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Colorful Venetian Hotel on the Beach in Capitola (8038026675) (cropped)Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0
A−
Schools in Capitola · Santa Cruz City High School District, Soquel Elementary School District

Capitola’s public schools outscore 76% of California districts

57% of students in Capitola’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the California average (47%). The grade covers the public school district serving Capitola, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#192of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2020’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
57%
▲ 10 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▲ 5 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Spent per student
$16.6K
▼ 22% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Soquel Elementary
Students per teacher
22.1
CA 21.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
1,519 students on the public path
In brief

Capitola’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 568 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Capitola’s, its schools beat 86%, higher than their 76% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 38% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $16,591 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is New Brighton Middle. Enrollment is down 11% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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

The School Grade

What’s behind Capitola’s grade

A− Test scores

A−: better than 76% of California school districts, #192 of 847 California towns. Test scores are above the California average; there is no graduation rate to add.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 76%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (568)Better than 86%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,158 test results could put Capitola anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Capitola’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,158 in math, 1,158 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8New Brighton MiddleSoquel Elementary School DistrictNo scores

Parts of Capitola (4% of its land) are served by Live Oak Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Capitola

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

Santa Cruz City High School DistrictGrades · 0 schools · 0 students
Soquel Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 4 schools · 1,519 students, down 11% since 2020–21 · 22.1 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$16,591CA $21,206 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · K–8, Soquel Elementary School District57%
State average 46.7% · 1158 students tested
Math · K–8, Soquel Elementary School District38%
State average 33.1% · 1158 students tested

Capitola vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CapitolaA−Soquel Elementary K–8 · Santa Cruz City High

Every school in Capitola

4 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 Capitolaby address
New Brighton Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
585 students21:1Rate it →
Also serving Capitolain other towns
Main Street Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Soquel
383 students23:1Rate it →
Soquel Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Soquel
337 students22:1Rate it →
Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Santa Cruz
214 students24:1Rate it →

Questions about Capitola’s schools

Are Capitola’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Capitola children attend outscore 76% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #192 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 86%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2020.

What school district is Capitola in?

Santa Cruz City High School District, which runs grades and enrolls 0 students in 0 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Capitola are served by Live Oak Elementary.

How much does Capitola spend per student?

$16,591 in Soquel Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Capitola families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2020) 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.