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Santa Cruz High School

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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 is 46% (which is higher than the California state average of 34%). The percentage of students achieving 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 (2026-27)

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:

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

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Santa Cruz High School
9	274
10	294
11	255
12	270

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Total Students

1,093 students

View Data

Total Students Trends (1989-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School
2025	1,093
2024	1,104
2023	1,092
2022	1,131
2021	1,088
2020	1,142
2019	1,142
2018	1,027
2017	1,027
2016	1,010
2015	1,031
2014	1,007
2013	1,085
2012	1,147
2011	1,133
2010	1,130
2009	1,063
2008	1,001
2007	1,064
2006	1,148
2005	1,207
2004	1,179
2003	1,226
2002	1,208
2001	1,266
2000	1,288
1999	1,301
1998	1,225
1997	1,123
1996	1,103
1995	1,155
1994	1,227
1993	1,338
1992	1,333
1991	1,285
1990	1,241
1989	1,253

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Total Classroom Teachers

46 teachers

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Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1988-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School
2025	46
2024	51
2023	52
2022	54
2021	47
2020	46
2019	46
2018	40
2017	40
2016	39
2015	42
2014	43
2013	46
2012	46
2010	45
2009	45
2008	57
2007	45
2006	46
2005	45
2004	45
2003	48
2002	51
2001	51
2000	56
1999	51
1998	51
1997	44
1996	49
1995	48
1994	53
1993	57
1992	55
1991	54
1990	54
1989	54
1988	58

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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 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.

This School

State Level (CA)

#1890 out of 9523 schools
(Top 20%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends (2012-2023)
Year	Santa 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%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison (2012-2023)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2023	46%	34%	36%
2022	49%	33%	36%
2021	77%	34%	53%
2019	63%	40%	46%
2018	46%	39%	41%
2017	40%	38%	42%
2016	50%	37%	44%
2015	52%	34%	44%
2014	79%	63%	67%
2013	75%	59%	61%
2012	75%	59%	60%

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68%

47%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2011-2022)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2022	68%	47%	58%
2021	77%	49%	70%
2019	71%	51%	64%
2018	67%	50%	41%
2017	57%	48%	59%
2016	61%	48%	59%
2015	72%	44%	62%
2014	70%	58%	66%
2013	74%	57%	65%
2012	71%	58%	66%
2011	74%	56%	65%

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28%

29%

Student-Teacher Ratio

24:1

21:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	24:1	21:1
2024	22:1	21:1
2023	21:1	22:1	20:1
2022	21:1	22:1	20:1
2021	23:1	22:1	22:1
2020	25:1	23:1	23:1
2019	25:1	23:1	23:1
2018	26:1	23:1	24:1
2017	26:1	23:1	24:1
2016	26:1	24:1	24:1
2015	25:1	24:1	24:1
2014	23:1	24:1	24:1
2013	24:1	24:1	25:1
2012	25:1	24:1	24:1
2010	25:1	22:1	25:1
2009	23:1	21:1	23:1
2008	18:1	18:1	17:1
2007	24:1	22:1	24:1
2006	25:1	22:1	23:1
2005	27:1	22:1	25:1
2004	26:1	22:1	26:1
2003	26:1	21:1	25:1
2002	24:1	21:1	23:1
2001	25:1	21:1	24:1
2000	23:1	22:1	24:1
1999	26:1	22:1	25:1
1998	24:1	22:1	23:1
1997	25:1	24:1	25:1
1996	23:1	25:1	25:1
1995	24:1	25:1	24:1
1994	23:1	25:1	23:1
1993	23:1	25:1	23:1
1992	24:1	24:1	23:1
1991	24:1	24:1	23:1
1990	23:1	24:1	22:1
1989	23:1	24:1	23:1
1988	23:1	24:1	23:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison (1992-2016)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2016	1%	1%
2014	1%	1%	1%
2013	1%	1%	1%
2012	1%	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%
2005	2%	2%	1%
2004	2%	2%	2%
2003	2%	2%	2%
2002	2%	2%	2%
2001	2%	2%	1%
1992	1%	1%	1%

