Butte County Schools & Education
Butte County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
59/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,336
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
59/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#22
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Butte County
Measured School Summary
Butte County performs at an average level with a school score of 59/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.2%.
Funding Context
Butte County spends $9,336 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 6% above the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Butte County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
95 public schools and 31 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
59/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #22 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
87.2%
0.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$9,336
$574 above the state average
School coverage
95
31 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Butte County has 95 public schools across 31 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Butte County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Butte County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#22
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 4 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 98% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Chico Unified
Elementary to high school visible
12,087 students
22 listed schools in this county slice.
Oroville Union High
High school only in this slice
2,346 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Oroville City Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
2,124 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Gridley Unified
Elementary to high school visible
2,035 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Chico Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 22 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Butte County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Butte County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Butte County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Diverse Educational Pathways in Butte
Butte County hosts 29,191 students across 95 public schools, managed by 31 distinct districts. The system is robust, featuring 49 elementary schools and 22 high schools to serve a growing population. It offers a wide variety of educational settings from urban centers to remote outposts.
Chico Unified Leads a Charter-Rich Area
Chico Unified is the county's largest district, educating 12,087 students across 22 schools. Charter schools are a major part of the landscape here, accounting for nearly 19% of all schools with 18 locations. This provides families with significant choice regarding their children's learning style and environment.
A Blend of Town and City Life
Education in Butte County mostly happens in town and city settings, which account for 79 of the 95 schools. While the average school size is 332 students, Chico High serves nearly 2,000, offering a traditional large-campus experience. This variety allows parents to choose between intimate neighborhood schools and larger, resource-rich campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
95
in Butte County
Reported Enrollment
29,191
93 schools reporting
School Districts
31
districts
Charter Schools
18
19% of total
School Level Breakdown
31 School Districts in Butte County
Chico Unified
GuideOroville Union High
Oroville City Elementary
Gridley Unified
Paradise Unified
Thermalito Union Elementary
Palermo Union Elementary
Durham Unified
CORE Butte Charter District
Chico Country Day District
95 Public Schools in Butte County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 5 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 95 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico High | Profile | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,905 |
| Pleasant Valley High | Profile | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,840 |
| Las Plumas High | Profile | Oroville Union High | Oroville, 95966Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,287 |
| Bidwell Junior High | Profile | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 990 |
| Oroville High | Profile | Oroville Union High | Oroville, 95966Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 936 |
| Chico Junior High | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 928 |
| CORE Butte Charter | Record | CORE Butte Charter District | Chico, 95928City: Midsize | KG–12 | Charter | 848 |
| Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95928City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 732 |
| Gridley High | Record | Gridley Unified | Gridley, 95948Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 676 |
| Shasta Elementary | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 646 |
| Marigold Elementary | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 568 |
| Chico Country Day | Record | Chico Country Day District | Chico, 95928City: Midsize | KG–8 | Charter | 566 |
| Emma Wilson Elementary | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 565 |
| Wilson Elementary | Record | Gridley Unified | Gridley, 95948Town: Distant | 2–5 | Primary | 559 |
| Rosedale Elementary | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95928City: Midsize | KG–5 | Primary | 543 |
| Helen M. Wilcox Elementary | Record | Palermo Union Elementary | Oroville, 95966Rural: Fringe | KG–3 | Primary | 516 |
| Paradise Senior High | Record | Paradise Unified | Paradise, 95969Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 476 |
| Durham Elementary | Record | Durham Unified | Durham, 95938Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 461 |
| Nelson Avenue Middle | Record | Thermalito Union Elementary | Oroville, 95965Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 457 |
| Sierra View Elementary | Record | Chico Unified | Chico, 95926City: Midsize | KG–5 | Alternative | 456 |
Chico High
Chico Unified
Chico, 95926 / City: Midsize
Pleasant Valley High
Chico Unified
Chico, 95926 / City: Midsize
Las Plumas High
Oroville Union High
Oroville, 95966 / Town: Distant
Bidwell Junior High
Chico Unified
Chico, 95926 / City: Midsize
Oroville High
Oroville Union High
Oroville, 95966 / Town: Distant
CORE Butte Charter
CORE Butte Charter District
Chico, 95928 / City: Midsize
Chico Country Day
Chico Country Day District
Chico, 95928 / City: Midsize
Helen M. Wilcox Elementary
Palermo Union Elementary
Oroville, 95966 / Rural: Fringe
Nelson Avenue Middle
Thermalito Union Elementary
Oroville, 95965 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,336
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Butte County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in Butte County?
What is the graduation rate in Butte County?
How much does Butte County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Butte County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Butte County, California?
Butte County hosts 29,191 students across 95 public schools, managed by 31 distinct districts. The system is robust, featuring 49 elementary schools and 22 high schools to serve a growing population. It offers a wide variety of educational settings from urban centers to remote outposts.
What are the major school districts in Butte County, California?
Chico Unified is the county's largest district, educating 12,087 students across 22 schools. Charter schools are a major part of the landscape here, accounting for nearly 19% of all schools with 18 locations. This provides families with significant choice regarding their children's learning style and environment.
What is the school experience like in Butte County?
Education in Butte County mostly happens in town and city settings, which account for 79 of the 95 schools. While the average school size is 332 students, Chico High serves nearly 2,000, offering a traditional large-campus experience. This variety allows parents to choose between intimate neighborhood schools and larger, resource-rich campuses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.