Key Takeaways
Summary: Scotts Valley High School is a small, well-regarded public high school at 555 Glenwood Drive in Scotts Valley, California. It’s known for its IB Diploma Programme, strong state test scores, a 96% graduation rate, and a Falcons athletic program in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League that has produced MLB pitchers and a wrestling world champion. For families moving to Santa Cruz County, it’s one of the main reasons buyers look at homes in Scotts Valley.
Scotts Valley High School (SVHS) is the public high school for Scotts Valley, the small city tucked in the redwoods between Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Mountains. It opened in 1999, which makes it one of the newer high schools in Santa Cruz County, and it’s the only high school in the Scotts Valley Unified School District. I get asked about SVHS a lot by buyers relocating from Silicon Valley, so here’s what the current data says about academics, rankings, sports, and what it means if you’re shopping for a home in the area.
SVHS at a Glance
- Address: 555 Glenwood Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
- Phone: (831) 439-9555
- Website: svhs.scottsvalleyusd.org
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: about 611 students
- Student-teacher ratio: 19:1, with about 32 full-time teachers
- Opened: 1999
- Mascot: Falcons
- Athletic league: Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League
Academics and the IB Diploma Programme
The thing that sets SVHS apart academically is the International Baccalaureate program. The school has been an IB World School since 2001 and was authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme in 2002. Students can take IB courses in subjects like English literature, history, biology, chemistry, physics, math, visual arts, social and cultural anthropology, and Theory of Knowledge, along with world languages including Spanish, German, Japanese, and Arabic. Some students pursue the full IB diploma, while others take individual IB classes in the subjects they’re strongest in.
One thing parents coming from other districts are sometimes surprised by is that SVHS doesn’t really run an AP track. State data reported on GreatSchools shows AP course participation under 1%, because the advanced coursework is built around IB instead. According to U.S. News, 36% of students take at least one IB exam and 34% pass at least one.
Test Scores
SVHS students consistently outperform the state on California’s Smarter Balanced and science tests. In the most recent U.S. News data, 75% of students were proficient in reading compared to 50% statewide, 51% were proficient in math compared to 30% statewide, and 58% were proficient in science compared to 30% statewide. The graduation rate is 96%, which is above the state median.
Free Relocation Guide
Thinking About a Move to Santa Cruz County?
Everything I'd tell a friend before they moved here, from Boulder Creek to Watsonville. Neighborhoods, housing, health care, beaches, the commute over the hill, and the local events worth planning your year around.
Read the Relocation Guide →Ratings and Rankings
In the 2026-2027 U.S. News Best High Schools rankings, SVHS is ranked #377 out of 1,678 ranked schools in California, #2,284 nationally, and #4 among high schools in the Santa Cruz metro area, with an overall score of 87.27 out of 100. GreatSchools gives it an 8 out of 10 overall, including a 9 out of 10 for test scores and a 7 out of 10 for college readiness. Niche gives the school an overall A grade, and students who reported their scores to Niche list an average SAT of 1300 and an average ACT of 29.
Rankings move around from year to year because each site weighs things differently. U.S. News, for example, leans heavily on AP and IB exam data, which tends to understate a school where many strong students take a handful of IB classes rather than the full diploma. I’d use the rankings as a starting point and then talk to parents and visit the campus.
Student Body and Class Sizes
With about 611 students, SVHS is small for a California public high school, and that’s a big part of its appeal. Class sizes run around 19 students per teacher, and families tell me their kids are known by name in a way that’s harder to find at the 2,000-student schools over the hill. Enrollment is spread fairly evenly across grades, with roughly 140 to 170 students per class. About 11% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged, and roughly a third of the student body are students of color, with Hispanic students making up about 19% of enrollment.
Athletics and Student Life
The SVHS Falcons compete in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League and the CIF Central Coast Section. Sports include baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, flag football, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Wrestling has been an especially strong program for the school, and baseball has sent several players on to college and the pros.
Beyond sports, students have access to clubs, visual and performing arts, and the kind of outdoor life that’s hard to beat. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is just a few minutes away, and the beaches in Santa Cruz are about 15 minutes down Highway 17.
