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Mountain Elementary

Q: Is Mountain Elementary a good school?

Mountain Elementary ranks 1009 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

1009^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 83% of California elementary schools

Summary

Mountain Elementary is a small, high-performing public school serving 143 students in grades K-6 in Soquel, California, operating as its own independent Mountain Elementary district, which ranks in the state's top 15%.

The school consistently earns strong 4-star ratings, with recent test scores showing about 69% of students proficient in English and 63% in math, significantly outperforming the state average and most nearby schools like De Laveaga Elementary and Soquel Elementary. It benefits from substantial resources, spending roughly double per student compared to neighbors, and maintains a lower rate of student economic need. However, a notable comparison is with Happy Valley Elementary, a similarly sized school that achieves even higher academic results with half the per-student spending, raising questions about resource efficiency.

While overall performance is excellent, the school has shown some year-to-year volatility in results for specific student groups and a significant dip in 4th-grade scores. On a positive note, Mountain Elementary has made a strong recovery from pandemic-related challenges, dramatically reducing chronic absenteeism and showing its highest statewide ranking in several years for the 2024-2025 school year, indicating positive momentum.

143

Students ?

17.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$34,392

Per pupil spending ?

14.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3042 Old San Jose Rd.
Soquel, CA 95073-9752

(831) 475-6812

District: Mountain Elementary

Students who attend Mountain Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Branciforte Middle
High:	Soquel High

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.8%

Hispanic:

18.2%

Two or more races:

9.1%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 88th percentile in 2013 → 83rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (65% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 17% of California elementary schools

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 5 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school65%

District avg65%

California avg41%

1,009^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 17%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 5% (2015) to top 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

194^th of 1,543Mountain Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	83.1	1009 of 5857	82.8%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	1472 of 5869	74.9%	★★★★☆
2023	76.8	1289 of 5859	78.0%	★★★★☆
2022	81.5	1126 of 5883	80.9%	★★★★☆
2019	75.1	1376 of 5789	76.2%	★★★★☆
2018	89.9	641 of 5662	88.7%	★★★★☆
2017	86.3	854 of 5692	85.0%	★★★★☆
2016	94.5	343 of 5614	93.9%	★★★★★
2015	96.0	269 of 5611	95.2%	★★★★★
2013	87.1	640 of 5530	88.4%	★★★★☆
2012	81.2	960 of 5390	82.2%	★★★★☆
2011	81.7	909 of 5377	83.1%	★★★★☆
2010	88.3	554 of 5314	89.6%	★★★★☆
2009	90.1	472 of 5193	90.9%	★★★★★
2008	85.6	724 of 5113	85.8%	★★★★☆
2007	75.1	1169 of 5113	77.1%	★★★★☆
2006	73.3	1201 of 4818	75.1%	★★★★☆
2005	73.8	1168 of 4822	75.8%	★★★★☆
2004	74.5	1133 of 4809	76.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	75.9	1287 of 5635	77.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	96.1	192 of 5628	96.6%	★★★★★
2024	45.7	2712 of 5643	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.3	1796 of 5638	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	49.4	2488 of 5510	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	91.8	459 of 5431	91.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.6	636 of 2598	75.5%	★★★★☆
2024	48.3	1459 of 2651	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	58.3	1185 of 2661	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.4	1389 of 2726	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.6	1354 of 2834	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.2	545 of 2737	80.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2025)97th percentile+14 vs school

Female (2022)77th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)76th percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy69%+20 vs state

