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Elementary Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its California rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

DistrictPajaro Valley Unified1255^th of 1,530 California districtsFull district overview →

Schools

8,247

Students

Top rankedValencia Elementary1333^rd of 5,817 California elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Watsonville Charter School of the Arts up 1,720 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Mar Vista Elementary 17.8 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

4★

2★

0★

Compare California districts →See the top-ranked California schools →

Summary:

The 19 elementary-level schools in Pajaro Valley Unified serve different grade spans: most cover kindergarten through grade 5 or 6, while some extend through grades 7 or 8. Their 2025–26 all-grade proficiency rates vary widely, and the 19-school averages trail California in ELA, mathematics and science. The most important finding is that area-wide results are below state levels in all three subjects, even though some schools exceed the state in multiple subjects.

Valencia Elementary leads all-grade ELA and science, at 62% and 58% proficient; those rates are 4 and 15 points above the next-highest schools, respectively. Rio del Mar Elementary leads mathematics at 53%, 2 points ahead of Valencia. At the other end, Amesti Elementary has the lowest ELA rate at 7%, Radcliff Elementary the lowest mathematics rate at 5%, and Hall District Elementary the lowest science rate at 3%. Shared-grade results also highlight different strengths: Linscott Charter leads grade-5 ELA at 69%, while Valencia leads grade-5 mathematics and science. SchoolDigger gives Valencia and Rio del Mar four stars and Linscott three.

