| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotts Valley Unified School District | Scotts Valley | 10/10 Excellent · 90th pct | 2,168 | 4 | K–12 | 1 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary School District | Santa Cruz | 8/10 Good · 78th pct | 1,724 | 5 | K–5 | 1 |
| San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District | Ben Lomond | 8/10 Good · 71st pct | 2,384 | 6 | K–12 | 5 |
| Santa Cruz City High School District | Davenport | 8/10 Good · 71st pct | 4,394 | 9 | K–12 | 3 |
| Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District | Aptos | 2/10 Poor · 15th pct | 17,452 | 34 | K–12 | 3 |
How Santa Cruz County compares
Together they enroll 28,122 students across 58 schools. The largest is Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District with 17,452 students. Districts here average 7.2/10, above the California average of 5.5/10. Ratings range from 2/10 to 10/10.
School Districts in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County has 5 public school districts covering 13 zip codes. The top-rated district in Santa Cruz County is Scotts Valley Unified School District (10/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against all districts in California. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.