Mathematics62%+25 vs state

Science61%+28 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mountain Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Mountain Elementary	Public	K-6	3042 Old San Jose Rd.	Soquel	95073	Santa Cruz County	Mountain Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 475-6812	143	8	17.8	14.7%	97 (67.8%)	1 (0.7%)	26 (18.2%)	6 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (9.1%)	83.1	1009^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.8%		72.6	1472^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	74.9%	463	61.1		61.1	79.0	57.1	72.2				68.8	79.0	42.9	61.1				62.5	81.0	81.0	90.5	81.0	85.7	90.5	$34,392	$598	$33,794
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary	Public	K-5	8005 Winkle Ave.	Santa Cruz	95065	Santa Cruz County	Soquel Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 464-5670	214	9	24.3	30.4%	113 (52.8%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (38.3%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (7.5%)	53.2	2414^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.8%		55.7	2251^st of 5869 public elementary schools	61.6%	163	43.8		43.8	37.5	57.1	54.8				49.5	37.5	46.4	25.0				35.9							$14,816	$1,236	$13,580
Happy Valley Elementary	Public	K-6	3125 Branciforte Dr.	Santa Cruz	95065	Santa Cruz County	Happy Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-1456	106	6	16.5	7.5%	82 (77.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (7.5%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (13.2%)	95.1	323^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	94.5%		95.5	305^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.8%	18	64.3		64.3	77.8	61.1	92.9	93.3			80.0	94.4	77.8	78.6	80.0			83.1							$16,983	$415	$16,568
Main Street Elementary	Public	K-5	3400 North Main St.	Soquel	95073	Santa Cruz County	Soquel Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 464-5650	383	17	23.2	24.8%	234 (61.1%)	3 (0.8%)	105 (27.4%)	8 (2.1%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	29 (7.6%)	66	1788^th of 5857 public elementary schools	69.5%		77.7	1260^th of 5869 public elementary schools	78.5%	528	44.1		44.1	47.2	52.9	60.3				53.4	48.6	50.7	46.3				48.6	95.5	97.0	95.5		97.0		$13,121	$946	$12,175
Soquel Elementary	Public	K-5	2700 Porter St.	Soquel	95073	Santa Cruz County	Soquel Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 464-5655	337	15	22.0	40.1%	132 (39.2%)	6 (1.8%)	160 (47.5%)	14 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	22 (6.5%)	49.7	2611^th of 5857 public elementary schools	55.4%		56.5	2208^th of 5869 public elementary schools	62.4%	403	40.0		40.0	42.6	40.0	49.1				44.0	40.8	39.2	34.6				38.1	91.1	96.4	96.4		96.4		$13,999	$1,422	$12,577
Mar Vista Elementary	Public	K-6	6860 Soquel Dr.	Aptos	95003	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 688-5211	270	15	17.8	54.1%	136 (50.4%)	1 (0.4%)	102 (37.8%)	9 (3.3%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	18 (6.7%)	39.2	3271^st of 5857 public elementary schools	44.2%		40.7	3138^th of 5869 public elementary schools	46.5%	133	26.5		26.5	38.5	25.0	41.2	55.3			40.1	33.3	33.3	26.5	34.2			32.0
De Laveaga Elementary	Public	K-5	1145 Morrissey Blvd.	Santa Cruz	95065	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3807	481	20	23.5	27.7%	221 (45.9%)	6 (1.2%)	200 (41.6%)	19 (4.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.1%)	66.6	1761^st of 5857 public elementary schools	69.9%		70.8	1559^th of 5869 public elementary schools	73.4%	202	42.0		42.0	50.0	56.0	62.5				55.9	51.7	50.7	39.5				47.4	96.6	96.6			96.6		$16,889	$1,887	$15,002
Ocean Alternative Education Center	Public	K-8	984 Bostwick Ln. Ste. 6	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Live Oak Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 475-0767	76	4	21.5	47.4%	40 (52.6%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (31.6%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (14.5%)								(n/a)			60.0							50.0							38.6							$22,434	$944	$21,490
Tierra Pacifica Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	986 Bostwick Ln.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Live Oak Elementary	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 462-9404	166	9	17.5	28.9%	105 (63.3%)	3 (1.8%)	40 (24.1%)	4 (2.4%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (7.2%)	58	2171^st of 5857 public elementary schools	62.9%		71	1551^st of 5869 public elementary schools	73.6%	620	35.3	54.6	42.9	52.9	62.5	17.7	53.3	75.0	54.6	52.2	76.5	50.0	5.9	53.3	62.5	72.7	52.2							$13,628	$00	$13,628
Green Acres Elementary	Public	K-5	966 Bostwick Ln.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Live Oak Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 475-0111	262	12	21.8	54.2%	104 (39.7%)	7 (2.7%)	128 (48.9%)	10 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.6%)	51.2	2538^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.7%		56.4	2220^th of 5869 public elementary schools	62.2%	318	25.0		25.0	48.8	52.2	37.2				46.2	53.7	54.4	22.7				43.5	91.7	96.7	95.0		93.3		$21,740	$1,474	$20,266

Frequently Asked Questions about Mountain Elementary

What district is Mountain Elementary in?

Mountain Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Mountain Elementary?

Students at Mountain Elementary are 68% White, 18% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

How many students attend Mountain Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 143 students attended Mountain Elementary.

Is Mountain Elementary a good school?

Mountain Elementary ranks 1009^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Mountain Elementary attend?

Students who attend Mountain Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Branciforte Middle
High : Soquel High

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.