Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch

840 N. Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

bssc.sccs.net/schools/monarch

117 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Monarch School, located in Santa Cruz, is a unique K-12 alternative education program that operates under the Santa Cruz City Schools district. Rather than a traditional classroom setting, the school is built on a "homeschool-hybrid" model. It is designed for families who want to be highly involved in their children's education, offering a flexible structure that blends independent study at home with on-campus enrichment classes, workshops, and communal learning activities.

The school is known for its close-knit, supportive community that emphasizes individualized learning paths and academic freedom. By focusing on a collaborative relationship between teachers, students, and parents, Monarch provides a personalized educational experience that allows students to progress at their own pace. It is an ideal environment for families seeking an alternative to the conventional school system while still maintaining a connection to a structured, resource-rich district program.

117

Total Students

5.0

Full-Time Teachers

23.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

26.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch
Demographic	Student Count
White	72
Hispanic	23
Black	1
Asian	5
Two or More	16

White
72 (61.5 %)
Hispanic
23 (19.7 %)
Two or More
16 (13.7 %)
Asian
5 (4.3 %)
Black
1 (0.9 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Santa Cruz City Elementary
Phone:	(831)429-3898
Website:	http://bssc.sccs.net/schools/monarch
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	117
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	5.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	23.4
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	28
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	3

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 18

Grade 1 15

Grade 2 23

Grade 3 25

Grade 4 20

Grade 5 16