Top Rankings
Pajaro Valley Unified 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 8 public high schools serving 5,513 students in Pajaro Valley Unified School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in California.
Public High Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 18% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have a Graduation Rate of 87%, which is equal to the California average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Aptos High School, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
34 Schools
2,817 Schools
# Students
16,921 Students
2,139,525 Students
# Teachers
801 Teachers
100,737 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
21:1
21:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which is ranked #1513 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 88% has increased from 86% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1517 out of 1941 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
27%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
29%
Graduation Rate
88%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.28
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
11%
% Hispanic
84%
56%
% Black
n/a
5%
% White
13%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,165 is higher than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $18,756 is higher than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$341 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$317 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,165
$19,974
Spending / Student
$18,756
$18,396
Best Pajaro Valley Unified School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Aptos High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
100 Mariner Way
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 728-7832
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 728-7832
Grades: 9-12
| 1,316 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Diamond Technology Institute
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
112 Diamond Dr.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6225
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6225
Grades: 9-12
| 83 students
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
New School Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
165 Harkins Slough Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-6140
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-6140
Grades: 9-12
| 40 students
Rank: #44.
Pvusd Virtual Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
250 East Beach St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Grades: K-12
| 74 students
Rank: #55.
Pajaro Valley High School
(Math: 12% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
500 Harkins Slough Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8102
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8102
Grades: 9-12
| 1,428 students
Rank: #66.
Pacific Coast Charter
Charter School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
294 Green Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Grades: K-12
| 197 students
Rank: #77.
Watsonville High School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
250 East Beach St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6390
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6390
Grades: 9-12
| 2,253 students
Rank: #88.
Renaissance High Continuation
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
11 Spring Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6344
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6344
Grades: 9-12
| 122 students
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