Notable Alumni
For a school that’s only been around since 1999, SVHS has turned out some impressive athletes:
- Dominique Parrish won a CIF state wrestling title at SVHS, became the 2022 world champion in women’s freestyle wrestling at 53 kg, and represented the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- Robbie Erlin was Santa Cruz County Player of the Year in 2009 and went on to pitch in the majors for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Shane Carle played at Cabrillo College and Long Beach State after SVHS and pitched in the majors for the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves.
Former NFL kicker Joe Nedney, who played for the San Francisco 49ers among other teams, has also been part of the Falcons football coaching staff.
Buying a Home Near Scotts Valley High School
For a lot of my buyers, the school is the reason they start looking in Scotts Valley in the first place. The district is small and the path is simple: kids typically go from Brook Knoll Elementary or Vine Hill Elementary to Scotts Valley Middle School and then on to SVHS. Add a commute over Highway 17 to Los Gatos and the rest of Silicon Valley, and you can see why tech families end up here.
The one thing I always tell buyers is not to assume an address is in the district just because it says Scotts Valley. School district lines don’t always follow city limits or ZIP codes, and some homes with a Scotts Valley mailing address in the surrounding unincorporated areas are served by a different district. If the school matters to you, confirm the district for that exact address with Scotts Valley Unified before you write an offer, and check the district’s current policies on enrollment and transfers.
Santa Cruz County Home Search
Stop scrolling stale listings. See what's really for sale today.
A lot of the homes on the big portals went pending last week, and you don't find out until you've already fallen for one. My home search pulls straight from the MLS across Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, so every home you see is actually available. Filter by price, neighborhood and home type, save the searches you care about, and be the buyer who already knows the inventory when the right house comes up.
Search Homes For Sale Now →
If you’re weighing the move, my guide to living in Scotts Valley covers neighborhoods, commuting, and day-to-day life, and my Scotts Valley home prices page tracks what homes are actually selling for right now. If you’re also looking closer to the coast, here’s my overview of Santa Cruz High School for comparison.
Final Thoughts
Scotts Valley High School offers something that’s getting harder to find in the Bay Area: a small public high school with strong test scores, a real IB program, and a close-knit community, all in a town surrounded by redwoods and 15 minutes from the beach. If you’re thinking about a move to Scotts Valley and want to talk through neighborhoods, schools, and what your budget gets you, I’m always happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scotts Valley High School
Is Scotts Valley High School a good school?
Yes, by most measures. U.S. News ranks it #377 in California and #4 in the Santa Cruz metro area for 2026-2027, GreatSchools rates it 8 out of 10, and Niche gives it an A. Students score well above state averages in reading, math, and science, and the graduation rate is 96%.
Does Scotts Valley High School offer AP or IB classes?
SVHS is an IB World School and has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 2002. Its advanced coursework is built around IB rather than AP, and state data shows AP course participation under 1%. About 36% of students take at least one IB exam.
How many students attend Scotts Valley High School?
About 611 students in grades 9 through 12, with a student-teacher ratio of about 19 to 1. That makes it a small high school by California standards.
Where is Scotts Valley High School located?
SVHS is at 555 Glenwood Drive in Scotts Valley, California 95066, near Highway 17. The main office number is (831) 439-9555.
Which homes are zoned for Scotts Valley High School?
SVHS is the only high school in the Scotts Valley Unified School District, so homes inside the district feed into it. District lines don’t always match city limits or ZIP codes, though, and some addresses with a Scotts Valley mailing address are in a different district. Always confirm the district for the specific address with Scotts Valley Unified before you buy.
What sports does Scotts Valley High School offer?
The Falcons compete in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League in baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, flag football, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
Who are some notable Scotts Valley High School alumni?
Notable alumni include Dominique Parrish, the 2022 women’s freestyle wrestling world champion and a 2024 U.S. Olympian, and Major League Baseball pitchers Robbie Erlin and Shane Carle.
Free Buyer Strategy Call
Before you tour a single home, let's build your game plan.
In Santa Cruz County, the buyers who win usually aren't the ones with the biggest offer. They're the ones who knew exactly how they'd compete before the right house ever came up. In 30 minutes we'll talk through your timing, how your down payment and equity comp fit together, and which towns and neighborhoods, from the mountains to the beach, really match the way you live, then put together a plan to win the home you want without overpaying for it.
Book My Buyer Strategy Call →
