Public schools in Aptos, CA
6 open public schools with an address in Aptos, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,124
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
20.4:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Aptos public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Aptos, CA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,124 students, an average of 521 per school. The largest campus is Aptos High (1,274 students), and the largest elementary school is Valencia Elementary (487).
Pajaro Valley Unified operates the most schools here (5), and 2 regular districts have at least one Aptos campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 20.4:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 44% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Aptos
Elementary schools in Aptos
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar Vista Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified | KG–07 | 270 | 17.9:1 | |
| Rio del Mar Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified | KG–06 | 393 | 20.5:1 | |
| Valencia Elementary Pajaro Valley Unified | KG–06 | 487 | 20.3:1 |
Middle schools in Aptos
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos Junior High Pajaro Valley Unified | 07–08 | 587 | 22:1 |
High schools in Aptos
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos High Pajaro Valley Unified | 09–12 | 1,274 | 22:1 | |
| Delta Charter Santa Cruz City High · Charter | 09–12 | 113 | 13.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White48.4%
- Hispanic43.3%
- Black0.3%
- Asian1.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial5.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Aptos schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,124 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Aptos
How many public schools are in Aptos, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Aptos: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 3,124 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Aptos?
Schools with an address in Aptos belong to 2 education agencies, led by Pajaro Valley Unified (5 schools), Santa Cruz City High (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Aptos?
Aptos High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Aptos, with 1,274 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Aptos?
Yes. 1 of the 6 public schools in Aptos are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Delta Charter. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Aptos schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Aptos public schools is 20.4:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Aptos guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities