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Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary

Q: Is Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary a good school?

Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary ranks 2414 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

2414^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 59% of California elementary schools

Summary

Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary is a public K-5 school serving about 214 students in the Soquel Union Elementary district, presenting a profile of distinct strengths alongside areas for growth.

The school shines in science, where student scores outpace both state and district averages, and has achieved a remarkable turnaround in student attendance, dramatically reducing chronic absenteeism over the past three years. However, academic performance in English and math is closer to the state average, and there are significant concerns about declining performance trends among some student subgroups that the school will need to address. Compared to its district peers like Main Street Elementary and Soquel Elementary, Santa Cruz Gardens ranks lower overall despite similar resources.

The local educational landscape is highly varied, with nearby schools like high-performing Happy Valley Elementary and Mountain Elementary presenting very different profiles in terms of student population and funding. This contrast highlights that Santa Cruz Gardens operates in a community with a wide range of school options and outcomes.

214

Students ?

24.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,816

Per pupil spending ?

30.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

8005 Winkle Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95065-1149

(831) 464-5670

District: Soquel Union Elementary

Students who attend Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary usually attend:

Middle:

New Brighton Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.8%

Hispanic:

38.3%

Two or more races:

7.5%

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Compare Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 78th percentile in 2017 → 59th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the California median (59th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 78th-percentile peak (2017) to 59th (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg47%

California avg41%

2,414^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 41%▼ down 12 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to top 41% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Elementary Schools in the Soquel Union Elementary

475^th of 1,543Soquel Union 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	53.2	2414 of 5857	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.7	2251 of 5869	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.9	1957 of 5859	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.4	2009 of 5883	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.9	1521 of 5789	73.7%	★★★★☆
2018	63.4	1894 of 5662	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	77.4	1228 of 5692	78.4%	★★★★☆
2016	74.4	1330 of 5614	76.3%	★★★★☆
2015	65.8	1665 of 5611	70.3%	★★★★☆
2013	47.5	2824 of 5530	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	54.3	2379 of 5390	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2011	60.5	1994 of 5377	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.8	1243 of 5314	76.6%	★★★★☆
2009	68.2	1522 of 5193	70.7%	★★★★☆
2008	77.0	1102 of 5113	78.4%	★★★★☆
2007	66.1	1547 of 5113	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.4	1532 of 4818	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	58.4	1817 of 4822	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	54.6	1940 of 4809	59.7%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	71.4	480 of 2585	81.4%	★★★★☆
2018	70.0	407 of 2128	80.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	74.8	1292 of 5609	77.0%	★★★★☆
2022	70.0	1524 of 5635	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	64.6	1767 of 5492	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.9	2435 of 5413	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	24.4	4143 of 5107	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	14.5	4794 of 5107	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	50.7	2199 of 5087	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.6	2439 of 4963	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.1	2402 of 4830	50.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.9	4733 of 5460	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.5	4332 of 5517	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	41.8	2927 of 5363	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.9	3443 of 5173	33.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.2	3897 of 5084	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.6	2086 of 5628	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	2198 of 5643	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.8	2239 of 5638	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.6	2159 of 5663	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.7	1358 of 5510	75.4%	★★★★☆
2018	70.7	1463 of 5431	73.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	50.2	1400 of 2598	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.9	1712 of 2651	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.7	1547 of 2661	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.7	1563 of 2726	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	71.4	759 of 2834	73.2%	★★★★☆
2018	55.3	1349 of 2737	50.7%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2019)81st percentile+8 vs school

Female (2023)77th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)63rd percentile+4 vs school

White (2025)46th percentile-13 vs school

Hispanic (2025)19th percentile-40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)13th percentile-45 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy49%~ state avg

Science44%+11 vs state

Mathematics36%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Santa Cruz Gardens 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Live Oak Elementary	Public	K-5	1916 Capitola Rd.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Live Oak Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 475-2000	362	15	24.1	58.6%	90 (24.9%)	5 (1.4%)	252 (69.6%)	7 (1.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	35.7	3527^th of 5857 public elementary schools	39.8%		44.3	2909^th of 5869 public elementary schools	50.4%	618	27.9		27.9	33.3	37.3	51.2				39.1	27.1	27.9	37.2				29.8	93.9	96.3		96.3	95.1		$19,181	$1,390	$17,791
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary

What schools do graduates of Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary attend?

Students who attend Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : New Brighton Middle

Is Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary a good school?

Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary ranks 2414^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary?

Students at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary are 53% White, 38% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

What district is Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary in?

Soquel Union Elementary

How many students attend Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 214 students attended Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary.

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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.