schoolsbycounty

Colusa County Schools & Education

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

92.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,563

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

63/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#15

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Colusa County

Measured School Summary

Colusa County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.5%.

Funding Context

At $7,563 per pupil, Colusa County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 14% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Colusa 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

23 public schools and 6 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

63/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #15 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

92.5%

5.0 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,563

$1,199 below the state average

School coverage

23

6 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

Colusa County has 23 public schools across 6 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.

Parent decision brief

What Colusa 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.

Mixed school landscape

Colusa County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#15

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% 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.

Colusa Unified

Elementary to high school visible

1,533 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 1

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Pierce Joint Unified

Elementary to high school visible

1,490 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Williams Unified

Elementary to high school visible

1,350 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 2Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Maxwell Unified

Elementary to high school visible

340 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Colusa Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Colusa County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Colusa County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Colusa 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.

Small Districts, Big Academic Reach

Colusa County provides education to 4,902 students through 23 public schools and 6 districts. The system is uniquely balanced with 10 high schools and 6 elementary schools. This distribution suggests a strong emphasis on secondary education and vocational preparation.

Consistent Performance Across Unified Districts

Colusa Unified and Pierce Joint Unified are the primary districts, together serving over 3,000 students. There are no charter schools in the county, with all 23 campuses operating under traditional public management. This ensures a unified educational standard across all local towns and rural areas.

Town-Centered Learning with Small Classes

Most students attend school in town settings, where the average school size is a modest 213 students. Williams Junior/Senior High is the largest campus in the county, yet it remains relatively small with 634 students. This scale allows for a personal touch in education that larger urban districts often lack.

School Overview

Total Schools

23

in Colusa County

Reported Enrollment

4,902

23 schools reporting

School Districts

6

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary6
Middle5
High10
Other2

6 School Districts in Colusa County

Colusa Unified

5 schools
1,533 students

Pierce Joint Unified

5 schools
1,490 students

Williams Unified

4 schools
1,350 students

Maxwell Unified

3 schools
340 students

Princeton Joint Unified

3 schools
133 students

Colusa County Office of Education

2 schools
29 students

23 Public Schools in Colusa County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 23 matching schools

Williams Junior/Senior High

Williams Unified

Williams, 95987 / Town: Distant

Record7–12High634 students

Arbuckle Elementary

Pierce Joint Unified

Arbuckle, 95912 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary596 students

George T. Egling Middle

Colusa Unified

Colusa, 95932 / Town: Distant

Record4–8Middle537 students

Pierce High

Pierce Joint Unified

Arbuckle, 95912 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High511 students

Colusa High

Colusa Unified

Colusa, 95932 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High470 students

James M. Burchfield Primary

Colusa Unified

Colusa, 95932 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–3Primary454 students

Williams Primary Elementary

Williams Unified

Williams, 95987 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–3Primary413 students

Lloyd G. Johnson Junior High

Pierce Joint Unified

Arbuckle, 95912 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle315 students

Williams Upper Elementary

Williams Unified

Williams, 95987 / Town: Distant

Record4–6Middle284 students

Maxwell Elementary

Maxwell Unified

Maxwell, 95955 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary143 students

Maxwell Sr High

Maxwell Unified

Maxwell, 95955 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High114 students

Maxwell Middle

Maxwell Unified

Maxwell, 95955 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle83 students

Princeton Elementary

Princeton Joint Unified

Princeton, 95970 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary69 students

Princeton Junior-Senior High

Princeton Joint Unified

Princeton, 95970 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High62 students

Grand Island Elementary

Pierce Joint Unified

Grimes, 95950 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary51 students

Colusa Alternative Home

Colusa Unified

Colusa, 95932 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–12Alternative48 students

Indian Valley Intermediate

Stony Creek Joint Unified

Elk Creek, 95939 / Rural: Remote

Record5–8Middle27 students

Colusa Alternative High (Continuation)

Colusa Unified

Colusa, 95932 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative24 students

Mid Valley High (Continuation)

Williams Unified

Williams, 95987 / Town: Distant

Record10–12Alternative19 students

Arbuckle Alternative High (Continuation)

Pierce Joint Unified

Arbuckle, 95912 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Alternative17 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,563

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Colusa County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Colusa County?
Colusa County has a school score of 63/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Colusa County?
The high school graduation rate in Colusa County is 92.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Colusa County spend per student?
Colusa County spends $7,563 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Colusa County, California — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Colusa County, California?

Colusa County provides education to 4,902 students through 23 public schools and 6 districts. The system is uniquely balanced with 10 high schools and 6 elementary schools. This distribution suggests a strong emphasis on secondary education and vocational preparation.

What are the major school districts in Colusa County, California?

Colusa Unified and Pierce Joint Unified are the primary districts, together serving over 3,000 students. There are no charter schools in the county, with all 23 campuses operating under traditional public management. This ensures a unified educational standard across all local towns and rural areas.

What is the school experience like in Colusa County?

Most students attend school in town settings, where the average school size is a modest 213 students. Williams Junior/Senior High is the largest campus in the county, yet it remains relatively small with 634 students. This scale allows for a personal touch in education that larger urban districts often lack.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.