Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Arcata

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Arcata McKinley Statue WidePhoto: Jss3255 · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Arcata · Northern Humboldt Union High School District, Arcata Elementary School District

Arcata’s public schools outscore 78% of California districts

57% of students in Arcata’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the California average (47%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Arcata, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#180of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 89% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
57%
▲ 10 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▲ 6 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
97%
▲ 11 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.7K
▼ 7% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Northern Humboldt Union High
Students per teacher
18.0
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
15
1,934 students on the public path
In brief

Arcata’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 222 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Arcata’s, its schools beat 98%, higher than their 78% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 57% and math 39% across its districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Charters enroll a large share of students

Charter schools located in Arcata enroll 952 students, against the district’s 1,625. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓

Spending and class size

Northern Humboldt Union High spends $19,735 per student and Arcata Elementary $19,262, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 9 the district’s path is Arcata High. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Arcata’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A−: better than 78% of California school districts, #180 of 847 California towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the California average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 78%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (222)Better than 98%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 969 test results and a graduating class of 432 could put Arcata anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 89% of Arcata’s students in the tested grades sat them (972 in math, 967 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Arcata, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–82 schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
9–12Arcata HighNorthern Humboldt Union High School DistrictA−

Parts of Arcata (18%, 6% and 6% of its land) are served by Pacific Union Elementary, Freshwater Elementary and Eureka City Unified instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Arcata

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Northern Humboldt Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 4 schools · 1,625 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 17.9 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$19,735CA $21,206 · FY2024
B+
Arcata Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 2 schools · 472 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 16.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$19,262CA $21,206 · FY2024
B−
Jacoby Creek Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 1 schools · 455 students · 20.5 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$13,569CA $21,206 · FY2024
A+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Northern Humboldt Union High School District55%
State average 46.7% · 366 students tested
Math · 9–12, Northern Humboldt Union High School District25%
State average 33.1% · 363 students tested
Reading · K–8, Arcata Elementary School District42%
State average 46.7% · 309 students tested
Math · K–8, Arcata Elementary School District32%
State average 33.1% · 317 students tested
Reading · K–8, Jacoby Creek Elementary School District74%
State average 46.7% · 292 students tested
Math · K–8, Jacoby Creek Elementary School District65%
State average 33.1% · 292 students tested

Arcata vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Arcata’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ArcataA−Arcata Elementary K–8 · Jacoby Creek Elementary K–8 · Northern Humboldt Union High 9–12

Every school in Arcata

15 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Arcataby address
Jacoby Creek
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Bayside
A
455 students20:1Rate it →
Arcata Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
240 students16:1Rate it →
Sunny Brae Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
B
232 students17:1Rate it →
Arcata High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,007 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Coastal Grove Charter
Elementary · Grades K–8
B+
Charter
235 students15:1Rate it →
Laurel Tree Charter
Grades K–12
B
Charter
197 students26:1Rate it →
Fuente Nueva Charter
Elementary · Grades K–5
Charter
150 students19:1Rate it →
Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy
High · Grades 6–12
A
Charter
118 students19:1Rate it →
Six Rivers Charter High
High · Grades 9–12
Charter
113 students22:1Rate it →
Union Street Charter
Elementary · Grades K–5
A+
Charter
99 students16:1Rate it →
Trillium Charter
Elementary · Grades K–5
Charter
40 students13:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Arcatarun by other districts or the state
Pacific Union Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–8
B+
534 students18:1Rate it →
Arcata Educational Resource Center
High · Grades 7–12
Alternative Education
27 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Arcata Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
103 students16:1Rate it →
Mad River Montessori
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
21 students8:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Pacific Coast High (Continuation)).

Questions about Arcata’s schools

Are Arcata’s schools good?

By California’s own tests, yes: the public schools Arcata children attend outscore 78% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #180 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 98%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Arcata in?

Northern Humboldt Union High School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 1,625 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Arcata are served by Pacific Union Elementary, Freshwater Elementary and Eureka City Unified.

Where do Arcata kids go to high school?

Arcata High, with 1,007 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Arcata’s graduation rate?

97% of the class of 2023 in Northern Humboldt Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Arcata spend per student?

$19,735 in Northern Humboldt Union High School District, $19,262 in Arcata Elementary School District and $13,569 in Jacoby Creek Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Arcata?

Yes: Arcata Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 103 students) and Mad River Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 21 students). Arcata also has 7 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Arcata families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Arcata → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.