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Seacliff at sunsetPhoto: Prg · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Aptos · Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District

Aptos’s public schools score below 67% of California districts on tests and graduation

17% of students in Aptos’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Aptos, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#723of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
27%
▼ 20 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
17%
▼ 16 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 3 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$22.5K
▲ 6% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
21.2
CA 21.6
Schools in town
7
6,126 students on the public path
In brief

Aptos’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 397 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Aptos’s, its schools beat 7%, lower than their 33% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 27% of tested students were proficient in reading and 17% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $22,477 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Delta Charter, Twin Lakes Christian School (private), Orchard School (private) and Seacliff Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Aptos’s grade

C− Test scoresC+ Graduation

C: better than 33% of California school districts, #723 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 33%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (397)Better than 7%
CC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,082 test results and a graduating class of 1,292 could put Aptos anywhere from C to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Aptos’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,105 in math, 9,058 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Aptos, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–62 schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
7–8Aptos Junior HighPajaro Valley Joint Unified School DistrictNo scores
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores

Aptos’s public schools are run by Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District, which also serves Watsonville. Parts of Aptos (6% and 6% of its land) are served by Santa Cruz City High and Soquel Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 33 schools · 16,482 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 21.2 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$22,477CA $21,206 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading27%
State average 46.7% · 9058 students tested
Math17%
State average 33.1% · 9105 students tested

Aptos vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Aptos’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
AptosCPajaro Valley Joint Unified

Every school in Aptos

10 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Aptosby address
Valencia Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
487 students20:1Rate it →
Mar Vista Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6
270 students18:1Rate it →
Aptos Junior High
Middle · Grades 7–8
587 students22:1Rate it →
Also serving Aptosin other towns
Watsonville High
High · Grades 9–12 · Watsonville
2,215 students24:1Rate it →
Pajaro Valley High
High · Grades 9–12 · Watsonville
1,293 students22:1Rate it →
Aptos High
High · Grades 9–12
1,274 students22:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Delta Charter
High · Grades 9–12
Charter
113 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Twin Lakes Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
391 students19:1Rate it →
Orchard School
Elementary · Grades K–6
Private · Nonsectarian
55 students8:1Rate it →
Seacliff Academy
Grades 3–12
Private · Nonsectarian
25 students1:1Rate it →

Questions about Aptos’s schools

Are Aptos’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Aptos children attend score below 67% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #723 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 7%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Aptos in?

Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 16,482 students in 33 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Aptos are served by Santa Cruz City High and Soquel Elementary.

Where do Aptos kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Watsonville High, Pajaro Valley High and Aptos High.

What is Aptos’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Aptos spend per student?

$22,477 in Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Aptos?

Yes: Twin Lakes Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 391 students), Orchard School (nonsectarian, grades K–6, 55 students) and Seacliff Academy (nonsectarian, grades 3–12, 25 students). Aptos also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Aptos families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Aptos → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.