Best Schools in Crescent City, California
11 schools · 5 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Crescent City?
Use this page to compare every school in Crescent City 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.
Sunset High
High · Del Norte County Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Castle Rock
Other · Del Norte County Office of Education. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Del Norte High
High · Del Norte County Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Crescent City for 2026 are Sunset High (6.8/10), Castle Rock (6.8/10), and Del Norte High (6.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.1
out of 10
Median Home
$323,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.1
out of 10
Median Home
$323,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 6.8/10 despite 85% 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 Crescent City schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Crescent City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Crescent City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunset High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Castle Rock | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Del Norte High | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Uncharted Shores Academy | 5.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Del Norte Community | 5.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Joe Hamilton Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Crescent Elk Middle | 4.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Mary Peacock Elementary | 4.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Pine Grove Elementary | 3.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Bess Maxwell Elementary | 3.4 / 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
- 5.1/10
- Median household income
- $66,817
- Median home value
- $323,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 23%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 68%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Crescent City compares
California rank
#536 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.1
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
67% of California median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Crescent City, California
Crescent City, California is home to 11 schools, including 10 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.1 out of 10, schools in Crescent City show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Crescent City is Sunset High with a composite score of 6.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Crescent City is served by 3 school districts: Uncharted Shores Academy District, Del Norte County Unified, Del Norte County Office of Education. These districts collectively serve 4,090 students.
Crescent City's community shows 23% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $66,817. The poverty rate in the area is 11.2%.
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
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 292 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.7 | ||
| 2 | 252 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 3 | 260 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.9 | ||
| 4 | 232 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.4 | ||
| 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 | Crescent City Sda School
Private
14 students · 1st–8th | — | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 527 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101 students · 9th–12th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 923 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 337 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 295 students · Kindergarten–9th | 5.4 |
| 3 | 31 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 |
Schools in Crescent City
Crescent City, California · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$66,817
Median Home Value
$323,600
Median Rent
$1,202/mo
Population
22,491
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
68%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Community Profile
Crescent City has a median household income of $66,817. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $323,600, with a median rent of $1,202/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.2%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
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 Crescent City, California
How many schools are in Crescent City, California?
Crescent City has 11 schools, including 10 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Crescent City, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Crescent City is 5.1 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 Crescent City, California?
The top-ranked school in Crescent City on MySchoolScout is Sunset High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Crescent City, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Crescent City on MySchoolScout is Joe Hamilton Elementary with a composite score of 4.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Crescent City, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Crescent City on MySchoolScout is Crescent Elk Middle with a composite score of 4.5/10.
What is the best high school in Crescent City, California?
The top-ranked high school in Crescent City on MySchoolScout is Sunset High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Crescent City, California?
Crescent City is served by 3 school districts: Uncharted Shores Academy District, Del Norte County Unified, Del Norte County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Crescent City, California?
According to Census data, 23% of adults in Crescent City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Crescent City, California?
The median household income in Crescent City is approximately $66,817 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Crescent City, California?
Yes, Crescent City has 1 private school alongside 10 public schools.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Crescent City, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Crescent City is 21.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Crescent City, 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 Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
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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.