Soquel Union Elementary School District’s schools enrolled 1,565 students in the 2023-24 school year, 5.4% less than the previous year, according to the California Department of Education.
Of all the students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year, 52.9% of them were boys, and 46.9% were girls.
Data also showed that most of the students were white, making up 55.4% of the Soquel Union Elementary School District’s total enrollment.
Soquel Union Elementary School District covers five schools within Santa Cruz County with its main office in Capitola.
Among the five schools in Soquel Union Elementary School District, New Brighton Middle School recorded the highest enrollment of 611 students in the 2023-24 school year.
After peaking at 6.3 million in the early 2000s, public school enrollment in California has marked its seventh consecutive decline in the 2023-24 school year, with projections indicating it could fall to approximately 5.2 million by the 2033-34 school year. This trend is attributed to lower birth rates, slowed immigration, and families relocating out of state due to high housing costs. Rural and coastal districts have been particularly affected, facing tough decisions such as school closures and staffing reductions.
| School | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|
| New Brighton Middle School | 611 |
| Main Street Elementary School | 389 |
| Soquel Elementary School | 355 |
| Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School | 204 |
| Opal Cliffs | 6 |
