schoolsbycounty

Mendocino County Schools & Education

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

80.8%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

80.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,674

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#53

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Mendocino County

Measured School Summary

Mendocino County has midrange measured school signals (score: 43/100) with a graduation rate of 80.8%, which warrants review in official state and district records.

Funding Context

Mendocino County spends $8,674 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 22% below the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 6.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Mendocino 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

66 public schools and 25 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

43/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #53 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

80.8%

6.7 pts below the state average

Funding context

$8,674

$88 below the state average

School coverage

66

25 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

Mendocino County has 66 public schools across 25 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 Mendocino 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

Mendocino 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

#53

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points below 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.

Ukiah Unified

Elementary to high school visible

5,810 students

Elementary 6Middle 2High 2Other 1

11 listed schools in this county slice.

Fort Bragg Unified

Elementary to high school visible

1,682 students

Elementary 2Middle 2High 3Other 0

7 listed schools in this county slice.

Willits Unified

Elementary to high school visible

1,534 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Mendocino Unified

Elementary and high visible

462 students

Elementary 3Middle 0High 2Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Ukiah Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Mendocino County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Mendocino 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 Mendocino 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.

Mendocino County’s Diverse Public School Map

Mendocino County manages 66 public schools across 25 different districts, serving a total of 12,812 students. The network includes 28 elementary schools and 24 high schools spread across a large, varied geography. This structure supports both the coastal and inland communities of the region.

Ukiah Unified and Charter Innovations

Ukiah Unified is the largest district by far, educating 5,810 students across 11 schools. The county also features a significant charter presence, with 11 schools representing 16.7% of the total educational landscape. Fort Bragg Unified and Mendocino Unified also serve as key providers for their respective coastal communities.

A Balance of Town and Rural Schools

Mendocino's school locales are split evenly, with 33 schools in towns and 33 in rural settings. The average school size is 207 students, fostering an environment where teachers and students know each other well. Ukiah High is the largest campus in the county, with an enrollment of 1,679 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

66

in Mendocino County

Reported Enrollment

12,812

66 schools reporting

School Districts

25

districts

Charter Schools

11

17% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary28
Middle6
High24
Other8

25 School Districts in Mendocino County

Ukiah Unified

Guide
11 schools
5,810 students
Open district guide

Fort Bragg Unified

7 schools
1,682 students

Willits Unified

6 schools
1,534 students

Mendocino Unified

6 schools
462 students

Round Valley Unified

3 schools
436 students

Anderson Valley Unified

2 schools
420 students

Laytonville Unified

3 schools
337 students

Potter Valley Community Unified

4 schools
276 students

River Oak Charter District

1 school
236 students

Arena Union Elementary

1 school
225 students

66 Public Schools in Mendocino County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Level

Showing 20 of 66 matching schools

Ukiah High

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

Profile9–12High1,679 students

Pomolita Middle

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle767 students

Eagle Peak Middle

Ukiah Unified

Redwood Valley, 95470 / Town: Remote

Record5–8Middle539 students

Fort Bragg High

Fort Bragg Unified

Fort Bragg, 95437 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High524 students

Calpella Elementary

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–4Primary476 students

Yokayo Elementary

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–6Primary454 students

Frank Zeek Elementary

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–6Primary452 students

Grace Hudson Elementary

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary416 students

Willits High

Willits Unified

Willits, 95490 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High415 students

Oak Manor Elementary

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–6Primary402 students

Fort Bragg Middle

Fort Bragg Unified

Fort Bragg, 95437 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle392 students

Dana Gray Elementary

Fort Bragg Unified

Fort Bragg, 95437 / Town: Remote

Record3–5Primary365 students

Brookside Elementary

Willits Unified

Willits, 95490 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–2Primary363 students

Nokomis Elementary

Ukiah Unified

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary354 students

Redwood Elementary

Fort Bragg Unified

Fort Bragg, 95437 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–3Primary353 students

Blosser Lane Elementary

Willits Unified

Willits, 95490 / Town: Remote

Record3–5Primary351 students

Round Valley Elementary

Round Valley Unified

Covelo, 95428 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–8Primary304 students

Baechtel Grove Middle

Willits Unified

Willits, 95490 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle270 students

Mendocino K-8

Mendocino Unified

Mendocino, 95460 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–8Primary250 students

River Oak Charter

River Oak Charter District

Ukiah, 95482 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–8Charter236 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,674

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Mendocino 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.

View Schools

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 Mendocino County?
Mendocino County has a school score of 43/100, 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 Mendocino County?
The high school graduation rate in Mendocino County is 80.8%, which is below 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 Mendocino County spend per student?
Mendocino County spends $8,674 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 Mendocino County, California — FAQ

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

Mendocino County manages 66 public schools across 25 different districts, serving a total of 12,812 students. The network includes 28 elementary schools and 24 high schools spread across a large, varied geography. This structure supports both the coastal and inland communities of the region.

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

Ukiah Unified is the largest district by far, educating 5,810 students across 11 schools. The county also features a significant charter presence, with 11 schools representing 16.7% of the total educational landscape. Fort Bragg Unified and Mendocino Unified also serve as key providers for their respective coastal communities.

What is the school experience like in Mendocino County?

Mendocino's school locales are split evenly, with 33 schools in towns and 33 in rural settings. The average school size is 207 students, fostering an environment where teachers and students know each other well. Ukiah High is the largest campus in the county, with an enrollment of 1,679 students.

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.