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Schools in McKinleyville · Northern Humboldt Union High School District, McKinleyville Union Elementary School District

McKinleyville’s public schools outscore 56% of California districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving McKinleyville, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. In McKinleyville, 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.

#406of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% 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
46%
▼ 1 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 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
19.0
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,406 students on the public path
In brief

McKinleyville’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 508 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of McKinleyville’s, its schools beat 70%, higher than their 56% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

McKinleyville runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Dow's Prairie Elementary (K–2), Morris Elementary (3–5) and McKinleyville Middle (6–8) are McKinleyville’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Northern Humboldt Union High School District with Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka and Trinidad: McKinleyville High. The high school’s own results earn a C+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 46% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 92% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

97% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Northern Humboldt Union High spends $19,735 per student and McKinleyville Union Elementary $17,246, 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 McKinleyville’s grade

B Test scoresA− Graduation

B: better than 56% of California school districts, #406 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (508)Better than 70%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,000 test results and a graduating class of 432 could put McKinleyville anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of McKinleyville’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,001 in math, 999 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–2Dow's Prairie ElementaryMcKinleyville Union Elementary School DistrictNo scores
3–5Morris ElementaryMcKinleyville Union Elementary School DistrictNo scores
6–8McKinleyville MiddleMcKinleyville Union Elementary School DistrictNo scores
9–12McKinleyville HighNorthern Humboldt Union High School DistrictC+

McKinleyville runs its own schools through grade 8 (McKinleyville Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Northern Humboldt Union High School District, shared with Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka and Trinidad. Parts of McKinleyville (9%, 8%, 5% and 4% of its land) are served by Fieldbrook Elementary, Arcata Elementary, Pacific Union Elementary and Trinidad Union Elementary instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve McKinleyville

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+
McKinleyville Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 3 schools · 840 students, down 13% since 2020–21 · 21.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$17,246CA $21,206 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to 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, McKinleyville Union Elementary School District41%
State average 46.7% · 633 students tested
Math · K–8, McKinleyville Union Elementary School District29%
State average 33.1% · 638 students tested

McKinleyville vs. its neighbors

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

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

Every school in McKinleyville

5 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 McKinleyvilleby address
Dow's Prairie Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–2
283 students22:1Rate it →
Morris Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–5
255 students28:1Rate it →
McKinleyville Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
302 students18:1Rate it →
McKinleyville High
High · Grades 9–12
C+
566 students17:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Mad River High (Continuation)
High · Grades 9–12
Alternative Education
28 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about McKinleyville’s schools

Are McKinleyville’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools McKinleyville children attend outscore 56% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #406 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 70%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is McKinleyville in?

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

Where do McKinleyville kids go to high school?

McKinleyville High, with 566 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is McKinleyville’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 McKinleyville spend per student?

$19,735 in Northern Humboldt Union High School District and $17,246 in McKinleyville Union Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What McKinleyville families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near McKinleyville → 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.