Middle Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified

The Pajaro Valley Unified School District in California is home to 6 middle schools, serving students in grades 6-8. These schools face significant challenges, with most students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and struggling to meet state academic standards.

The standout school in the district is Aptos Junior High, which outperforms the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. However, even Aptos Junior High lags behind the state in many areas. The other middle schools, such as Rolling Hills Middle, E.A. Hall Middle, and Cesar E. Chavez Middle, struggle significantly, with proficiency rates often less than half the state average.

Chronic absenteeism is a major issue across the district, with rates ranging from 28.3% to 40.5%. Additionally, the majority of students in these middle schools come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with free or reduced-price lunch rates exceeding 90% at some schools. These socioeconomic factors likely contribute to the academic challenges faced by the Pajaro Valley Unified middle schools, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes.