Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

Gault Elementary

Q: Is Gault Elementary a good school?

Gault Elementary ranks 2573 rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

2573^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 56% of California elementary schools

Summary

Gault Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 314 students in the Santa Cruz City Elementary district, notable for its remarkable transformation from a low-performing to a solidly average school over the past several years.

The school's standout success story is its dramatic improvement in statewide ranking and its exceptional management of student attendance; chronic absenteeism has plummeted to just 8.3%, a rate that is significantly better than the district and state averages and lower than most nearby schools like Bay View Elementary and Westlake Elementary. However, the school faces a clear challenge with a steep drop in mathematics proficiency by 5th grade, a pattern also seen, though less severely, at other local schools such as De Laveaga Elementary and Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary.

Compared to its peers, Gault is a school on the rise with high per-student spending and a strong record on attendance, positioning it between higher-performing schools like Westlake and others with similar current performance like Green Acres Elementary. While the overall trajectory is positive, the data indicates the school's strategies are more effective for some student groups than others, presenting an ongoing area of focus alongside the puzzling upper-grade math performance.

314

Students ?

22.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,403

Per pupil spending ?

48.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1320 Seabright Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062-2525

(831) 429-3856

District: Santa Cruz City Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

61.1%

White:

31.8%

Two or more races:

5.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Gault Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 18th percentile in 2013 → 56th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 38 percentile points since 2013

✓Above the California median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Santa Cruz City Elementary's ranking

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg53%

California avg41%

2,573^rd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 18 pts since 2015

From bottom 38% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Santa Cruz City Elementary

360^th of 1,543Santa Cruz City 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	50.3	2573 of 5857	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.5	2764 of 5869	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.3	2676 of 5859	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.5	2552 of 5883	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	25.5	4307 of 5789	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.9	5195 of 5662	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	24.2	4326 of 5692	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	30.5	3736 of 5614	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.0	3470 of 5611	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	22.7	4547 of 5530	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	34.4	3633 of 5390	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	31.2	3902 of 5377	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	38.5	3272 of 5314	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	29.3	3757 of 5193	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	26.8	3841 of 5113	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	42.4	2765 of 5113	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2006	38.6	2785 of 4818	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2005	43.6	2503 of 4822	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	40.7	2610 of 4809	45.7%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	38.1	1377 of 2585	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	20.5	1948 of 2128	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	45.0	1481 of 3162	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.6	1170 of 3245	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.4	1342 of 3311	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.4	1886 of 3275	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	21.5	2959 of 3246	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	2484 of 5597	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.3	2502 of 5612	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.4	2386 of 5609	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.0	2318 of 5635	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	20.2	4611 of 5492	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.4	5104 of 5413	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.6	3412 of 5107	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.7	3527 of 5107	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	2682 of 5087	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	2720 of 5084	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	13.9	4710 of 4963	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.1	4802 of 4830	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.0	3660 of 5460	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.8	3794 of 5517	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.9	3485 of 5363	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.5	2435 of 5264	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	19.4	4607 of 5173	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	6.5	5042 of 5084	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	50.0	2516 of 5628	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.0	2820 of 5643	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.9	2802 of 5638	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.9	2664 of 5663	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.7	3566 of 5510	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	17.4	4794 of 5431	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.9	1549 of 2847	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.0	828 of 2420	65.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.2	576 of 2598	77.8%	★★★★☆
2024	68.2	868 of 2651	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.7	515 of 2661	80.6%	★★★★☆
2019	42.4	1778 of 2834	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.6	2245 of 2737	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)78th percentile+22 vs school

Female (2025)56th percentile~ school

Male (2025)55th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2024)53rd percentile~ school

Disabled (2019)47th percentile+21 vs school

Special Education (2025)46th percentile-10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)33rd percentile-23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)33rd percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy47%~ state avg

Mathematics38%~ state avg

Science33%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate Gault Elementary

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

Reviews

No written reviews yet. If you know this school, be the first to share what stands out.

Schools Near Gault 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
Gault Elementary	Public	K-5	1320 Seabright Ave.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3856	314	14	22.4	48.1%	100 (31.8%)	2 (0.6%)	192 (61.1%)	4 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.1%)	50.3	2573^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	56.1%		46.5	2764^th of 5869 public elementary schools	52.9%	191	32.8		32.8	45.5	53.7	44.3				47.1	50.9	41.5	24.6				38.2	97.0						$22,403	$3,402	$19,001
Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch	Public	K-5	840 North Branciforte Ave.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3898	114	5	22.8	27.2%	63 (55.3%)	1 (0.9%)	26 (22.8%)	3 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (18.4%)	77.2	1270^th of 5857 public elementary schools	78.3%		75.1	1365^th of 5869 public elementary schools	76.7%	95	71.4		71.4	57.9	68.0	76.2				67.7	36.8	60.0	42.9				47.7							$23,997	$2,508	$21,489
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
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
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
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
Del Mar Elementary	Public	K-5	1959 Merrill St.	Santa Cruz	95062	Santa Cruz County	Live Oak Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 477-2063	322	14	23.0	62.4%	109 (33.9%)	7 (2.2%)	189 (58.7%)	7 (2.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.8%)	42.3	3048^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.0%		51.3	2494^th of 5869 public elementary schools	57.5%	554	22.2		22.2	43.8	46.9	31.5				40.4	52.1	51.0	13.0				37.8	95.8	95.8			97.2		$21,045	$1,565	$19,480
Bay View Elementary	Public	K-5	1231 Bay St.	Santa Cruz	95060	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3991	394	21	18.7	45.2%	162 (41.1%)	1 (0.3%)	198 (50.3%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (7.4%)	64.5	1860^th of 5857 public elementary schools	68.2%		43.4	2972^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	49.4%	1112	38.9		38.9	56.7	50.0	59.3				55.3	56.5	52.5	27.8				46.7	93.3		93.3				$20,624	$4,224	$16,400
Westlake Elementary	Public	K-5	1000 High St.	Santa Cruz	95060	Santa Cruz County	Santa Cruz City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(831) 429-3878	453	22	20.5	24.5%	277 (61.1%)	5 (1.1%)	101 (22.3%)	24 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (9.7%)	86.7	836^th of 5857 public elementary schools	85.7%		89	752^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	87.2%	84	62.8		62.8	56.9	73.3	68.8				66.8	62.5	67.1	63.6				64.5	92.8					95.2	$22,072	$3,059	$19,013

Frequently Asked Questions about Gault Elementary

Is Gault Elementary a good school?

Gault Elementary ranks 2573^rd of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Gault Elementary in?

Santa Cruz City Elementary

How many students attend Gault Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 314 students attended Gault Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Gault Elementary?

Students at Gault Elementary are 61% Hispanic, 32% White, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Rate Gault Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

CACalifornia Elementary School Rankings

CACalifornia District Rankings

Schools in Santa Cruz, CA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Gault Elementary!

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.