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Aptos High

Q: Is Aptos High a good school?

Aptos High ranks 696 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

696^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 68% of California high schools

Summary

Aptos High is a public high school serving grades 9-12 to about 1,274 students in the coastal community of Aptos, California, within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.

Within its own district, Aptos High stands out as the highest-performing comprehensive high school, with significantly stronger graduation rates and test scores than peers like Watsonville High and Pajaro Valley High. It also serves a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students and, according to recent data, receives higher per-student funding than other high schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified district. However, the school's statewide academic ranking has gradually declined over the past decade, and it faces a significant challenge with chronic student absenteeism, which is higher than both the district and state averages.

When compared to schools in neighboring districts, Aptos High occupies a solid middle ground. It is outperformed by some schools in the adjacent Santa Cruz City High district, such as Soquel High and Harbor High, but it outperforms most in its own district. The school maintains an exceptionally high graduation rate, indicating strong support systems for students to complete their diplomas.

1,274

Students ?

21.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$26,093

Per pupil spending ?

47.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

100 Mariner Way
Aptos, CA 95003-9641

(831) 728-7832

District: Pajaro Valley Unified

Feeder schools for Aptos High:

Elementary:	Bradley Elementary
	Calabasas Elementary
	Mar Vista Elementary
	Rio del Mar Elementary
	More...
	Valencia Elementary
Middle:	Aptos Junior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.1%

White:

40.1%

Two or more races:

4.0%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Aptos High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 83rd percentile in 2013 → 68th in 2025

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

✓Above the California median (68th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 15 percentile points since 2013

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg21%

California avg41%

696^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 32%▼ down 22 pts since 2015

From top 11% (2015) to top 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 6High Schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified

1253^rd of 1,543Pajaro Valley Unified 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	64.6	696 of 2162	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.2	548 of 2159	74.6%	★★★★☆
2023	73.6	518 of 2170	76.1%	★★★★☆
2022	78.6	402 of 2123	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	70.2	529 of 2133	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	75.9	470 of 2017	76.7%	★★★★☆
2017	83.7	341 of 2021	83.1%	★★★★☆
2016	84.5	294 of 2039	85.6%	★★★★☆
2015	88.2	211 of 1994	89.4%	★★★★☆
2013	65.1	417 of 2426	82.8%	★★★★☆
2012	62.7	473 of 2354	79.9%	★★★★☆
2011	60.3	504 of 2367	78.7%	★★★★☆
2010	60.5	509 of 2281	77.7%	★★★★☆
2009	56.8	553 of 2238	75.3%	★★★★☆
2008	55.8	555 of 2117	73.8%	★★★★☆
2007	59.7	463 of 2063	77.6%	★★★★☆
2006	57.7	513 of 1968	73.9%	★★★★☆
2005	58.5	437 of 1901	77.0%	★★★★☆
2004	48.1	530 of 1653	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	43.6	500 of 1161	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.8	359 of 1117	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	81.3	129 of 1052	87.7%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	23.8	1059 of 1085	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	45.0	438 of 1064	58.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.3	492 of 1044	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.6	801 of 941	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.1	361 of 938	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	66.9	581 of 1906	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.4	524 of 1915	72.6%	★★★★☆
2023	77.1	393 of 1915	79.5%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	366 of 1858	80.3%	★★★★☆
2019	68.5	486 of 1833	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	70.8	516 of 1760	70.7%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.7	1008 of 1900	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.5	947 of 1902	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.2	708 of 1917	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.5	562 of 1861	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.4	716 of 1814	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.9	584 of 1742	66.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.3	1030 of 2013	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	65.6	581 of 2026	71.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.4	452 of 2030	77.7%	★★★★☆
2022	72.4	392 of 1943	79.8%	★★★★☆
2019	56.0	768 of 1937	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.6	667 of 1862	64.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.4	837 of 1942	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.9	548 of 1948	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	63.2	616 of 1963	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.0	394 of 1916	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	65.9	559 of 1880	70.3%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	435 of 1834	76.3%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.5	432 of 577	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.7	330 of 574	42.5%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.7	813 of 1252	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.1	651 of 1216	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.9	395 of 1197	67.0%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	61.0	461 of 1155	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.6	400 of 1173	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.5	404 of 1193	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.2	230 of 1204	80.9%	★★★★☆
2019	63.6	436 of 1222	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.5	342 of 1173	70.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Female (2025)70th percentile~ school

White (2025)60th percentile-8 vs school

Disabled (2022)57th percentile-24 vs school

Male (2025)57th percentile-11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)49th percentile-19 vs school

Hispanic (2025)47th percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2025)35th percentile-33 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)25th percentile-43 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)2nd percentile-72 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy46%~ state avg

Science35%+3 vs state

Mathematics31%-7 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, May 2, 2018

This is a better high school in the area.
They have school buses still even.
This school starts at 7:45am though. Close Quote

Schools Near Aptos High

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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 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 (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/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
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	$26,093	$24,446	$1,647
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	$26,081	$25,820	$261
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	$68,914	$66,884	$2,030
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	$22,084	$21,306	$778
Santa Cruz County Career Advancement Charter	Public, Charter	12	229 Green Valley Rd.	Freedom	95019	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz County Office of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 466-5697	207	8	27.4	12.1%	44 (21.3%)	0 (0.0%)	161 (77.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)		0.0	0.0					$32,542	$31,334	$1,208
Pajaro Valley High	Public	9-12	500 Harkins Slough Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-8102	1,293	60	21.6	84.3%	23 (1.8%)	2 (0.2%)	1,253 (96.9%)	11 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.3%)	34.1	1397^th of 2162 public high schools	35.4%		38.3	1287^th of 2159 public high schools	40.4%	110		15.3	15.3	40.0	40.0	8.9	8.9	$26,072	$24,006	$2,066
Diamond Technology Institute	Public, Charter	9-12	112 Diamond Dr.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6225	87	5	17.0	77.0%	4 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (93.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	65.4	683^rd of 2162 public high schools	68.4%		78.8	426^th of 2159 public high schools	80.3%	257	66.7		66.7	66.7	66.7	7.1	7.1	$46,027	$44,292	$1,735
New School Community Day	Public	9-12	165 Harkins Slough Rd.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 761-6140	42	4	10.5	95.2%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.9	2125^th of 2162 public high schools	1.7%		8.1	2159^th of 2159 public high schools	0.0%	34				6.7	6.7	0.0	0.0	$73,373	$70,766	$2,607
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	$25,653	$24,348	$1,305
Watsonville High	Public	9-12	250 East Beach St.	Watsonville	95076	Santa Cruz County	Pajaro Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 728-6390	2,215	94	23.5	91.1%	52 (2.3%)	5 (0.2%)	2,136 (96.4%)	16 (0.7%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.1%)	38.4	1303^rd of 2162 public high schools	39.7%		31.2	1464^th of 2159 public high schools	32.2%	161		13.5	13.5	38.9	38.9	19.9	19.9	$23,550	$21,560	$1,990

Frequently Asked Questions about Aptos High

What schools feed into Aptos High?

Aptos High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bradley Elementary
Elementary : Calabasas Elementary
Elementary : Mar Vista Elementary
Elementary : Rio del Mar Elementary
Elementary : Valencia Elementary
Middle : Aptos Junior High

What district is Aptos High in?

Pajaro Valley Unified

Is Aptos High a good school?

Aptos High ranks 696^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Aptos High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,274 students attended Aptos High.

What is the racial makeup of Aptos High?

Students at Aptos High are 53% Hispanic, 40% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.