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.
Overall District Rank
#516 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)

Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
33%

Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
47%

Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
94%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
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)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Mission Hill Middle School
(Math: 43% | 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: <50% | 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: ≤20% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%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: 31% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
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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