- Enrollment
- 2,215
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Watsonville, CA
Pajaro Middle
Federal NCES profile for Pajaro Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 062949004547
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pajaro Middle earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 73% of California schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Watsonville · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19:1
- small classes for California
- 86.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Pajaro Middle has class sizes smaller than 73% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pajaro Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Watsonville, CA.
School address
District: Pajaro Valley Unified · California
NCES ID 062949004547 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-154 students YoY
Pajaro Middle shrank from 440 students in 2022-23 to 286 in 2023-24 (-35.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 21.4 → 14.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-154 students YoY 062949004547 · Watsonville, CA Middle · SMALL · TRAD
398 enr · 19:1 · 86.8% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Watsonville High (2,215 students)
Pajaro Middle shrank from 440 students in 2022-23 to 286 in 2023-24 (-35.0%). Teacher FTE lost 21.4 → 14.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Pajaro Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Watsonville Hi
Watsonville High
2,215 students
- Pajaro Valley
Pajaro Valley High
1,293 students
- Aptos High
Aptos High
1,274 students
- Alianza Charte 626
Alianza Charter
626 students
- Rolling Hills 588
Rolling Hills Middle
588 students
- This school 398
Pajaro Middle
398 students
What this shows Pajaro Middle reports 398 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pajaro Middle compares
Pajaro Middle is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19:1 | ▼ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.8% | ▲ 56% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 398 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
398
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
86.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 27% in California - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
45.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$20,320
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 398 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 68 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 98.7%
White 0.8%
Asian 0.3%
Two or More 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 98.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 2.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 2.6, Pajaro Middle is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pajaro Valley Unified reports $20,320 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pajaro Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pajaro Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Aptos High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Alianza Charter | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rolling Hills Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pajaro Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,293
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,274
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar middle schools in Watsonville
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Rolling Hills Middle
Standard public school
588 students 21:1 students per teacher
Cesar E. Chavez Middle
Standard public school
548 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
E. a. Hall Middle
Standard public school
491 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Lakeview Middle
Standard public school
425 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~398 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pajaro Middle
How many students attend Pajaro Middle?
Pajaro Middle has 398 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Watsonville, CA. CCD year-over-year: 440 (2022-23) → 286 (2023-24), down 154.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pajaro Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Pajaro Middle is 19:1, which is 12% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 21% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pajaro Middle?
86.8% of students at Pajaro Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pajaro Middle?
The largest demographic group at Pajaro Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 98.7% of enrollment, in Watsonville, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pajaro Middle?
Pajaro Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Pajaro Middle rank among middle schools in Watsonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Pajaro Middle ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Watsonville, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Watsonville on the city page.
What other schools are in Pajaro Valley Unified?
Besides Pajaro Middle, Pajaro Valley Unified also operates Watsonville High (2,215 students), Pajaro Valley High (1,293 students), and Aptos High (1,274 students). See the Pajaro Valley Unified district page for the complete list.