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Public School Review - Established 2003

Santa Cruz High School

415 Walnut Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
View full size Get directions
: 
9/
10
Top 20%
Tel: (831) 429-3960
schs.sccs.net
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Santa Cruz High School is a comprehensive public school in Santa Cruz, California which originally opened in 1897 and now serves an enrollment of about 1,040 students in grades nine through twelve. It is part of the Santa Cruz City School District. The school's mascot is a cardinal.
Serving 1,093 students in grades 9-12, Santa Cruz High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 46% (which is higher than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 68% (which is higher than the California state average of 47%).
The student-teacher ratio of 24:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 1,093 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 42%
  • : 96% (Top 10% in CA)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 46% (Top 30%)
  • : 68% (Top 20%)
  • : 28% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Santa Cruz High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 10%)

School Overview

Santa Cruz High School's student population of 1,093 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 46 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeSanta Cruz High School
9274
10294
11255
12270
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Total Students
1,093 students

Total Students Trends Over Years (1989-2025)

YearSanta Cruz High School
20251,093
20241,104
20231,092
20221,131
20211,088
20201,106
20191,142
20181,027
20171,027
20161,010
20151,031
20141,007
20131,085
20121,147
20111,133
20101,130
20091,063
20081,001
20071,064
20061,148
20051,207
20041,179
20031,226
20021,208
20011,266
20001,288
19991,301
19981,225
19971,123
19961,103
19951,155
19941,227
19931,338
19921,333
19911,285
19901,241
19891,253
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Total Classroom Teachers
46 teachers

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2025)

YearSanta Cruz High School
202546
202451
202352
202254
202147
201946
201840
201740
201639
201542
201443
201346
201246
201045
200945
200857
200745
200646
200545
200445
200348
200251
200151
200056
199951
199851
199744
199649
199548
199453
199357
199255
199154
199054
198954
198858
198756
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Year Founded
1897
School Calendar
View School Calendar

School Rankings

Santa Cruz High School ranks within the top 20% of all 9,523 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Santa Cruz High School is 0.58, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Definition of Terms
This School
State Level (CA)
#1890 out of 9523 schools
(Top 20%)

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)

YearSanta Cruz High School
2023#1890
2022#1724
2021#173
2019#1312
2018#2270
2017#3193
2016#2020
2015#1138
2014#440
2013#1540
2012#1839
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46%
34%

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202346%34%36%
202249%33%36%
202177%34%53%
201963%40%46%
201846%39%41%
201740%38%42%
201650%37%44%
201552%34%44%
201479%63%67%
201375%59%61%
201275%59%60%
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68%
47%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202268%47%58%
202177%49%70%
201971%51%64%
201867%50%41%
201757%48%59%
201661%48%59%
201572%44%62%
201470%58%66%
201374%57%65%
201271%58%66%
201174%56%65%
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28%
29%
Student-Teacher Ratio
24:1
21:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2025)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202524:121:1
202422:122:120:1
202321:122:120:1
202221:122:120:1
202123:122:122:1
201925:123:123:1
201826:123:124:1
201726:123:124:1
201626:124:124:1
201525:124:124:1
201423:124:124:1
201324:124:125:1
201225:124:124:1
201025:122:125:1
200923:121:123:1
200818:118:117:1
200724:122:124:1
200625:122:123:1
200527:122:125:1
200426:122:126:1
200326:121:125:1
200224:121:123:1
200125:121:124:1
200023:122:124:1
199926:122:125:1
199824:122:123:1
199725:124:125:1
199623:125:125:1
199524:125:124:1
199423:125:123:1
199323:125:123:1
199224:124:123:1
199124:124:123:1
199023:124:122:1
198923:124:123:1
198823:124:123:1
198726:124:124:1
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American Indian
n/a
1%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2016)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20161%1%
20141%1%1%
20131%1%1%
20121%1%1%
20081%1%
20052%2%1%
20042%2%2%
20032%2%2%
20022%2%2%
20012%2%1%
19921%1%1%
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Asian
2%
12%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20243%12%4%
20234%12%3%
20225%12%4%
20215%12%5%
20205%12%4%
20194%12%4%
20184%11%4%
20174%11%4%
20162%11%4%
20153%11%4%
20143%11%3%
20134%11%3%
20124%11%3%
20114%11%4%
20104%11%5%
20095%11%5%
20086%12%6%
20078%12%7%
20069%12%5%
20057%12%6%
20046%12%6%
20036%11%5%
20026%11%5%
20016%11%5%
20005%11%5%
19995%11%5%
19986%11%5%
19975%11%5%
19964%11%5%
19955%11%5%
19944%11%4%
19933%11%4%
19923%11%3%
19912%11%3%
19902%10%3%
19892%10%4%
19883%10%3%
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Hispanic
29%
56%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202430%56%40%
202329%55%40%
202229%56%39%
202131%56%38%
202030%55%38%
201929%55%38%
201829%54%38%
201729%54%38%
201630%54%38%
201530%54%38%
201427%53%37%
201326%53%36%
201224%52%34%
201122%51%33%
201022%50%30%
200923%49%28%
200826%50%29%
200727%49%27%
200624%48%27%
200522%47%25%
200421%46%24%
200322%45%21%
200222%44%20%
200123%43%19%
200021%42%17%
199922%41%17%
199822%40%17%
199723%40%18%
199625%39%18%
199527%38%18%
199427%37%17%
199326%36%16%
199223%35%15%
199122%34%14%
199023%33%13%
198919%31%11%
198817%30%9%
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Black
2%
5%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20242%5%1%
20232%5%2%
20223%5%2%
20213%5%2%
20202%5%1%
20192%5%1%
20181%6%1%
20171%6%1%
20162%6%1%
20152%6%1%
20142%6%2%
20132%6%2%
20123%6%2%
20113%7%2%
20104%7%3%
20093%7%2%
20083%8%2%
20074%8%3%
20064%8%1%
20054%8%3%
20045%8%3%
20034%8%3%
20024%8%3%
20014%8%3%
20005%9%3%
19995%9%3%
19985%9%3%
19975%9%3%
19965%9%3%
19955%9%3%
19945%9%3%
19934%9%2%
19923%9%2%
19914%9%3%
19905%9%3%
19894%9%2%
19884%9%3%
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White
58%
20%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202457%20%48%
202356%21%49%
202256%21%49%
202156%22%51%
202056%23%50%
201957%23%50%
201861%24%53%
201761%24%53%
201660%24%53%
201560%24%53%
201462%25%53%
201363%25%54%
201266%26%56%
201168%27%58%
201067%27%61%
200961%28%58%
200864%29%63%
200761%29%61%
200663%31%67%
200565%31%65%
200466%32%65%
200366%34%69%
200266%35%70%
200165%36%72%
200069%37%75%
199968%38%74%
199867%39%74%
199767%39%73%
199666%40%73%
199563%41%73%
199464%42%75%
199367%43%77%
199270%44%79%
199172%45%79%
199070%47%81%
198975%49%83%
198876%50%85%
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Hawaiian
n/a
n/a

