2020 Best Schools in Santa CruzAbout this List

Kirby School

• Private School
• Santa Cruz, CA
• 6-12
• 37 reviews

Parent: My child is in their 3rd year at Kirby, and we are positive that in Kirby, we found the best school environment for our family. We appreciate the atmosphere of inclusivity and kindness, as well as the academically-enriching curriculum. The small class sizes are wonderfully conducive to participation and active learning. The school day has a later start time than most schools, which is a model that has been suggested of all middle and high schools. The lunches are delicious and healthy, and the students actually enjoy the meals. Tuition is economically challenging, but Kirby does offer financial aid and assistance, so please don't let that stop you from exploring this amazing school as an option for your own child.
Read 37 Reviews

• A+

• 273 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Pacific Collegiate Charter School

• Public School
• Santa Cruz, CA
• 7-12
• 78 reviews

Senior: The major part about PCS that I liked was the fact that it provides free SAT prep courses. It is also very clean compared to most other public schools. Also, the English teachers are so willing to help you out with the writing in your college applications, and they are extremely helpful in doing this!
Read 78 Reviews

• A+

• 522 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Santa Cruz High School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 87 reviews

Senior: Santa Cruz High is a very good high school that gives students the opportunity to choose a very academically rigorous path through high school, or focus more on exploring their interests with unique classes that will inspire them. Or both! The 8-classes-per-year model (optional) allows students to take more classes that interest them. It is in a great location close to downtown (which has restaurants for students to go to at lunch), and a few minutes from the beach as well as Westcliff. Some of the teachers are absolutely amazing, while others are very much the opposite. Admin is sometimes hard to work with, and while there are a large amount of clubs, and it is easy to start one yourself, they often lose momentum and do not accomplish much. Students really have to seek out information/opportunities/resources unless they are clearly struggling. The CTE program is amazing! The art department in general is great. Sports are good, but school spirit is nonexistent!
Read 87 Reviews

• A

• 1,027 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Tierra Pacifica Charter School

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA
• K-8

• A-

• 155 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alternative Family Education

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• K-12
• 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

• A-

• 161 Students
• 29:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cypress Charter High School

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA
• 9-12
• 22 reviews

Parent: So grateful we found this amazing high school! It's college prep but with out the intense social cliques and pressure. My daughter didn't fit in at our local high school and hated going because of how the other kids treated her. Now she's always up on time and excited to go. AND she gets most of her homework done and good grades. The students are amazing. I love how confident and polite they are when I'm on campus. The teachers seem so much happier too. Smaller classes, less policing makes for better relationships with the students. I feel my daughter is in great hands. Thanks Cypress!
Read 22 Reviews

• A-

• 144 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Soquel High School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 136 reviews

Parent: Soquel High School is a well run school located in a semi-rural part of Santa Cruz County. It has a larger student population than you may have experienced but it is a small school when compared to the schools in the Central Valley of California where I was raised.

The school still embraces the Trades and has active workshops when many have been discontinued throughout California, if not our nation. Yet, Soquel has a very strong Music program and one of the strongest marching bands I've ever heard perform! Their traditional sports along with their fundraising efforts are very good too.

Lastly, the general academic courses are taught well, especially strong along the AP track.
Read 136 Reviews

• A-

• 1,116 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Mission Hill Middle School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 6-8

• B+

• 594 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Westlake Elementary School

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA
• K-5

• B+

• 569 Students
• 26:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Branciforte Middle School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 6-8

• B+

• 508 Students
• 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Harbor High School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 226 reviews

Junior: The community at Harbor High is very welcoming and supportive. Both the teachers and students are working together to help to establish a safe place where everyone feels comfortable expressing themself, as well as having their voice be heard.
Read 226 Reviews

• B+

• 902 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

De Laveaga Elementary School

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA
• K-5

• B

• 602 Students
• 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Delta Charter School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 11 reviews

Niche User: Delta was extremely unique. The Real World Linked Learning pilot program was the most intriguing and engaging program that I have ever attended, and fully integrated students in the intricacies of college and working life. The teachers were kind and ready to assist at any available opportunity, and supported students who struggled by working to find a solution that fit the student. It is situated right next to a sheriff's office on a college campus, and is therefore extremely safe and secluded.
Read 11 Reviews

• B

• 129 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bay View Elementary School

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA
• K-5

• B

• 522 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Green Acres Elementary School

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA
• K-5

• B

• 394 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ocean Alternative School

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA
• K-8
• 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

• B

• 70 Students
• 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Shoreline Middle School

• Live Oak Elementary School District, CA
• 6-8

• B-

• 553 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Costanoa Continuation High School

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 9-12
• 6 reviews

• B-

• 80 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Santa Cruz County Community

• Public School
• Santa Cruz, CA
• 7-12
• 6 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 6 Reviews

• C+

• 626 Students
• 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Gault Elementary School

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA
• K-5

• C+

• 389 Students
• 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch

• Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, CA
• K-6

• B-

• 124 Students
• 25:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Gateway School

• Private School
• Santa Cruz, CA
• K-8

• NG

• 232 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Holy Cross School

• Private School
• Santa Cruz, CA
• PK, K-8
• 1 review

Parent: Great nurturing school, students feel very safe and loved there. Awesome choice for middle school if you are looking for one.
Read 1 Review

• NG

• 162 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Spring Hill School

• Private School
• Santa Cruz, CA
• PK, K-6
• 1 review

Parent: We left public school after Kinder and started 1st grade at Spring Hill. Our boys love it there and are happy to go to school every day. They offere an individualized education and meet your child right where they are. I recommend checking Spring Hill out for your family!!
Read 1 Review

• NG

• 89 Students
• 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Ark Independent Studies

• Santa Cruz City High School District, CA
• 9-12

• NG

• 60 Students
• 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio