2024 Best Public Schools in Santa Cruz

• Santa Cruz County Office of Education, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  95 reviews

Parent: I have two children at PCS a high school boy and a middle school girl. They are both thriving! Our daughter entered in 7th grade and her experience was so good, her brother decided to transfer in the middle of 10th grade. He loves it too. His attitude towards school and his grades improved because the teachers are so stimulating and the social environment is so positive. He has more homework than at his old school, but it's more interesting and exciting for him, so it's actually easier for him to do it. My children are very different and have different learning challenges, but both are thriving at PCS.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 556

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  99 reviews

Senior: Ever since the first grade, I hated school. But when I entered my freshmen year, my mind was completely blown. The classes were easy to find and I really liked a lot of my teachers. This was the first time I was passionate about what I was learning. The biggest part was how the school treated my learning disabilities. I have ADHD and Dyslexia, which makes it very hard for me to keep up with my school work. Previous schools had labeled my behavior in class as laziness, but when I entered high school, I was immediately given the resources I needed to learn. This came in the form of an IEP. Every week or so I meet with my IEP specialist and we discuss my grades to make sure I’m up to speed. Also, during distance learning, the school worked very hard to accommodate everyone's needs, whether it be lending them a chromebook or providing free meals. The school also walks every senior through filling out the FAFSA so no one misses the opportunity. I am proud to have attended Santa Cruz High.... Read 99 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,131

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: The teachers are passionate about their jobs and committed to the kid's success. The workload is perfectly manageable and relevant to the student's learning.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 565

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  252 reviews

Sophomore: I've heard some things about my school that make me sad; sad because the people who say those things will never truly understand the school that I attend. The reason that I so enjoy this place is not because it is the most academically motivated, or because it's the best school for sports, and true, Harbor is neither of these. I like Harbor because of the people. People and students at my school are considerate, they're not going to bully someone, they are nice! The teachers here are always understanding, and what coaches I've had are as well. There's something special here, something that I think would be hard to come across anywhere else. And although it's true that other schools, like Soquel High, or PCS, offer better athletics or academics, at Harbor, you can make your school experience truly something unique that fits your personal needs. Overall, Harbor deserves more credit and attention than I think it gets.... Read 252 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,043

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 423

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 485

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  155 reviews

Senior: Soquel High School is a school inclusive to all students of color, students with disorders, and students with physical disabilities. Soquel High School encourages inclusivity by offering English and Spanish news letter sent to parents who sign up for it and has a multicultural club where students of different ethnicity and races can sign up and come together. Students in a multicultural club can opt in to host their own graduation specifically for them. As a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) I am grateful for my accommodations which greatly reduced the stress of school and work piling up. My Academic Support/Special Education teachers have been nothing but pleasant when help is needed. However, the lack of action towards bad behavior can make for a difficult learning environment. The classroom and school rules are too loose which allows for some students to get away with using their phones in class, blasting music in their headphones, and loudly yelling over each other.... Read 155 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,022

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  12 reviews

Senior: AFE is perfect for students who don’t “fit in” in a comprehensive high school. you get the chance to participate in clubs and sports on a smaller scale, so if sports are your thing a bigger school might be better. you can take classes online, on your own, with a parent teaching you or at AFE or the community college cabrillo. I love it because I didn’t have a great time at a big school and AFE made me feel welcomed and gives me the opportunity and time to do the things i like during the day. It’s a public high school, but also a homeschool.... Read 12 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 118

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 1 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• Students 155

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade B+

• Students 475

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA•

• 6-8

• grade B+

• Students 457

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Senior: The teachers are very nice, super helpful, and always avilable. The classes are unique and fun and I was able to graduate early.... Read 11 reviews

• grade B

• Students 104

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade B

• Students 329

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade B minus

• Students 328

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Santa Cruz County Office of Education, CA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  7 reviews

Junior: I love the area that Santa Cruz is in. Since i’m coming from the bay area, I’m a lot more use to busy cities. It’s a quiet area with a lot of friendly people. I think that if I could change something about the school it would be how limited they are on the number of professors they have. It makes it very stressful to put together a class schedule and a lot of times I do not get to get into the classes that I am interested in. I do not want to gradute and have spent tons of money not learning about things that I am intersted in. The school seems impacted and not enough professors to help teach subjects.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 657

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Alum: I attended Ocean Alternative for 7 years, from second grade all the way through eighth. During that time I was able to find something no traditional school could ever impart, I found a true love of the adventure that is learning. Did I leave with an above average knowledge of contemporary mathematics? No. Did I have MLA format ingrained in my being? Not at all. What I had was the ability to catch up on those things that go so far beyond them because I valued my time and my education like no one else. If you have a kid that finds school arduous and boring, try giving them a little freedom with Ocean Alt.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• Students 110

• Student-teacher ratio 28:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  8 reviews

Works Here: Struggling students come to Costanoa who are credit deficient, and rise to find success. Students overwhelmingly feel supported by a caring staff in a safe environment.... Read 8 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 82

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade C+

• Students 303

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA•

• 6-12

• grade C+

• Students 86

• Student-teacher ratio 43:1

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA•

• K-5

• grade unavailable

• Students 121

• Student-teacher ratio 30:1

• Santa Cruz County Office of Education, CA•

• 12

• grade unavailable

• Students 119

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Santa Cruz County Office of Education, CA•

• K-12

• grade unavailable

• Students 102

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Santa Cruz County Office of Education, CA•

• 7-12

• grade unavailable

• Students 59

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Soquel Union Elementary School District, CA•

• K-8

• grade unavailable

• Students 16

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1