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A−

Soquel Elementary School District

Public school districtGrades K–8

Serves Capitola.

Capitola’s School Grade A− better than 76% of California school districts

Students
1,519
Schools
4
Spent per student
$16,591
CA $21,206
Students per teacher
22:1
Free or reduced lunch
31%
Debt
$52.1M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Soquel Elementary School District

  • Its letter, A−: results better than 76% of California districts
  • Reading proficiency 10 pts above the state
  • Spends 22% less per student than the CA average
  • 22 students per teacher
  • Enrollment down 10.7% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $52.1M, about $34,321 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A−: better than 76% of the 1,872 California school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A−
The town it serves, and its School Grade
A−Capitola 9,340

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Capitola. Grade by grade →

K–53 elementary schoolsThis district
6–8New Brighton MiddleThis district

Test scores vs. CA

2021–22
Math proficiency38%
State average 33.1% · 1,158 students tested
Reading / language arts57%
State average 46.7% · 1,158 students tested

97% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$16,591 per student · 22% below CA
Spending
Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 35%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 69%State 23%Federal 8%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
1,701’20
1,671’21
1,651’22
1,559’23
1,519’24

Down 10.7% since 2020–21.

Students
White 53%Hispanic 36%Two or more races 7%Asian 2%Black <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools.

Main Street Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Soquel
383 students23:1
Soquel Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Soquel
337 students22:1
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Santa Cruz
214 students24:1
New Brighton Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Capitola
585 students21:1

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within California.