Top high schools for UC Santa Cruz

Fall 2025: every California high school with applicants to UC Santa Cruz, from the University of California.

California applicants admitted

71%

The tick is the overall rate: 63% of all applicants, including out-of-state and international, in fall 2023.

Average GPA, California admits (2025)

4.02applicants averaged 3.83

UC's weighted, capped GPA, averaged over the California high schools UC reports a GPA for.

Enrolled freshmen scores, middle 50% (2020)

SAT1160–1360

ACT25–33

UC and CSU no longer consider SAT/ACT scores; last reported 2020.

Year

Minimum applicants

Most admitted to UC Santa Cruz

1.Dougherty Valley High SchoolContra Costa373 admitted
2.Berkeley High SchoolAlameda285 admitted
3.Dublin High SchoolAlameda274 admitted
4.American High SchoolAlameda262 admitted
5.Irvington High SchoolAlameda246 admitted
6.Monta Vista High SchoolSanta Clara246 admitted
7.Canyon Crest AcademySan Diego242 admitted
8.Cupertino High SchoolSanta Clara232 admitted
9.Lowell High SchoolSan Francisco231 admitted
10.Mission San Jose High SchoolAlameda222 admitted

Highest UC Santa Cruz admit rate

1.California Academy of Mathematics and ScienceLos Angeles97% of 34
2.Arcata High SchoolHumboldt94% of 35
3.Gretchen Whitney High SchoolLos Angeles94% of 49
4.New West CharterLos Angeles92% of 51
5.Soquel High SchoolSanta Cruz92% of 38
6.Dana Hills High SchoolOrange92% of 36
7.California School of the Arts - San Gabriel ValleyLos Angeles92% of 59
8.West Park High SchoolPlacer91% of 47
9.Live Oak High SchoolSanta Clara91% of 35
10.BASIS Independent Fremont Upper SchoolAlameda91% of 32

The admit rate list only includes schools with at least 25 applicants, so a school where a handful applied and all got in does not top it. Admitted counts each student once for this campus.

All schools with UC Santa Cruz applicants
School
Dougherty Valley High School San Ramon · Contra Costa County · Public	496	373	75%	3.84	4.00	837
Berkeley High School Berkeley · Alameda County · Public	361	285	79%	3.94	4.09	799
Dublin High School Dublin · Alameda County · Public	375	274	73%	3.83	3.99	823
American High School Fremont · Alameda County · Public	326	262	80%	3.95	4.10	619
Irvington High School Fremont · Alameda County · Public	323	246	76%	3.89	4.03	538
Monta Vista High School Cupertino · Santa Clara County · Public	302	246	81%	3.98	4.06	454
Canyon Crest Academy San Diego · San Diego County · Public	292	242	83%	3.97	4.04	546
Cupertino High School Cupertino · Santa Clara County · Public	267	232	87%	4.00	4.08	506
Lowell High School San Francisco · San Francisco County · Public	297	231	78%	3.88	4.04	642
Mission San Jose High School Fremont · Alameda County · Public	293	222	76%	3.86	4.01	435
Lynbrook High School San Jose · Santa Clara County · Public	249	206	83%	4.04	4.11	420
Del Norte High School San Diego · San Diego County · Public	246	205	83%	3.96	4.04	643
Amador Valley High School Pleasanton · Alameda County · Public	289	202	70%	3.83	4.03	646
California High School San Ramon · Contra Costa County · Public	262	200	76%	3.90	4.04	721
Evergreen Valley High School San Jose · Santa Clara County · Public	279	198	71%	3.82	4.01	699
Mountain House High School Mountain House · San Joaquin County · Public	247	196	79%	3.81	3.93	580
Homestead High School Cupertino · Santa Clara County · Public	245	195	80%	3.97	4.11	603
Foothill High School Pleasanton · Alameda County · Public	217	171	79%	3.91	4.03	504
Carlmont High School Belmont · San Mateo County · Public	227	170	75%	3.93	4.05	595
Los Altos High School Los Altos · Santa Clara County · Public	241	170	71%	3.93	4.10	547
Mountain View High School Mountain View · Santa Clara County · Public	222	170	77%	3.92	4.05	609
Palo Alto High School Palo Alto · Santa Clara County · Public	227	170	75%	3.97	4.11	495
Henry M. Gunn High School Palo Alto · Santa Clara County · Public	221	162	73%	3.96	4.10	432
Arcadia High School Arcadia · Los Angeles County · Public	230	158	69%	3.86	4.07	817
Davis Senior High School Davis · Yolo County · Public	187	157	84%	4.02	4.12	560
Palisades Charter High School Pacific Palisades · Los Angeles County · Public	210	156	74%	3.89	4.01	757
San Dieguito HS Academy Encinitas · San Diego County · Public	183	150	82%	3.93	4.04	547
Leland High School San Jose · Santa Clara County · Public	183	149	81%	3.97	4.09	385
Santa Monica High School Santa Monica · Los Angeles County · Public	204	149	73%	3.88	4.03	710
Tamalpais High School Mill Valley · Marin County · Public	186	143	77%	3.99	4.11	419
Westview High School San Diego · San Diego County · Public	177	142	80%	3.96	4.09	543
Milpitas High School Milpitas · Santa Clara County · Public	187	139	74%	3.83	3.98	694
Northwood High School Irvine · Orange County · Public	169	139	82%	4.00	4.10	603
Los Gatos High School Los Gatos · Santa Clara County · Public	177	136	77%	3.94	4.06	513
Saratoga High School Saratoga · Santa Clara County · Public	174	132	76%	3.97	4.09	332
Torrey Pines High School San Diego · San Diego County · Public	160	129	81%	3.94	4.04	642
Castro Valley High School Castro Valley · Alameda County · Public	180	127	71%	3.86	4.07	677
Valley Christian High School Santa Clara County · Private	155	127	82%	4.01	4.12	415
Leigh High School San Jose · Santa Clara County · Public	162	124	77%	3.89	4.04	459
Mira Costa High School Manhattan Beach · Los Angeles County · Public	157	123	78%	3.97	4.09	653
Aragon High School San Mateo · San Mateo County · Public	160	122	76%	3.95	4.09	438
Archbishop Mitty High School Santa Clara County · Private	145	121	83%	4.05	4.14	420
Alameda High School Alameda · Alameda County · Public	155	120	77%	3.97	4.13	490
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology San Francisco · San Francisco County · Public	157	120	76%	3.83	4.01	408
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School Rolling Hills Estates · Los Angeles County · Public	160	117	73%	3.92	4.10	571
Portola High School Irvine · Orange County · Public	172	113	66%	3.82	4.03	624
Oakland Technical High School Oakland · Alameda County · Public	148	111	75%	3.79	3.96	438
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory San Francisco County · Private	150	111	74%	3.87	4.03	326
Diamond Bar High School Diamond Bar · Los Angeles County · Public	141	110	78%	3.89	4.03	647
Granada Hills Charter Granada Hills · Los Angeles County · Public	139	110	79%	3.82	3.99	1,154

Showing 1–50 of 632 schools

Page 1 of 13

The tick marks UC Santa Cruz's overall admit rate. Admit GPA is the average UC-calculated GPA (weighted, capped) of each school's admitted students.

Most admitted to UC Santa Cruz

Highest UC Santa Cruz admit rate

The full report isn't out yet