6.4 avg / 10

Best Schools in Arcata, California

14 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 11

Private: 3

Districts: 8

Avg Rating: 6.4/10

Estimated Scores: 8%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.4/10
Median household income: $54,324
Median home value: $478,600
Bachelor's degree or higher: 45%
Avg commute: 18 min
Owner-occupied homes: 37%

How Arcata compares

California rank

#286 of 596

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.1

above California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$54k

55% of California median

Schools in this city

12

About Schools in Arcata, California

Arcata, California is home to 14 schools, including 11 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.4 out of 10, schools in Arcata show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Arcata is Union Street Charter with a composite score of 9.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Arcata is served by 8 school districts. These districts collectively serve 3,541 students.

Arcata's community shows 45% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $54,324. The poverty rate in the area is 26.7%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (14) Elementary (7) Middle (2) High (4)

Filter by Type: All Types (14) Public (11) Private (3)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (14) Academics (14) Growth (11) Diversity (11) Resources (11)

Filter by ZIP: 95521 (12) 95518 (2)

Elementary Schools

7 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Union Street Charter 99 students · Kindergarten–5th	99	Kindergarten–5th	9.5
2	Coastal Grove Charter 220 students · Kindergarten–8th	220	Kindergarten–8th	8.0
3	Pacific Union Elementary 529 students · Kindergarten–8th	529	Kindergarten–8th	7.0
4	Arcata Elementary 253 students · Kindergarten–5th	253	Kindergarten–5th	5.1
5	Fuente Nueva Charter 140 students · Kindergarten–5th	140	Kindergarten–5th	5.0
Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	ARCATA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 106 students · Kindergarten–8th	106	Kindergarten–8th	Not Rated
2	MAD RIVER MONTESSORI Private 6 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten	6	Pre-K–Kindergarten	Not Rated

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Sunny Brae Middle 240 students · 6th–8th	240	6th–8th	5.6
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	SIX RIVERS MONTESSORI Private 21 students · 1st–5th	21	1st–5th	Not Rated

High Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy 130 students · 6th–12th	130	6th–12th	7.3
2	Pacific Coast High (Continuation) 40 students · 9th–12th	40	9th–12th	7.0
3	Arcata High 1,011 students · 9th–12th	1,011	9th–12th	5.8
4	Six Rivers Charter High 106 students · 9th–12th	106	9th–12th	5.1

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Laurel Tree Charter 173 students · Kindergarten–12th	173	Kindergarten–12th	6.9

Schools in Arcata

Arcata, California · 14 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$54,324

Median Home Value

$478,600

Median Rent

$1,300/mo

Population

21,684

College Educated

45%

Homeownership

37%

Avg Commute

18 min

Poverty Rate

26.7%

Community Profile

Arcata has a median household income of $54,324. It is a well-educated community where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $478,600, with a median rent of $1,300/month. The area has a poverty rate of 26.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: California
Total Schools: 14
Elementary: 7
Middle: 2
High: 4
Districts: 8
Avg Rating: 6.4/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Arcata schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Arcata 📊 Niche Arcata Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (8)

Laurel Tree Charter District

1 school · 173 students

Fuente Nueva Charter District

1 school · 140 students

Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy District

1 school · 130 students

Union Street Charter District

1 school · 99 students

Coastal Grove Charter District

1 school · 220 students

Arcata Elementary

2 schools · 493 students

Northern Humboldt Union High

5 schools · 1,756 students

Pacific Union Elementary

1 school · 530 students

Nearby Cities

Bayside (4 schools)

3 mi

Mckinleyville (7 schools)

Blue Lake (2 schools)

Hydesville (3 schools)

Other Major Cities in California

Top metros statewide by school count.

Los Angeles 928 schools San Diego 412 schools San Jose 335 schools San Francisco 297 schools Sacramento 273 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Arcata, California

How many schools are in Arcata, California?

Arcata has 14 schools, including 11 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Arcata, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Arcata is 6.4 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Arcata, California?

The top-ranked school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Union Street Charter with a composite score of 9.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Arcata, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Union Street Charter with a composite score of 9.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Arcata, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Sunny Brae Middle with a composite score of 5.6/10.

What is the best high school in Arcata, California?

The top-ranked high school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy with a composite score of 7.3/10.

How many school districts serve Arcata, California?

Arcata is served by 8 school districts: Laurel Tree Charter District, Fuente Nueva Charter District, Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy District, Union Street Charter District, Coastal Grove Charter District, Arcata Elementary, Northern Humboldt Union High, Pacific Union Elementary.

What is the education level in Arcata, California?

According to Census data, 45% of adults in Arcata have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Arcata, California?

The median household income in Arcata is approximately $54,324 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Arcata, California?

Yes, Arcata has 3 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Arcata Christian School with a score of 4.3/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Arcata, California?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Arcata is 17.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Arcata, California?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.