Summary:
The 95060 zip code area of Santa Cruz, California is home to 10 schools serving students from elementary through high school, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 4 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The data reveals stark contrasts in educational outcomes across these schools, with some standouts like Pacific Collegiate Charter performing exceptionally well, while others like Santa Cruz County Community and Santa Cruz County Court struggle with lower test scores, graduation rates, and high chronic absenteeism.
Pacific Collegiate Charter stands out as a top-performing public charter high school, ranking 49th out of 2,335 California high schools and earning a 5-star rating. The school boasts exceptional test scores, with 100% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 88.61% in Mathematics. In contrast, Mission Hill Middle and the two county-run schools have much lower proficiency rates. Elementary schools like Westlake Elementary and Brook Knoll Elementary also stand out with strong test scores and relatively low chronic absenteeism.
The data suggests that socioeconomic factors, such as free/reduced lunch eligibility, are closely tied to academic performance. Schools with higher percentages of students from low-income families, like Santa Cruz County Court (95.38% eligible), tend to have lower test scores and graduation rates. This highlights the significant disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes within the 95060 zip code area, which could inform efforts to improve equity and access for all students in the Santa Cruz City High, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and other local school districts.
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