Humboldt County Schools & Education
Humboldt County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,604
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#4
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Humboldt County
Measured School Summary
Humboldt County performs at an average level with a school score of 68/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.6%.
Funding Context
Humboldt County spends $8,604 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 23% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Humboldt 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
89 public schools and 44 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
68/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #4 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
91.6%
4.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$8,604
$158 below the state average
School coverage
89
44 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
Humboldt County has 89 public schools across 44 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 Humboldt 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
Humboldt 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
#4
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 13 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.
Eureka City Schools
Elementary to high school visible
3,580 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Northern Humboldt Union High
High school only in this slice
1,785 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Fortuna Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
1,104 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Fortuna Union High
High school only in this slice
1,066 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Eureka City Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 8 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 Humboldt County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Humboldt 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?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Humboldt 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.
Coastal Education Across 44 Districts
Humboldt County features a highly decentralized system with 89 public schools spread across 44 different districts. The county serves 17,572 students, supported by 48 elementary schools and 22 high schools. A strong charter presence exists here, with 15 schools—nearly 17% of the total—offering alternative curricula.
Spotlight on Eureka City and Arcata Schools
Eureka City Schools is the largest district, enrolling 3,580 students across eight different campuses. Major high schools like Eureka Senior High (1,295 students) and Arcata High (1,052 students) serve as the primary academic hubs for the region's teenagers. Many smaller districts, such as Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified, serve the more remote parts of the county.
Small-Town Feel with Rural Roots
Education in Humboldt is characterized by small schools, with an average enrollment of only 200 students per campus. Most schools are located in towns or rural settings, ensuring a quiet and focused learning environment. While Eureka Senior High is the largest, many schools in the 44 districts offer much more intimate student-to-teacher ratios.
School Overview
Total Schools
89
in Humboldt County
Reported Enrollment
17,572
89 schools reporting
School Districts
44
districts
Charter Schools
15
17% of total
School Level Breakdown
44 School Districts in Humboldt County
Eureka City Schools
GuideNorthern Humboldt Union High
Fortuna Elementary
Fortuna Union High
Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified
McKinleyville Union Elementary
Southern Humboldt Joint Unified
Pacific Union Elementary
Cutten Elementary
Arcata Elementary
89 Public Schools in Humboldt County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 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 89 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Senior High | Profile | Eureka City Schools | Eureka, 95501Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,295 |
| Arcata High | Profile | Northern Humboldt Union High | Arcata, 95521Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,052 |
| Fortuna Union High | Record | Fortuna Union High | Fortuna, 95540Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 830 |
| McKinleyville High | Record | Northern Humboldt Union High | McKinleyville, 95519Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 556 |
| Pacific Union Elementary | Record | Pacific Union Elementary | Arcata, 95521Town: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 537 |
| Washington Elementary | Record | Eureka City Schools | Eureka, 95503Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 499 |
| Jacoby Creek | Record | Jacoby Creek Elementary | Bayside, 95524Town: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 459 |
| Catherine L. Zane Middle | Record | Eureka City Schools | Eureka, 95501Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 433 |
| Alder Grove Charter School 2 | Record | Alder Grove Charter School 2 District | Eureka, 95501Town: Remote | KG–12 | Charter | 429 |
| Winship Middle | Record | Eureka City Schools | Eureka, 95503Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 400 |
| Hoopa Valley Elementary | Record | Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified | Hoopa, 95546Rural: Remote | KG–8 | Primary | 398 |
| Alice Birney Elementary | Record | Eureka City Schools | Eureka, 95503Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 392 |
| McKinleyville Middle | Record | McKinleyville Union Elementary | McKinleyville, 95519Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 360 |
| Ferndale Elementary | Record | Ferndale Unified | Ferndale, 95536Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 344 |
| Norman G. Ambrosini Elementary | Record | Fortuna Elementary | Fortuna, 95540Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 323 |
| Cutten Elementary | Record | Cutten Elementary | Eureka, 95503Town: Remote | 3–6 | Primary | 322 |
| Northern United - Humboldt Charter | Record | Northern United - Humboldt Charter District | Eureka, 95503Town: Remote | KG–12 | Charter | 309 |
| Redway Elementary | Record | Southern Humboldt Joint Unified | Redway, 95560Rural: Remote | KG–6 | Primary | 299 |
| Linell K. Walker Elementary | Record | Fortuna Elementary | Fortuna, 95540Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 294 |
| Morris Elementary | Record | McKinleyville Union Elementary | McKinleyville, 95519Town: Remote | 3–5 | Primary | 292 |
Eureka Senior High
Eureka City Schools
Eureka, 95501 / Town: Remote
Arcata High
Northern Humboldt Union High
Arcata, 95521 / Town: Remote
McKinleyville High
Northern Humboldt Union High
McKinleyville, 95519 / Town: Remote
Pacific Union Elementary
Pacific Union Elementary
Arcata, 95521 / Town: Remote
Alder Grove Charter School 2
Alder Grove Charter School 2 District
Eureka, 95501 / Town: Remote
Hoopa Valley Elementary
Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified
Hoopa, 95546 / Rural: Remote
McKinleyville Middle
McKinleyville Union Elementary
McKinleyville, 95519 / Town: Remote
Norman G. Ambrosini Elementary
Fortuna Elementary
Fortuna, 95540 / Town: Remote
Northern United - Humboldt Charter
Northern United - Humboldt Charter District
Eureka, 95503 / Town: Remote
Redway Elementary
Southern Humboldt Joint Unified
Redway, 95560 / Rural: Remote
Linell K. Walker Elementary
Fortuna Elementary
Fortuna, 95540 / Town: Remote
Morris Elementary
McKinleyville Union Elementary
McKinleyville, 95519 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,604
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Humboldt County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
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 Humboldt County?
What is the graduation rate in Humboldt County?
How much does Humboldt County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Humboldt County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Humboldt County, California?
Humboldt County features a highly decentralized system with 89 public schools spread across 44 different districts. The county serves 17,572 students, supported by 48 elementary schools and 22 high schools. A strong charter presence exists here, with 15 schools—nearly 17% of the total—offering alternative curricula.
What are the major school districts in Humboldt County, California?
Eureka City Schools is the largest district, enrolling 3,580 students across eight different campuses. Major high schools like Eureka Senior High (1,295 students) and Arcata High (1,052 students) serve as the primary academic hubs for the region's teenagers. Many smaller districts, such as Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified, serve the more remote parts of the county.
What is the school experience like in Humboldt County?
Education in Humboldt is characterized by small schools, with an average enrollment of only 200 students per campus. Most schools are located in towns or rural settings, ensuring a quiet and focused learning environment. While Eureka Senior High is the largest, many schools in the 44 districts offer much more intimate student-to-teacher ratios.
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.