¶¶Òô³ÉÈË

Pajaro Valley Unified School District

294 Green Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076-1300
(District boundaries shown in map)
2/
10
Bottom 50%

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 2025-26 school year, there are 11 public middle schools serving 4,583 students in Pajaro Valley Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
34 Schools
3,495 Schools
# Students
16,921 Students
1,852,730 Students
# Teachers
801 Teachers
87,758 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
21:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which is ranked #1566 of all 1,908 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#1561 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
17%
34%
27%
47%
17%
29%
89%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.28
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
11%
% Hispanic
84%
55%
% Black
n/a
5%
% White
13%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $20,165 is higher than the state median of $19,979. 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 $18,400. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
This School District
This State (CA)
Total Revenue
$341 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$317 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,165
$19,979
Spending / Student
$18,756
$18,400

Best Pajaro Valley Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Linscott Charter
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
220 Elm St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Gr: K-8 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #22.
Aptos Junior High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1001 Huntington Dr.
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-3234
Gr: 7-8 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #33.
Alianza Charter
Charter School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
115 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Gr: K-8 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #44.
Pvusd Virtual Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
250 East Beach St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Gr: K-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #55.
Watsonville Charter School Of The Arts
Charter School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
115 Casserly Rd. West Campus
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Gr: K-8 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #66.
Pacific Coast Charter
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
294 Green Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Gr: K-12 | 197 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #77.
Pajaro Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
250 Salinas Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6238
Gr: 7-8 | 286 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
Rank: #88.
Lakeview Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2350 East Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6455
Gr: 6-8 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #99.
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
440 Arthur Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-7699
Gr: 6-8 | 547 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1010.
Rolling Hills Middle School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
130 Herman Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6341
Gr: 6-8 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1111.
E. A. Hall Middle School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Brewington Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6270
Gr: 6-8 | 556 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

Recent Articles

Charter Schools vs Public Schools 2025: Key Differences & Trends
Charter Schools vs Public Schools 2025: Key Differences & Trends
Explore updated 2025 insights comparing charter schools vs public schools, enrollment, academic outcomes, funding, and real-world examples for families and educators.
Are Public Schools Ready for the 21st Century? 2025 Update
Are Public Schools Ready for the 21st Century? 2025 Update
Explore 2025 insights on whether public schools are ready for the 21st century, covering performance, technology, equity, funding, and future-ready learning.
Public School Open House & Enrollment Season Guide
Public School Open House & Enrollment Season Guide
A parent-focused guide to the public school open house and enrollment season, with expert questions, timelines, and decision tips.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 34 schools
  • Grades: K-12
  • Enrollment: 16,921 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 87%
  • : 89% (Top 30% in CA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links