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Delta Charter

Q: Is Delta Charter a good school?

Delta Charter ranks 1605 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 9-12

1605^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 26% of California high schools

Summary

Delta Charter is a small public charter high school serving 113 students in grades 9-12 within the Santa Cruz City High district in Aptos, California, but its academic performance is significantly lower than other area schools.

The school faces serious challenges, with only 24% of students proficient in English and a strikingly low 2% proficient in math, far below the district averages and the performance of nearby schools like Santa Cruz High and Soquel High. A major contributing factor is chronic absenteeism, with 44% of students missing significant school, which is more than double the rate for the district and state. Despite having a favorable student-teacher ratio, the school spends less per student than most surrounding schools.

Interestingly, Delta Charter maintains a very high 96% graduation rate, creating a puzzling disconnect from its low test scores. This pattern differs from other local alternative options; for instance, Ark Independent Studies, a similarly sized school, shows much higher academic proficiency. While the school serves a student population with a higher rate of economic need than some comprehensive high schools, its role appears to be as an alternative for students who may not thrive in traditional settings, though questions remain about academic preparation for life after graduation.

113

Students ?

13.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,012

Per pupil spending ?

38.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6500 Soquel Dr. Bldg. 1190
Aptos, CA 95003-3119

(831) 477-5212

District: Santa Cruz City High

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.2%

Hispanic:

38.1%

Two or more races:

5.3%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Delta Charter to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 63rd percentile in 2013 → 26th in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (14% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (44% vs 19% California)

!Ranking has slipped — down 37 percentile points since 2013

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg47%

California avg41%

1,605^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 26%▼ down 25 pts since 2015

From top 49% (2015) to bottom 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 6High Schools in the Santa Cruz City High

541^st of 1,543Santa Cruz City High 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	24.5	1605 of 2162	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.1	1486 of 2159	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.1	1552 of 2170	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	36.3	1278 of 2123	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.4	1564 of 2133	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.8	1527 of 2017	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	28.3	1404 of 2021	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.7	1224 of 2039	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	49.9	982 of 1994	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	45.9	897 of 2426	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	40.2	1046 of 2354	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	39.7	1072 of 2367	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2010	35.6	1115 of 2281	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2009	36.9	1125 of 2238	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	40.8	894 of 2117	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	52.8	589 of 2063	71.4%	★★★★☆
2006	40.9	812 of 1968	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2005	34.8	926 of 1901	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	40.2	700 of 1653	57.7%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	22.5	1481 of 1906	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	1460 of 1915	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.8	1321 of 1915	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	25.0	1362 of 1833	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.1	1483 of 1760	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	17.5	1554 of 1900	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.0	1448 of 1902	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	32.8	1290 of 1917	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.0	1318 of 1814	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	29.7	1427 of 2013	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.8	1320 of 2026	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.4	1579 of 2030	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.0	1540 of 1942	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	1243 of 1948	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.7	1494 of 1963	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.3	1274 of 1916	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	16.8	1509 of 1880	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	13.0	1013 of 1155	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.0	1009 of 1173	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.7	1069 of 1193	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.9	1053 of 1204	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.3	1092 of 1222	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	5.3	1096 of 1173	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)29th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)22nd percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)21st percentile-5 vs school

Hispanic (2025)18th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)12th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy24%-24 vs state

Science15%-17 vs state

Mathematics2%-35 vs state

★

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Schools Near Delta Charter

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores 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)		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 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Delta Charter	Public, Charter	9-12	6500 Soquel Dr. Bldg. 1190	Aptos	95003	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City High	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 477-5212	113	9	13.2	38.9%	59 (52.2%)	1 (0.9%)	43 (38.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.3%)	24.5	1605^th of 2162 public high schools	25.8%		30.1	1486^th of 2159 public high schools	31.2%	119	12.2	18.9	15.4	24.4	24.4	2.4	2.4	$13,012	$383	$12,629
Soquel High	Public	9-12	401 Old San Jose Rd.	Soquel	95073	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3909	1,074	54	19.9	29.1%	510 (47.5%)	7 (0.7%)	424 (39.5%)	17 (1.6%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	113 (10.5%)	80	411^th of 2162 public high schools	81.0%		77.4	448^th of 2159 public high schools	79.2%	37	50.4	31.9	40.6	72.5	72.5	34.2	34.2	$18,421	$2,017	$16,404
Aptos High	Public	9-12	100 Mariner Way	Aptos	95003	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-7832	1,274	58	21.9	47.6%	511 (40.1%)	4 (0.3%)	676 (53.1%)	26 (2.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	51 (4.0%)	64.6	696^th of 2162 public high schools	67.8%		71.2	548^th of 2159 public high schools	74.6%	148		35.4	35.4	46.5	46.5	30.8	30.8
Harbor High	Public	9-12	300 La Fonda Ave.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3810	1,013	55	18.5	38.2%	350 (34.6%)	6 (0.6%)	564 (55.7%)	27 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	64 (6.3%)	66.4	667^th of 2162 public high schools	69.1%		68.9	584^th of 2159 public high schools	73.0%	83	34.6	33.3	34.0	59.7	59.7	25.7	25.7	$18,858	$2,563	$16,295
Costanoa Continuation High	Public	9-12	840 North Branciforte Ave.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3898	77	3	22.7	57.1%	15 (19.5%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (74.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.5%)	13.3	1868^th of 2162 public high schools	13.6%		16.6	1770^th of 2159 public high schools	18.0%	98	4.0	13.3	7.5	4.4	4.4	0.0	0.0	$22,210	$2,267	$19,943
Ark Independent Studies	Public	6-12	840 North Branciforte Ave.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3898	56	2	27.1	41.1%	25 (44.6%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (50.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (5.4%)	44.5	1154^th of 2162 public high schools	46.6%		67.1	612^th of 2159 public high schools	71.7%	542			26.3	53.3	53.3	13.3	13.3	$22,913	$2,179	$20,734
Renaissance High Continuation	Public	9-12	11 Spring Valley Rd.	La Selva Beach	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6344	112	16	7.2	92.9%	4 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (93.8%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9	2068^th of 2162 public high schools	4.3%		11.4	1980^th of 2159 public high schools	8.3%	88		0.0	0.0	4.6	4.6	1.5	1.5
Santa Cruz High	Public	9-12	415 Walnut Ave.	Santa Cruz	95060	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3960	1,093	46	23.8	22.7%	634 (58.0%)	18 (1.6%)	317 (29.0%)	27 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	95 (8.7%)	89.7	203^rd of 2162 public high schools	90.6%		93.8	140^th of 2159 public high schools	93.5%	63	51.7	50.6	51.1	69.0	69.0	50.6	50.6	$17,409	$1,956	$15,453
Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program	Public	10-12	400 Encinal St.	Santa Cruz	95060	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz County Regional Occupational Program	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(831) 466-5762	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Santa Cruz County Court	Public	7-12	400 Encinal St.	Santa Cruz	95060	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 466-5728	20	2	10.0	85.0%	4 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (75.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.0%)								(n/a)								$50,038	$5,664	$44,374

Frequently Asked Questions about Delta Charter

How many students attend Delta Charter?

In the 2024-25 school year, 113 students attended Delta Charter.

Is Delta Charter a good school?

Delta Charter ranks 1605^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What district is Delta Charter in?

Santa Cruz City High

What is the racial makeup of Delta Charter?

Students at Delta Charter are 52% White, 38% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 2% Not Specified.

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Schools in Aptos, CA

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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.