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Asian

12%

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Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	2%	12%
2024	3%	12%
2023	4%	12%	3%
2022	5%	12%	4%
2021	5%	12%	5%
2020	4%	12%	4%
2019	4%	12%	4%
2018	4%	11%	4%
2017	4%	11%	4%
2016	2%	11%	4%
2015	3%	11%	4%
2014	3%	11%	3%
2013	4%	11%	3%
2012	4%	11%	3%
2011	4%	11%	4%
2010	4%	11%	5%
2009	5%	11%	5%
2008	6%	12%	6%
2007	8%	12%	7%
2006	9%	12%	5%
2005	7%	12%	6%
2004	6%	12%	6%
2003	6%	11%	5%
2002	6%	11%	5%
2001	6%	11%	5%
2000	5%	11%	5%
1999	5%	11%	5%
1998	6%	11%	5%
1997	5%	11%	5%
1996	4%	11%	5%
1995	5%	11%	5%
1994	4%	11%	4%
1993	3%	11%	4%
1992	3%	11%	3%
1991	2%	11%	3%
1990	2%	10%	3%
1989	2%	10%	4%

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Hispanic

29%

56%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	29%	56%
2024	30%	56%
2023	29%	55%	40%
2022	29%	56%	39%
2021	31%	56%	38%
2020	29%	55%	38%
2019	29%	55%	38%
2018	29%	54%	38%
2017	29%	54%	38%
2016	30%	54%	38%
2015	30%	54%	38%
2014	27%	53%	37%
2013	26%	53%	36%
2012	24%	52%	34%
2011	22%	51%	33%
2010	22%	50%	30%
2009	23%	49%	28%
2008	26%	50%	29%
2007	27%	49%	27%
2006	24%	48%	27%
2005	22%	47%	25%
2004	21%	46%	24%
2003	22%	45%	21%
2002	22%	44%	20%
2001	23%	43%	19%
2000	21%	42%	17%
1999	22%	41%	17%
1998	22%	40%	17%
1997	23%	40%	18%
1996	25%	39%	18%
1995	27%	38%	18%
1994	27%	37%	17%
1993	26%	36%	16%
1992	23%	35%	15%
1991	22%	34%	14%
1990	23%	33%	13%
1989	19%	31%	11%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	2%	5%
2024	2%	5%
2023	2%	5%	2%
2022	3%	5%	2%
2021	3%	5%	2%
2020	2%	5%	1%
2019	2%	5%	1%
2018	1%	6%	1%
2017	1%	6%	1%
2016	2%	6%	1%
2015	2%	6%	1%
2014	2%	6%	2%
2013	2%	6%	2%
2012	3%	6%	2%
2011	3%	7%	2%
2010	4%	7%	3%
2009	3%	7%	2%
2008	3%	8%	2%
2007	4%	8%	3%
2006	4%	8%	1%
2005	4%	8%	3%
2004	5%	8%	3%
2003	4%	8%	3%
2002	4%	8%	3%
2001	4%	8%	3%
2000	5%	9%	3%
1999	5%	9%	3%
1998	5%	9%	3%
1997	5%	9%	3%
1996	5%	9%	3%
1995	5%	9%	3%
1994	5%	9%	3%
1993	4%	9%	2%
1992	3%	9%	2%
1991	4%	9%	3%
1990	5%	9%	3%
1989	4%	9%	2%

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White

58%

20%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	58%	20%
2024	57%	20%
2023	56%	21%	49%
2022	56%	21%	49%
2021	56%	22%	51%
2020	57%	23%	50%
2019	57%	23%	50%
2018	61%	24%	53%
2017	61%	24%	53%
2016	60%	24%	53%
2015	60%	24%	53%
2014	62%	25%	53%
2013	63%	25%	54%
2012	66%	26%	56%
2011	68%	27%	58%
2010	67%	27%	61%
2009	61%	28%	58%
2008	64%	29%	63%
2007	61%	29%	61%
2006	63%	31%	67%
2005	65%	31%	65%
2004	66%	32%	65%
2003	66%	34%	69%
2002	66%	35%	70%
2001	65%	36%	72%
2000	69%	37%	75%
1999	68%	38%	74%
1998	67%	39%	74%
1997	67%	39%	73%
1996	66%	40%	73%
1995	63%	41%	73%
1994	64%	42%	75%
1993	67%	43%	77%
1992	70%	44%	79%
1991	72%	45%	79%
1990	70%	47%	81%
1989	75%	49%	83%

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Hawaiian

n/a

View Data

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Student Percentage Comparison (2009-2011)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California
2011	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%

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Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2009-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	9%	6%
2024	8%	6%
2023	9%	6%	6%
2022	7%	5%	6%
2021	4%	5%	4%
2020	8%	4%	7%
2019	8%	4%	7%
2018	5%	4%	4%
2017	5%	4%	4%
2016	5%	4%	4%
2015	5%	3%	4%
2014	5%	3%	4%
2013	4%	3%	4%
2012	2%	3%	3%
2011	2%	2%	2%
2010	1%	3%	1%
2009	7%	3%	7%

