Contra Costa County Schools & Education
Contra Costa County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
54/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,051
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
54/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#31
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Contra Costa County
Measured School Summary
Contra Costa County performs at an average level with a school score of 54/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.6%.
Funding Context
Contra Costa County spends $8,051 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 3% below the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Contra Costa 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
278 public schools and 40 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
54/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #31 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
88.6%
1.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,051
$711 below the state average
School coverage
278
40 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
Contra Costa County has 278 public schools across 40 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 Contra Costa 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
Contra Costa 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
#31
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 1 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% 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.
San Ramon Valley Unified
Elementary to high school visible
29,639 students
37 listed schools in this county slice.
Mt. Diablo Unified
Elementary to high school visible
28,921 students
52 listed schools in this county slice.
West Contra Costa Unified
Elementary to high school visible
25,626 students
54 listed schools in this county slice.
Antioch Unified
Elementary to high school visible
15,038 students
25 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
West Contra Costa Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 54 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 Contra Costa County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa 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.
A Massive Suburan Education Hub
Contra Costa County features a sprawling network of 278 public schools serving 167,431 students across 40 districts. With 167 elementary schools and 56 high schools, the infrastructure is designed to support a large, diverse population. It is one of the most comprehensive school systems in Northern California.
Large Unified Districts and Diverse Charters
San Ramon Valley Unified is the largest district with 29,639 students, followed closely by Mt. Diablo Unified. The county also offers 22 charter schools, providing specialized options for nearly 8% of the student population. This variety ensures that families have access to both large-scale resources and niche learning models.
A Predominantly Suburban School Experience
The vast majority of schools—234 out of 278—are located in suburban settings. Average school size is 616 students, though campuses like Pittsburg Senior High can serve nearly 3,500. This environment offers the classic suburban California school experience with large facilities and diverse extracurriculars.
School Overview
Total Schools
278
in Contra Costa County
Reported Enrollment
167,431
275 schools reporting
School Districts
40
districts
Charter Schools
22
8% of total
School Level Breakdown
40 School Districts in Contra Costa County
San Ramon Valley Unified
GuideMt. Diablo Unified
GuideWest Contra Costa Unified
GuideAntioch Unified
GuidePittsburg Unified
GuideBrentwood Union Elementary
GuideLiberty Union High
GuideAcalanes Union High
GuideOakley Union Elementary
GuideMartinez Unified
Guide278 Public Schools in Contra Costa County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 37 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 278 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburg Senior High | Profile | Pittsburg Unified | Pittsburg, 94565Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 3,494 |
| Dougherty Valley High | Profile | San Ramon Valley Unified | San Ramon, 94582City: Small | 9–12 | High | 3,255 |
| California High | Profile | San Ramon Valley Unified | San Ramon, 94583City: Small | 9–12 | High | 2,879 |
| Liberty High | Profile | Liberty Union High | Brentwood, 94513Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,786 |
| Heritage High | Profile | Liberty Union High | Brentwood, 94513Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,559 |
| Freedom High | Profile | Liberty Union High | Oakley, 94561Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,527 |
| Clayton Valley Charter High | Profile | Clayton Valley Charter High District | Concord, 94521Suburb: Large | 9–12 | Charter | 2,381 |
| Monte Vista High | Profile | San Ramon Valley Unified | Danville, 94526Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,243 |
