Top Rankings
Santa Cruz City High School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 1,085 students in Santa Cruz City High School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Santa Cruz City High School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 51% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
9 Schools
3,469 Schools
# Students
4,455 Students
1,858,621 Students
# Teachers
224 Teachers
88,118 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
20:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Santa Cruz City High School District, which is ranked #515 of all 1,904 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 92% has increased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#488 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
36%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
58%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
33%
29%
Graduation Rate
92%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.61
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
11%
% Hispanic
41%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
47%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
Best Santa Cruz City High School District Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mission Hill Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
425 King St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Gr: 6-8 | 510 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #22.
Alternative Family Education
Alternative School
(Math: 40-59% | 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
Gr: K-12 | 110 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #33.
Ark Independent Studies
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
840 North Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Gr: 6-12 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 28:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #44.
Branciforte Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
315 Poplar St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Gr: 6-8 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
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