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All Ethnic Groups

42%

80%

0.58

0.63

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	0.58	0.63
2024	0.58	0.63
2023	0.60	0.64	0.60
2022	0.60	0.63	0.60
2021	0.59	0.62	0.59
2020	0.59	0.63	0.60
2019	0.59	0.63	0.60
2018	0.55	0.64	0.58
2017	0.55	0.64	0.58
2016	0.55	0.64	0.57
2015	0.55	0.64	0.57
2014	0.54	0.65	0.58
2013	0.54	0.65	0.58
2012	0.53	0.65	0.58
2011	0.49	0.67	0.56
2010	0.50	0.67	0.54
2009	0.57	0.71	0.59
2008	0.52	0.65	0.52
2007	0.57	0.67	0.54
2006	0.56	0.66	0.51
2005	0.53	0.67	0.52
2004	0.54	0.67	0.50
2003	0.52	0.67	0.47
2002	0.52	0.67	0.46
2001	0.53	0.67	0.45
2000	0.48	0.67	0.41
1999	0.49	0.67	0.41
1998	0.50	0.67	0.42
1997	0.50	0.67	0.43
1996	0.50	0.67	0.44
1995	0.53	0.67	0.42
1994	0.52	0.67	0.41
1993	0.49	0.67	0.38
1992	0.46	0.67	0.36
1991	0.44	0.67	0.34
1990	0.46	0.66	0.32
1989	0.40	0.65	0.30

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96%

86.2%

View Data

Graduation Rate Comparison (2013-2023)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2023	96%	86%	92%
2022	97%	87%	94%
2021	95%	84%	92%
2020	95%	85%	92%
2019	95%	84%	89%
2018	95%	84%	90%
2017	95%	83%	90%
2016	97%	83%	93%
2015	97%	89%	90%
2014	98%	88%	92%
2013	97%	87%	90%

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(22-23)

23.5%

27.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2023	23.5%	27.7%	27.4%
2022	19.9%	33%	24.7%
2021	3%	15.4%	8.8%

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Eligible for

22%

54%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	22%	54%
2024	24%	54%
2023	24%	51%	30%
2022	23%	51%	26%
2021	30%	53%	31%
2020	27%	52%	32%
2019	27%	52%	32%
2018	24%	49%	30%
2017	24%	49%	30%
2016	22%	50%	31%
2015	23%	50%	33%
2014	17%	49%	28%
2013	19%	48%	27%
2011	20%	46%	29%
2010	16%	46%	23%
2009	7%	43%	20%
2008	19%	41%	23%
2007	20%	40%	22%
2006	19%	40%	21%
2005	15%	40%	16%
2004	11%	40%	13%
2003	12%	39%	11%
2002	11%	39%	9%
2001	8%	39%	9%
2000	10%	40%	10%
1999	9%	40%	9%
1998	14%	47%	13%
1997	14%	47%	13%
1996	13%	46%	13%
1995	16%	45%	14%
1994	19%	43%	15%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2000-2025)
Year	Santa Cruz High School	California	Santa Cruz City High School District
2025	1%	8%
2024	2%	8%
2023	2%	8%	2%
2022	2%	7%	3%
2021	2%	6%	3%
2020	4%	7%	6%
2019	4%	7%	6%
2018	5%	9%	7%
2017	5%	9%	7%
2016	6%	9%	7%
2015	6%	9%	6%
2014	5%	9%	8%
2013	4%	7%	6%
2011	5%	8%	6%
2010	4%	9%	6%
2009	2%	10%	5%
2008	6%	10%	5%
2007	4%	10%	4%
2006	3%	9%	3%
2005	3%	9%	3%
2004	3%	9%	4%
2003	2%	9%	3%
2002	3%	8%	3%
2001	3%	8%	3%
2000	3%	7%	3%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Santa Cruz City High School District

Sports

School Mascot

Cardinal, Northern Cardinal

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

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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 86.2%.

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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Learn how to evaluate a public school principal before enrolling by examining leadership stability, teacher support, communication, school culture, instructional priorities, discipline, family engagement, and measurable improvement efforts.

September 09, 2026

Comparing Before- and After-School Programs

Learn how to compare before- and after-school programs when choosing a public school, including hours, costs, staffing, safety, activities, enrollment rules, transportation, meals, and daily convenience for families.

September 09, 2026

Choosing a Public School During Budget Uncertainty

Learn which questions parents should ask when choosing a public school during budget uncertainty, including staffing, programs, class sizes, transportation, reserves, enrollment trends, and planned reductions ahead.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

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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