Top Rankings
Santa Cruz City High 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 7 public high schools serving 3,557 students in Santa Cruz City High School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public high schools in California.
Public High Schools in Santa Cruz City High School District have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the California public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 51% statewide average).
Public High School in Santa Cruz City High School District have a Graduation Rate of 93%, which is more than the California average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Santa Cruz High School, with 97% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in California or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public high school average of 79% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
9 Schools
2,817 Schools
# Students
4,492 Students
2,139,525 Students
# Teachers
224 Teachers
100,737 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Cruz City High School District, which is ranked #504 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 94% has increased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#516 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
94%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
11%
% Hispanic
41%
56%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
47%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Best Santa Cruz City High School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Santa Cruz High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
415 Walnut Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3960
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3960
Grades: 9-12
| 1,104 students
Rank: #22.
Alternative Family Education
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: K-12
| 110 students
Rank: #33.
Soquel High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
401 Old San Jose Rd.
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 429-3909
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 429-3909
Grades: 9-12
| 1,048 students
Rank: #44.
Harbor High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
300 La Fonda Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3810
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3810
Grades: 9-12
| 1,040 students
Rank: #55.
Ark Independent Studies
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: 6-12
| 52 students
Rank: #66.
Delta Charter
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
6500 Soquel Dr. Bldg. 1190
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 477-5212
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 477-5212
Grades: 9-12
| 116 students
Rank: #77.
Costanoa Continuation High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: 9-12
| 87 students
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