Summary:
This analysis covers five elementary schools within the Live Oak Elementary district in Santa Cruz, California, serving grades K-5 (with some extending to 8th grade) and enrolling a total of 1,188 students.
Among these schools, Tierra Pacifica Charter stands out for having the strongest academic results in English and Math, despite spending the least per student, while Ocean Alternative Education Center has an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate. The traditional public schools—Live Oak Elementary, Del Mar Elementary, and Green Acres Elementary—show a notable pattern where 5th-grade math scores drop significantly compared to earlier grades, which is a trend worth exploring further.
Overall, the Live Oak Elementary district performs above the state average, but school rankings have generally declined in recent years. The data shows a wide range in per-student spending and economic need among the schools, with charter options demonstrating different models of efficiency and attendance success that parents may wish to consider.
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