📊 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 →
12 Rated Districts in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area
CAASPP 2023–24 · percentile among California districts
| Metro 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 the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metro Area (2026)
Counties are assigned to metropolitan areas using the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 delineation, and each district is placed in the county of its NCES directory listing. Ratings come from CAASPP 2023–24 (California) and are percentile-ranked within the district's own state. Always confirm your assignment by address.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area? ▼
Among the 12 rated districts in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, 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, percentile-ranked against all rated districts in its state and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.