| San Ramon Valley High | Profile | San Ramon Valley Unified | Danville, 94526Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,981 |
| Antioch High | Profile | Antioch Unified | Antioch, 94509Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,960 |
| College Park High | Profile | Mt. Diablo Unified | Pleasant Hill, 94523Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,956 |
| Deer Valley High | Profile | Antioch Unified | Antioch, 94531Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,851 |
| Las Lomas High | Profile | Acalanes Union High | Walnut Creek, 94596City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,571 |
| El Cerrito High | Profile | West Contra Costa Unified | El Cerrito, 94530Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,522 |
| Northgate High | Profile | Mt. Diablo Unified | Walnut Creek, 94598City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,507 |
| Mt. Diablo High | Profile | Mt. Diablo Unified | Concord, 94520Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,498 |
| Richmond High | Profile | West Contra Costa Unified | Richmond, 94804Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,431 |
| Campolindo High | Profile | Acalanes Union High | Moraga, 94556Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,343 |
| Pinole Valley High | Profile | West Contra Costa Unified | Pinole, 94564Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,280 |
| Acalanes High | Profile | Acalanes Union High | Lafayette, 94549Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,259 |
Pittsburg Senior High
Pittsburg Unified
Pittsburg, 94565 / Suburb: Large
Dougherty Valley High
San Ramon Valley Unified
San Ramon, 94582 / City: Small
California High
San Ramon Valley Unified
San Ramon, 94583 / City: Small
Liberty High
Liberty Union High
Brentwood, 94513 / Suburb: Large
Heritage High
Liberty Union High
Brentwood, 94513 / Suburb: Large
Freedom High
Liberty Union High
Oakley, 94561 / Suburb: Large
Clayton Valley Charter High
Clayton Valley Charter High District
Concord, 94521 / Suburb: Large
Monte Vista High
San Ramon Valley Unified
Danville, 94526 / Suburb: Large
San Ramon Valley High
San Ramon Valley Unified
Danville, 94526 / Suburb: Large
Antioch High
Antioch Unified
Antioch, 94509 / Suburb: Large
College Park High
Mt. Diablo Unified
Pleasant Hill, 94523 / Suburb: Large
Deer Valley High
Antioch Unified
Antioch, 94531 / Suburb: Large
Las Lomas High
Acalanes Union High
Walnut Creek, 94596 / City: Small
El Cerrito High
West Contra Costa Unified
El Cerrito, 94530 / Suburb: Large
Northgate High
Mt. Diablo Unified
Walnut Creek, 94598 / City: Small
Mt. Diablo High
Mt. Diablo Unified
Concord, 94520 / Suburb: Large
Richmond High
West Contra Costa Unified
Richmond, 94804 / Suburb: Large
Campolindo High
Acalanes Union High
Moraga, 94556 / Suburb: Large
Pinole Valley High
West Contra Costa Unified
Pinole, 94564 / Suburb: Large
Acalanes High
Acalanes Union High
Lafayette, 94549 / Suburb: Large
Additional School Profiles
Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.
- De Anza High
- Ygnacio Valley High
- Miramonte High
- Concord High
- William B. Bristow Middle
- Making Waves Academy
- Windemere Ranch Middle
- Alhambra Senior High
- Gale Ranch Middle
- Adams (J. Douglas) Middle
- M. H. Stanley Middle
- Iron Horse Middle
- Park Middle
- Edna Hill Middle
- Walnut Creek Intermediate
- Pine Valley Middle
- Pioneer Elementary
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,051
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County?
What is the graduation rate in Contra Costa County?
How much does Contra Costa County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Contra Costa County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Contra Costa County, California?
Contra Costa County features a sprawling network of 278 public schools serving 167,431 students across 40 districts. With 167 elementary schools and 56 high schools, the infrastructure is designed to support a large, diverse population. It is one of the most comprehensive school systems in Northern California.
What are the major school districts in Contra Costa County, California?
San Ramon Valley Unified is the largest district with 29,639 students, followed closely by Mt. Diablo Unified. The county also offers 22 charter schools, providing specialized options for nearly 8% of the student population. This variety ensures that families have access to both large-scale resources and niche learning models.
What is the school experience like in Contra Costa County?
The vast majority of schools—234 out of 278—are located in suburban settings. Average school size is 616 students, though campuses like Pittsburg Senior High can serve nearly 3,500. This environment offers the classic suburban California school experience with large facilities and diverse extracurriculars.
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.