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Schools in Blue Lake · Northern Humboldt Union High School District, Blue Lake Union Elementary School District

Blue Lake’s public schools outscore 58% of California districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Blue Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In Blue Lake, 97% of each class finishes high school in four years, above the California average (86%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 88% 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
48%
▲ 2 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
24%
▼ 9 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
17.3
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
1,726 students on the public path
In brief

Blue Lake’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 290 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Blue Lake’s, its schools beat 84%, higher than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 48% and math 24% across both districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Northern Humboldt Union High spends $19,735 per student and Blue Lake Union Elementary $21,500, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Blue Lake’s grade

B− Test scoresA− Graduation

B: better than 58% of California school districts. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 58%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (290)Better than 84%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 481 test results and a graduating class of 432 could put Blue Lake anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 88% of Blue Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (480 in math, 483 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–8Blue Lake Union ElementaryBlue Lake Union Elementary School DistrictB−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A−

Blue Lake runs its own schools through grade 8 (Blue Lake Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Northern Humboldt Union High School District, shared with Arcata, Eureka and Trinidad. Its high school is in Arcata. Parts of Blue Lake (9% of its land) are served by Arcata Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Blue Lake

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+
Blue Lake Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 1 schools · 153 students, down 15% since 2020–21 · 13.0 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$21,500CA $21,206 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

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, Blue Lake Union Elementary School District27%
State average 46.7% · 117 students tested
Math · K–8, Blue Lake Union Elementary School District22%
State average 33.1% · 117 students tested

Blue Lake vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Blue LakeBBlue Lake Union Elementary K–8 · Northern Humboldt Union High 9–12

Every school in Blue Lake

3 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 Blue Lakeby address
Blue Lake Union Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–8
B−
153 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Blue Lakein other towns
Arcata High
High · Grades 9–12 · Arcata
A−
1,007 students19:1Rate it →
McKinleyville High
High · Grades 9–12 · McKinleyville
C+
566 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Blue Lake’s schools

Are Blue Lake’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Blue Lake children attend outscore 58% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 84%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Blue Lake in?

Two districts: Blue Lake Union Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Northern Humboldt Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Arcata, Eureka and Trinidad.

Where do Blue Lake kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Arcata High and McKinleyville High.

What is Blue Lake’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 Blue Lake spend per student?

$19,735 in Northern Humboldt Union High School District and $21,500 in Blue Lake Union Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Blue Lake families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Blue Lake → 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.