Best Schools in Arcata, California
13 schools · 7 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Arcata?
Use this page to compare every school in Arcata by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Sunny Brae Middle
Middle · Arcata Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Arcata High
High · Northern Humboldt Union High. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Coastal Grove Charter
Elementary · Coastal Grove Charter District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Arcata for 2026 are Sunny Brae Middle (8.0/10), Arcata High (7.5/10), and Coastal Grove Charter (7.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
13
11 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$478,600
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
13
11 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$478,600
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Rates 8.0/10 despite 60% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Arcata schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.9 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Arcata schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Arcata
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunny Brae Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Arcata High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Coastal Grove Charter | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Union Street Charter | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Pacific Union Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Six Rivers Charter High | 5.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Laurel Tree Charter | 5.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Pacific Coast High (continuation) | 5.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Arcata Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $54,324
- Median home value
- $478,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 45%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 37%
25% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Arcata compares
California rank
#454 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$54k
54% of California median
Schools in this city
12
8 districts draw attendance lines through Arcata
Arcata is not one school system. 8 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 27% of the public campuses.
Northern Humboldt Union High is the largest slice at 3 of 11 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Arcata address is choosing a district first.
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.6 to 8.0 — the spread is inside Arcata, not a citywide average.
- Northern Humboldt Union High3 public · 27%
- Arcata Elementary2 public · 18%
- Coastal Grove Charter District1 public · 9%
- Fuente Nueva Charter District1 public · 9%
- Laurel Tree Charter District1 public · 9%
About Schools in Arcata, California
Arcata, California is home to 13 schools, including 11 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 7 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.9 out of 10, schools in Arcata show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Arcata is Sunny Brae Middle with a composite score of 8.0/10, 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.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 220 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.2 | ||
| 2 | 99 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 529 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.9 | ||
| 4 | 253 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 5 | 140 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Arcata Christian SchoolPrivate 103 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Mad River MontessoriPrivate 4 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 240 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,011 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 |
| 2 | 130 students · 6th–12th | 5.9 |
| 3 | 106 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
| 4 | 40 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 173 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.5 |
Schools in Arcata
Arcata, California · 13 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.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
- Other
- 1
Resources
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
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Arcata, California
How many schools are in Arcata, California?
Arcata has 13 schools, including 11 public and 2 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 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Arcata, California?
The top-ranked school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Sunny Brae Middle with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Arcata, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Coastal Grove Charter with a composite score of 7.2/10.
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 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Arcata, California?
The top-ranked high school in Arcata on MySchoolScout is Arcata High with a composite score of 7.5/10.
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 2 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Arcata Christian School with a score of 4.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Arcata, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Arcata is 17.9:1. 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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.