Recent changes are mixed: the average school rate rose by about 1 point in each subject from 2024–25 to 2025–26, but California’s gains were faster in mathematics and science, leaving the schools farther behind in those subjects. Watsonville Charter School of the Arts improved by 9 points in ELA and 10 in mathematics, while Rio del Mar’s science rate fell by 15 points. Other measures can help families compare schools, but do not sort them neatly by achievement: for example, Linscott has the highest student–teacher ratio, 28.7, yet its ELA rate is among the higher results. The share free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–25 ranged from 22% at Rio del Mar to 97% at Calabasas and Radcliff; schools with similarly high shares still had notably different proficiency rates. These comparisons describe school-level measures and results, not causes.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CSA Spanish Overall (2026)							CSA Spanish Listening (2026)							CSA Spanish Writing (2026)							CSA Spanish Reading (2026)							CAST Science (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)							Vaccination (2024-25)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 7th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 8th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 7th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 8th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 7th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 8th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 6th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 7th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 8th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Amesti Elementary	Public	K-5	25 Amesti Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6250	431	24	18.3	95.6%	16 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	409 (94.9%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	5.6	5781^st of 5817 public elementary schools	0.6%		6.6	5796^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.0%	15																													10.8		10.8	5.9	3.0	12.1				7.0	11.9	4.6	7.7				8.1	≥ 98%		$24,043	$2,851	$21,192
Bradley Elementary	Public	K-6	321 Corralitos Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6366	520	25	21.0	54.2%	193 (37.1%)	1 (0.2%)	296 (56.9%)	5 (1.0%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	20 (3.8%)	31.3	3886^th of 5817 public elementary schools	33.2%		30.7	3903^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	33.4%	17																													28.4		28.4	19.1	38.7	42.5	41.4			35.9	25.4	27.6	28.8	22.9			26.2	≥ 98%		$22,767	$2,268	$20,499
Calabasas Elementary	Public	K-6	202 Calabasas Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6368	512	23	22.0	97.1%	23 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	482 (94.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.8%)	13.5	5359^th of 5817 public elementary schools	7.9%		9.6	5652^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	3.5%	293																													10.2		10.2	22.2	18.3	11.9	34.5			21.5	28.6	12.5	6.7	15.5			15.8	≥ 98%		$23,092	$2,713	$20,379
Freedom Elementary	Public	K-5	25 Holly Dr.	Freedom	95019	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6260	479	20	24.5	91.4%	19 (4.0%)	1 (0.2%)	456 (95.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11.4	5511^th of 5817 public elementary schools	5.3%		9.3	5669^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.2%	158																													12.0		12.0	9.0	12.6	29.3				16.7	15.4	17.4	17.6				16.8	≥ 98%		$22,243	$2,496	$19,747
H. A. Hyde Elementary	Public	K-5	125 Alta Vista St.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6243	476	23	21.0	91.6%	12 (2.5%)	2 (0.4%)	458 (96.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	13.3	5369^th of 5817 public elementary schools	7.7%		9.7	5647^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.6%	278																													10.4		10.4	17.4	12.5	27.3				19.3	22.9	26.4	11.7				20.1	≥ 99%		$22,299	$2,817	$19,482
Hall District Elementary	Public	K-6	300 Sill Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Monterey County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6371	470	22	21.7	94.0%	17 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	450 (95.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	6.5	5746^th of 5817 public elementary schools	1.2%		6.6	5792^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	1.1%	46																													3.1		3.1	12.3	20.6	10.8				14.6	8.1	13.2	1.5				7.7	≥ 98%		$21,569	$2,448	$19,121
Mar Vista Elementary	Public	K-7	6860 Soquel Dr.	Aptos	95003	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 761-6177	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%)	39.7	3251^st of 5817 public elementary schools	44.1%		39.2	3271^st of 5857 public elementary schools	44.2%	20																													31.3		31.3	38.5	40.0	43.8	46.2			43.5	35.9	17.5	31.3	44.0			31.3	≥ 95%		$24,443	$2,747	$21,696
Mintie White Elementary	Public	K-5	515 Palm Ave.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6321	493	22	22.3	94.1%	23 (4.7%)	1 (0.2%)	459 (93.1%)	5 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	7.8	5707^th of 5817 public elementary schools	1.9%		7	5778^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.3%	71																													7.1		7.1	19.4	14.5	12.2				15.0	22.2	8.4	3.1				10.3	≥ 98%		$22,098	$2,557	$19,541
Rio del Mar Elementary	Public	K-6	819 Pinehurst Dr.	Aptos	95003	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-7838	393	19	20.5	22.1%	249 (63.4%)	2 (0.5%)	88 (22.4%)	13 (3.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (9.9%)	70.3	1565^th of 5817 public elementary schools	73.1%		74.9	1374^th of 5857 public elementary schools	76.5%	191																													43.1		43.1	44.7	51.0	54.9	74.2			57.4	56.5	37.3	51.0	66.1			53.3	96%	0%	$22,203	$1,849	$20,354
