For the 2024 school year, there are 29 public middle schools serving 10,878 students in Santa Cruz County, CA.
The top ranked public middle schools in Santa Cruz County, CA are C. T. English Middle School, Scotts Valley Middle School and Tierra Pacifica Charter. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Santa Cruz County, CA public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 57% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 47% statewide average). Middle schools in Santa Cruz County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of California public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle school average of 77% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Santa Cruz County (2024)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
C. T. English Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 79% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
23800 Summit Rd.
Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 353-1123
Los Gatos, CA 95033
(408) 353-1123
Grades: 6-8
| 168 students
Rank: #22.
Scotts Valley Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8 Bean Creek Rd.
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-0610
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-0610
Grades: 6-8
| 486 students
Rank: #33.
Tierra Pacifica Charter
Charter School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
986 Bostwick Ln.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-9404
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-9404
Grades: K-8
| 155 students
Rank: #44.
Mission Hill Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 66% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
425 King St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3860
Grades: 6-8
| 565 students
Rank: #55.
Santa Cruz County Special Education
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
400 Encinal St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 466-5700
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 466-5700
Grades: K-12
| 102 students
Rank: #66.
New Brighton Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 67% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
250 Washburn Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5660
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5660
Grades: 6-8
| 660 students
Rank: #77.
Slvusd Charter
Charter School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 69% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
325 Marion Ave.
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 335-0932
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 335-0932
Grades: K-12
| 330 students
Rank: #88.
Aptos Junior High School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 58% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1001 Hntngtn Dr.
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-3234
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-3234
Grades: 7-8
| 598 students
Rank: #99.
Alternative Family Education
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
840 N. Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: K-12
| 118 students
Rank: #1010.
Branciforte Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 59% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
315 Poplar St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3883
Grades: 6-8
| 423 students
Rank: #1111.
Santa Cruz County Court
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
400 Encinal St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 466-5728
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 466-5728
Grades: 7-12
| 59 students
Rank: #1212.
Ceiba College Preparatory Academy
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 51% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
260 W. Riverside Dr.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2100
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2100
Grades: 6-12
| 511 students
Rank: #1313.
San Lorenzo Valley Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 52% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7179 Hacienda Way
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-4452
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-4452
Grades: 6-8
| 399 students
Rank: #1414.
Shoreline Middle School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 49% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
855 17th Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-6565
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-6565
Grades: 6-8
| 457 students
Rank: #1515.
Ocean Alternative Education Center
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 50-59% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
984 Bostwick Ln. Ste. 6
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-0767
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-0767
Grades: K-8
| 110 students
Rank: #1616.
Linscott Charter
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
220 Elm St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Grades: K-8
| 253 students
Rank: #1717.
Alianza Charter
Charter School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 39% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
115 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Grades: K-8
| 664 students
Rank: #1818.
Ark Independent Studies
Alternative School
840 N. Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3898
Grades: 6-12
| 86 students
Rank: #1919.
Watsonville Charter School Of The Arts
Charter School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 36% )
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
115 Casserly Rd. W. Campus
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Grades: K-8
| 393 students
Rank: #2020.
Pacific Coast Charter
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39% )
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
| 169 students
Rank: #2121.
Santa Cruz County Community
Alternative School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 30-34% )
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
400 Encinal St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 466-5728
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 466-5728
Grades: 7-12
| 657 students
Rank: #2222.
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 27% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
440 Arthur Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-7699
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-7699
Grades: 6-8
| 554 students
Rank: #2323.
Lakeview Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 21% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2350 E. Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6455
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6455
Grades: 6-8
| 479 students
Rank: #2424.
Rolling Hills Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
130 Herman Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6341
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6341
Grades: 6-8
| 621 students
Rank: #2525.
Pajaro Middle School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 24% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
250 Salinas Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6238
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6238
Grades: 6-8
| 439 students
Rank: #2626.
E. A. Hall Middle School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 16% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Brewington Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6270
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6270
Grades: 6-8
| 601 students
Rank: n/an/a
Pacific Collegiate Charter
Charter School
3004 Mission St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 479-7785
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 479-7785
Grades: 7-12
| 556 students
Rank: n/an/a
Pvusd Virtual Academy
Alternative School
250 E. Beach St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Grades: K-12
| 249 students
Santa Cruz County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
13575 Empire Grade Rd.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-1652
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-1652
Grades: 9-12
| 37 students
504 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5640
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5640
Grades: K-5
| 222 students
Cypress Charter High School (Closed 2021)
Charter School
2039 Merrill St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Grades: 9-12
| 119 students
Monarch Elementary Alternative (Closed 2021)
Alternative School
313 Swift St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 426-9346
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 426-9346
Grades: K-8
| 75 students
1815 Salinas Rd./hwy. 1
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 633-5881
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 633-5881
Grades: 6-8
| 541 students
255 Swift St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3900
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3900
Grades: K-5
| 299 students
6134 Highway Nine
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 336-5193
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 336-5193
Grades: K-6
| 409 students
6134 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 338-7298
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 338-7298
Grades: K-6
| 294 students
Rising Star Elementary School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
Po Box 50010
Watsonville, CA 95077
(831) 728-8104
Watsonville, CA 95077
(831) 728-8104
Grades: 1-6
| 4 students
River View High School (Closed 2011)
Alternative School
325 Marion Ave
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 335-4425
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 335-4425
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
115 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6380
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6380
Grades: K-5
| 486 students
2039 Merrill St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Sequoia Academy (Closed 2021)
Alternative School
319 La Fonda Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3410
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3410
Grades: 7-12
| n/a students
325 Marion Ave.
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 336-9678
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 336-9678
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
Sojourn Middle Charter (Closed 2004)
Charter School
157 Trescony St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-8816
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-8816
Grades: 6-8
| 30 students
Solano Summit Academy (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
15 Madison St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-9725
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-9725
Grades: 6-8
| 25 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public middle schools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The top ranked public middle schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include C. T. English Middle School, Scotts Valley Middle School and Tierra Pacifica Charter.
How many public middle schools are located in Santa Cruz County, CA?
29 public middle schools are located in Santa Cruz County, CA.
What is the racial composition of students in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Santa Cruz County, CA public middle schools minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public middle schools average of 77% (majority Hispanic).
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