📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 12 Rated Districts in Santa Cruz County, CA
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Happy Valley Elementary School District | Santa Cruz | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #2 | Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District | Los Gatos | 10/10 Excellent | 93rd |
| #3 | Scotts Valley Unified School District | Scotts Valley | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #4 | Mountain Elementary School District | Soquel | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #5 | Pacific Elementary School District | Davenport | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #6 | Bonny Doon Union Elementary School District | Santa Cruz | 9/10 Excellent | 82nd |
| #7 | Santa Cruz City Elementary School District | Santa Cruz | 8/10 Good | 78th |
| #8 | Soquel Elementary School District | Capitola | 8/10 Good | 72nd |
| #9 | San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District | Ben Lomond | 8/10 Good | 71st |
| #10 | Santa Cruz City High School District | Santa Cruz | 8/10 Good | 71st |
| #11 | Live Oak Elementary School District | Santa Cruz | 6/10 Average | 58th |
| #12 | Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District | Watsonville | 2/10 Poor | 15th |
Best School Districts in Santa Cruz County, California (2026)
This page lists the 12 public school districts headquartered in Santa Cruz County, California that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using CAASPP 2023–24 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in California, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Santa Cruz County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Santa Cruz County, California? ▼
Among the 12 rated districts in Santa Cruz County, California, the highest-rated is Happy Valley Elementary School District (Santa Cruz), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 97th percentile of California districts on CAASPP 2023–24 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in California and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.