T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary	Public	K-5	330 Martinelli St.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6315	438	20	22.0	92.9%	27 (6.2%)	1 (0.2%)	400 (91.3%)	9 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	6.5	5749^th of 5817 public elementary schools	1.2%		5.3	5832^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	0.4%	83																													4.2		4.2	19.6	8.8	16.5				14.4	12.5	4.9	6.3				7.4	≥ 98%		$22,970	$2,790	$20,180
Valencia Elementary	Public	K-6	250 Aptos School Rd.	Aptos	95003	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-7836	487	24	20.2	37.0%	303 (62.2%)	0 (0.0%)	148 (30.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (6.6%)	75.9	1333^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	77.1%		78.3	1225^th of 5857 public elementary schools	79.1%	108																													57.8		57.8	42.9	61.9	67.2	69.2			61.8	41.7	50.8	47.6	62.3			51.8	≥ 98%		$21,470	$2,003	$19,467
Alianza Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	115 Casserly Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6333	626	28	22.3	80.2%	14 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	609 (97.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	31.9	3833^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	34.1%		40.3	3192^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	45.5%	641	4.4	15.3	3.3	17.7	9.8	1.7	8.9	49.3	23.6	43.3	19.4	18.0	8.5	27.4	7.3	41.7	6.7	40.3	24.6	10.2	22.2	1.5	11.1	0.0	19.4	3.3	5.1	6.8	30.0	6.8	18.5	21.7	34.7	38.3	51.6	45.9	23.7	35.8	17.4	27.8	21.7	35.5	26.2	15.3	24.0	97%	0%	$25,396	$2,099	$23,297
Ann Soldo Elementary	Public	K-5	1140 Menasco Dr.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 786-1310	377	19	19.4	92.8%	11 (2.9%)	1 (0.3%)	355 (94.2%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	8.7	5670^th of 5817 public elementary schools	2.5%		9.5	5659^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.4%	11																													11.3		11.3	23.9	6.7	12.9				13.7	14.9	13.3	8.1				11.8	96%	0%	$24,446	$3,180	$21,266
Linscott Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	220 Elm St.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6301	258	9	28.7	65.9%	28 (10.9%)	0 (0.0%)	217 (84.1%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	9 (3.5%)	45.7	2866^th of 5817 public elementary schools	50.7%		49.4	2627^th of 5857 public elementary schools	55.1%	239																													32.1	13.3	22.4	35.7	21.4	69.0	60.0	60.7	66.7	52.6	28.6	7.1	31.0	53.3	46.4	40.0	34.7	≥ 95%		$23,166	$1,611	$21,555
Ohlone Elementary	Public	K-6	21 Bay Farms Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Monterey County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6977	391	19	20.8	96.7%	7 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	380 (97.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	8.5	5682^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	2.3%		10	5633^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	3.8%	49																													12.3		12.3	0.0	16.9	26.4				15.7	9.1	6.2	8.2				7.8	≥ 98%		$23,554	$2,665	$20,889
Starlight Elementary	Public	K-5	225 Hammer Dr.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6979	383	18	21.3	91.6%	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	374 (97.7%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25.1	4379^th of 5817 public elementary schools	24.7%		18.3	4982^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	14.9%	603																													14.8		14.8	32.1	34.9	16.4				27.9	42.9	31.8	14.8				29.5	≥ 98%		$25,380	$2,434	$22,946
Watsonville Charter School of the Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	115 Casserly Rd. West Campus	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-8123	415	18	22.8	55.9%	98 (23.6%)	1 (0.2%)	297 (71.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.6%)	40.5	3195^th of 5817 public elementary schools	45.1%		19.1	4915^th of 5857 public elementary schools	16.1%	1720																													23.9	15.0	19.8	43.9	42.2	44.4	44.9	29.3	27.5	39.1	43.9	34.1	26.2	25.0	36.6	18.4	30.7	≥ 95%		$24,634	$1,760	$22,874
Radcliff Elementary	Public	K-5	550 Rodriguez St.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6469	409	20	20.3	97.1%	8 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	401 (98.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4.5	5807^th of 5817 public elementary schools	0.2%		5.8	5812^th of 5857 public elementary schools	0.8%	5																													4.8		4.8	1.5	14.5	9.7				8.3	7.3	3.1	3.2				4.6	≥ 98%		$23,773	$2,624	$21,149
Landmark Elementary	Public	K-5	235 Ohlone Pkwy.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 761-7940	419	23	18.3	91.2%	19 (4.5%)	1 (0.2%)	379 (90.5%)	17 (4.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	5.4	5787^th of 5817 public elementary schools	0.5%		9	5686^th of 5857 public elementary schools	2.9%	101																													10.1		10.1	8.0	7.1	8.8				7.9	8.0	5.8	5.9				6.4	≥ 99%		$22,527	$2,704	$19,823

Districts nearby

District	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Santa Cruz County Career Advancement Charter District	0.54 mi	1
Santa Cruz County Office of Education	0.54 mi	5
Watsonville Prep District	2.53 mi	1	825^th
Ceiba College Preparatory Academy District	2.89 mi	1	589^th
Aromas - San Juan Unified	7.87 mi	3	1024^th

See the top CA California districts

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.