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2009-2011)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20111%1%
20101%1%
20091%1%
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Two or more races
9%
6%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2010-2024)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20248%6%7%
20239%6%6%
20227%5%6%
20214%5%4%
20206%4%7%
20198%4%7%
20185%4%4%
20175%4%4%
20165%4%4%
20155%3%4%
20145%3%4%
20134%3%4%
20122%3%3%
20112%2%2%
20101%3%1%
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All Ethnic Groups
0.58
0.63

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1989-2025)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20250.580.63
20240.580.630.61
20230.600.640.60
20220.600.630.60
20210.590.620.59
20200.600.630.60
20190.590.630.60
20180.550.640.58
20170.550.640.58
20160.550.640.57
20150.550.640.57
20140.540.650.58
20130.540.650.58
20120.530.650.58
20110.490.670.56
20100.500.670.54
20090.570.710.59
20080.520.650.52
20070.570.670.54
20060.560.660.51
20050.530.670.52
20040.540.670.50
20030.520.670.47
20020.520.670.46
20010.530.670.45
20000.480.670.41
19990.490.670.41
19980.500.670.42
19970.500.670.43
19960.500.670.44
19950.530.670.42
19940.520.670.41
19930.490.670.38
19920.460.670.36
19910.440.670.34
19900.460.660.32
19890.400.650.30
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96%
87%

Graduation Rate Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202396%87%92%
202297%87%94%
202195%84%92%
202095%85%92%
201995%84%89%
201895%84%90%
201795%83%90%
201697%83%93%
201597%89%90%
201498%88%92%
201397%87%90%
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Eligible for Free Lunch
22%
54%

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1994-2025)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
202522%54%
202424%54%32%
202324%51%30%
202223%51%26%
202130%53%31%
202022%52%32%
201927%52%32%
201824%49%30%
201724%49%30%
201622%50%31%
201523%50%33%
201417%49%28%
201319%48%27%
201120%46%29%
201016%46%23%
20097%43%20%
200819%41%23%
200720%40%22%
200619%40%21%
200515%40%16%
200411%40%13%
200312%39%11%
200211%39%9%
20018%39%9%
200010%40%10%
19999%40%9%
199814%47%13%
199714%47%13%
199613%46%13%
199516%45%14%
199419%43%15%
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Eligible for Reduced Lunch
1%
8%

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2000-2025)

YearSanta Cruz High SchoolCaliforniaSanta Cruz City High School District
20251%8%
20242%8%2%
20232%8%2%
20222%7%3%
20212%6%3%
20204%7%6%
20194%7%6%
20185%9%7%
20175%9%7%
20166%9%7%
20156%9%6%
20145%9%8%
20134%7%6%
20115%8%6%
20104%9%6%
20092%10%5%
20086%10%5%
20074%10%4%
20063%9%3%
20053%9%3%
20043%9%4%
20032%9%3%
20023%8%3%
20013%8%3%
20003%7%3%
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School Statewide Testing
View Education Department Test Scores
School District Name
Santa Cruz City High School District
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

School Notes

  • School Mascot: Cardinal, Northern Cardinal
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Santa Cruz High School's ranking?
Santa Cruz High School is ranked #1890 out of 9,523 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in California.
What schools are Santa Cruz High School often compared to?
Santa Cruz High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Harbor High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
46% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 34% CA state average), while 68% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).
What is the graduation rate of Santa Cruz High School?
The graduation rate of Santa Cruz High School is 96%, which is higher than the California state average of 87%.
How many students attend Santa Cruz High School?
1,093 students attend Santa Cruz High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
58% of Santa Cruz High School students are White, 29% of students are Hispanic, 9% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Asian, and 2% of students are Black.
What is the student-teacher ratio of Santa Cruz High School?
Santa Cruz High School has a student ration of 24:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.
What grades does Santa Cruz High School offer ?
Santa Cruz High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12
What school district is Santa Cruz High School part of?
Santa Cruz High School is part of Santa Cruz City High School District.

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 1,093 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 42%
  • : 96% (Top 10%)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 46% (Top 30%)
  • : 68% (Top 20%)
  • : 28% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

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