For the 2025-26 school year, there are 11 public charter schools serving 3,378 students in Santa Cruz County, CA.
The top ranked public charter schools in Santa Cruz County, CA are Pacific Collegiate Charter, Slvusd Charter 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 charter schools have an average math proficiency score of 35% (versus the California public charter school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 48% statewide average). Charter schools in Santa Cruz County have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of California public charter schools.
Minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public charter school average of 75% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Charter Schools in Santa Cruz County (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Pacific Collegiate Charter
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3004 Mission St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 479-7785
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 479-7785
Gr: 7-12 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Slvusd Charter
Charter School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
325 Marion Ave.
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 335-0932
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 335-0932
Gr: K-12 | 290 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Tierra Pacifica Charter
Charter School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
986 Bostwick Ln.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-9404
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-9404
Gr: K-8 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #44.
Diamond Technology Institute
Charter School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
112 Diamond Dr.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6225
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6225
Gr: 9-12 | 83 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #55.
Linscott Charter
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
220 Elm St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Gr: K-8 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #66.
Ceiba College Preparatory Academy
Charter School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
260 West Riverside Dr.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2100
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2100
Gr: 6-12 | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #77.
Alianza Charter
Charter School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
115 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Gr: K-8 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #88.
Watsonville Charter School Of The Arts
Charter School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
115 Casserly Rd. West Campus
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Gr: K-8 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #99.
Pacific Coast Charter
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
294 Green Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Gr: K-12 | 197 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #1010.
Delta Charter
Charter School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
6500 Soquel Dr. Bldg. 1190
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 477-5212
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 477-5212
Gr: 9-12 | 116 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: n/an/a
Santa Cruz County Career Advancement Charter
Charter School
229 Green Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 466-5697
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 466-5697
Gr: 12 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Santa Cruz County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
13575 Empire Grade Rd.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-1652
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 423-1652
Gr: 9-12 | 37 students
504 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5640
Capitola, CA 95010
(831) 464-5640
Gr: K-5 | 222 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Cypress Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
2039 Merrill St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Gr: 9-12 | 119 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Monarch Elementary Alternative (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
313 Swift St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 426-9346
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 426-9346
Gr: K-8 | 75 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
1815 Salinas Rd./hwy. 1
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 633-5881
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 633-5881
Gr: 6-8 | 541 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
255 Swift St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3900
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-3900
Gr: K-5 | 299 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
6134 Highway Nine
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 336-5193
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 336-5193
Gr: K-6 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
6134 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 338-7298
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 338-7298
Gr: K-6 | 294 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rising Star Elementary School (Closed 2004)
Alternative School
Po Box 50010
Watsonville, CA 95077
(831) 728-8104
Watsonville, CA 95077
(831) 728-8104
Gr: 1-6 | 4 students Minority enrollment: 75%
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
Gr: 9-12
115 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6380
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6380
Gr: K-5 | 486 students Minority enrollment: 90%
2039 Merrill St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 477-0302
Gr: 9-12
Sequoia Academy (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
319 La Fonda Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3410
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 429-3410
Gr: 7-12
Sojourn Middle Charter (Closed 2004)
Charter School
157 Trescony St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-8816
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-8816
Gr: 6-8 | 30 students Minority enrollment: 22%
Solano Summit Academy (Closed 2009)
Alternative School
15 Madison St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-9725
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-9725
Gr: 6-8 | 25 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public charter schools in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The top ranked public charter schools in Santa Cruz County, CA include Pacific Collegiate Charter, Slvusd Charter and Tierra Pacifica Charter.
How many public charter schools are located in Santa Cruz County?
11 public charter schools are located in Santa Cruz County.
What is the racial composition of students in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County public charter schools minority enrollment is 72% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public charter schools average of 75% (majority Hispanic).
Which public charter schools in Santa Cruz County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public charter schools in Santa Cruz County include: Linscott Charter vs. Watsonville Charter School Of The Arts, Diamond Technology Institute vs. Ceiba College Preparatory Academy, Watsonville Charter School Of The Arts vs. Linscott Charter
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