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Email BoardPajaro Middle
250 Salinas Road, Watsonville, CA 95076-5229
Summary
Pajaro Middle is badly underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 3rd percentile among comparable California schools.
Only 21.9% of students met California's reading standard, but it is trending up.
Math is weaker: 5.6% of students met California's math standard, and it is trending down slightly.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 21.9% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 5.6% |
| Reading State Rank | 1,136/1,204 (6th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 1,196/1,204 (1st percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 22:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 398 |
| Low-Income Students | 384 (96.5%) |
| English Learners | 190 (47.7%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading rose 2.1 points from last year and rose 5.2 points over the full period. Math fell 0.3 points from last year and fell 2.9 points over the full period.
•Math -2.9 percentage points (2024–2026)Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Only one group has a reportable reading result.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the reading standard ranges from 14.4% to 26.4% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank No. 1,136 of 1,204 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 29.4-point reading income gap is wider than the 19.5-point gap at a typical California 6–8 school. It widened over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
1.6% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 41.5% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results fell and English-only results rose.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Only one group has a reportable math result.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the math standard ranges from 5.3% to 5.8% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank No. 1,196 of 1,204 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 20.3-point math income gap is slightly wider than the 19.2-point gap at a typical California 6–8 school. It widened over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
0.0% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 13.2% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results fell and English-only results rose.
•Progress as students move up
2023–2026
How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 795 schools for reading and 796 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California 6–8 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does Pajaro Middle compare within the district?
Pajaro Middle is No. 2 in reading and No. 5 in math proficiency among the 6 6–8 schools in Pajaro Valley Unified with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does Pajaro Middle rank in California?
Pajaro Middle ranks No. 1,136 of 1,204 in reading and No. 1,196 of 1,204 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at Pajaro Middle compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 2 in reading and No. 5 in math among 6 6–8 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 20.6% meet the reading standard and 4.7% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does Pajaro Middle compare with other schools in Watsonville?
Pajaro Middle is No. 1 in reading and No. 4 in math proficiency among the 5 6–8 schools in Watsonville with 2026 results.
Explore schools in WatsonvilleHow does Pajaro Middle compare with other schools in Santa Cruz County?
Pajaro Middle is No. 8 in reading and No. 11 in math proficiency among the 12 6–8 schools in Santa Cruz County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Santa Cruz CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving 6–8 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Pajaro MiddleThis school | 5.6% | 21.9% |
| Cesar E. Chavez Middle | 13.7% | 19.6% |
| E. A. Hall Middle | 4.2% | 12.1% |
