Top Rankings
Pajaro Valley Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 11 public middle schools serving 4,511 students in Pajaro Valley Unified School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Pajaro Valley Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 15% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 27% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 90% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
34 Schools
3,469 Schools
# Students
16,482 Students
1,858,621 Students
# Teachers
779 Teachers
88,118 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
21:1
21:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which is ranked #1567 of all 1,904 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#1561 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
34%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
27%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
29%
Graduation Rate
89%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.28
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
11%
% Hispanic
84%
55%
% Black
n/a
5%
% White
13%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $20,702 is higher than the state median of $20,100. The school district revenue/student has grown by 31% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,256 is higher than the state median of $18,511. The school district spending/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$341 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$317 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$20,702
$20,100
Spending / Student
$19,256
$18,511
Best Pajaro Valley Unified School District Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Linscott Charter
Charter School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
220 Elm St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6301
Gr: K-8 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 29:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #22.
Aptos Junior High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1001 Huntington Dr.
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-3234
Aptos, CA 95003
(831) 688-3234
Gr: 7-8 | 587 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #33.
Alianza Charter
Charter School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
115 Casserly Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6333
Gr: K-8 | 626 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #44.
Pvusd Virtual Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
250 East Beach St.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2482
Gr: K-12 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #55.
Watsonville Charter School Of The Arts
Charter School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
115 Casserly Rd. West Campus
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-8123
Gr: K-8 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #66.
Pacific Coast Charter
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
294 Green Valley Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 786-2180
Gr: K-12 | 132 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #77.
Pajaro Middle School
(Math: 8% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
250 Salinas Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6238
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6238
Gr: 6-8 | 398 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #88.
Lakeview Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2350 East Lake Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6455
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6455
Gr: 6-8 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #99.
Cesar E. Chavez Middle School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 17%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
440 Arthur Rd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-7699
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-7699
Gr: 6-8 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1010.
Rolling Hills Middle School
(Math: 5% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
130 Herman Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6341
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6341
Gr: 6-8 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1111.
E. A. Hall Middle School
(Math: 4% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Brewington Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6270
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 728-6270
Gr: 6-8 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
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