 Schools
# Students
4,492 Students
1,854,363 Students
# Teachers
224 Teachers
87,821 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1

District Rank

Santa Cruz City High School District, which is ranked #504 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 94% has increased from 90% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#516 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 30%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Santa Cruz City High  School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
36%
33%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Santa Cruz City High  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
58%
47%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Santa Cruz City High  School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
33%
29%
94%
87%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Santa Cruz City High  School District and public school graduation rate of California by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.61
0.64
# American Indian Students
8 Students
9,887 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
120 Students
201,760 Students
% Asian Students
3%
11%
# Hispanic Students
1,819 Students
1,009,980 Students
% Hispanic Students
41%
55%
# Black Students
57 Students
97,908 Students
% Black Students
1%
5%
# White Students
2,133 Students
413,325 Students
% White Students
47%
22%
# Hawaiian Students
7 Students
7,600 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
339 Students
109,003 Students
% of Two or more races Students
8%
6%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
-
83
# Students in K Grade:
2
90,358
# Students in 1st Grade:
3
70,728
# Students in 2nd Grade:
9
73,359
# Students in 3rd Grade:
7
73,090
# Students in 4th Grade:
8
76,068
# Students in 5th Grade:
3
82,191
# Students in 6th Grade:
337
289,122
# Students in 7th Grade:
299
439,549
# Students in 8th Grade:
325
441,705
# Students in 9th Grade:
905
59,696
# Students in 10th Grade:
799
51,846
# Students in 11th Grade:
877
51,149
# Students in 12th Grade:
918
55,419
# Ungraded Students:
-
-

Best Santa Cruz City High School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Mission Hill Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
425 King St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Grades: 6-8
| 500 students
Rank: #22.
Alternative Family Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: K-12
| 110 students
Rank: #33.
Ark Independent Studies
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: 6-12
| 52 students
Rank: #44.
Branciforte Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
315 Poplar St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Grades: 6-8
| 435 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: KG-12
  • Enrollment: 4,492 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 20:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 53%
  • : 94% (Top 30% in CA)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 36% (Top 50%)
  • : 58% (Top 30%)
  • : 33% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

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