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7.2 avg / 10

Best Schools in Fortuna, California

9 schools · 3 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High

Public: 8
Private: 1
Districts: 3
Avg Rating: 7.2/10
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Fortuna?

Use this page to compare every school in Fortuna 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.

Redwood Preparatory Charter

8.7/10

Elementary · Redwood Preparatory Charter District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Academy of the Redwoods

8.1/10

High · Fortuna Union High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

East High (continuation)

8.0/10

High · Fortuna Union High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Fortuna for 2026 are Redwood Preparatory Charter (8.7/10), Academy of the Redwoods (8.1/10), and East High (continuation) (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 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

9

8 public · 1 private

Avg Score

7.2

out of 10

Median Home

$362,400

home value · ACS

Districts

3

serving the city

Best value · beats the odds
Redwood Preparatory Charter

Rates 8.7/10 despite 47% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.1 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 Fortuna schools.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Redwood Preparatory Charter

STAAR proficiency rose +6.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Fortuna schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in Fortuna

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Redwood Preparatory Charter 8.7 / 10
2 Academy of the Redwoods 8.1 / 10
3 East High (continuation) 8.0 / 10
4 Linell K. Walker Elementary 7.9 / 10
5 Norman G. Ambrosini Elementary 7.6 / 10
6 Fortuna Middle 6.9 / 10
7 Toddy Thomas Middle 5.9 / 10
8 Fortuna Union High 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
7.2/10

63% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$62,346

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$362,400

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
24%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
22 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
59%

Of occupied housing units

How Fortuna compares

California rank

#121 of 597

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+1.0

above California avg (6.3)

Median household income

$62k

63% of California median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Fortuna, California

Fortuna, California is home to 9 schools, including 8 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.

With an average rating of 7.2 out of 10, schools in Fortuna perform strongly 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 Fortuna is Redwood Preparatory Charter with a composite score of 8.7/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Fortuna is served by 3 school districts: Fortuna Elementary, Redwood Preparatory Charter District, Fortuna Union High. These districts collectively serve 2,361 students.

Fortuna's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $62,346. The poverty rate in the area is 16.0%.

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 ZIP: 95540 (9)

Elementary Schools

3 schools
# School Rating
1 230 students · Kindergarten–8th 8.7
2 258 students · Kindergarten–4th 7.9
3 301 students · Kindergarten–4th 7.6

Middle Schools

2 schools
# School Rating
1 253 students · 7th–8th 6.9
2 236 students · 5th–8th 5.9

High Schools

4 schools
# School Rating
1 165 students · 9th–12th 8.1
2 47 students · 10th–12th 8.0
3 871 students · 9th–12th 4.9
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 58 students · Kindergarten–12th Not Rated

Schools in Fortuna

Fortuna, California · 9 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$62,346

Median Home Value

$362,400

Median Rent

$1,135/mo

Population

14,641

College Educated

24%

Homeownership

59%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

16.0%

Community Profile

Fortuna has a median household income of $62,346. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $362,400, with a median rent of $1,135/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.0%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Fortuna, California

How many schools are in Fortuna, California?

Fortuna has 9 schools, including 8 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Fortuna, California?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fortuna is 7.2 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 Fortuna, California?

The top-ranked school in Fortuna on MySchoolScout is Redwood Preparatory Charter with a composite score of 8.7/10.

What is the best elementary school in Fortuna, California?

The top-ranked elementary school in Fortuna on MySchoolScout is Redwood Preparatory Charter with a composite score of 8.7/10.

What is the best middle school in Fortuna, California?

The top-ranked middle school in Fortuna on MySchoolScout is Fortuna Middle with a composite score of 6.9/10.

What is the best high school in Fortuna, California?

The top-ranked high school in Fortuna on MySchoolScout is Academy of the Redwoods with a composite score of 8.1/10.

How many school districts serve Fortuna, California?

Fortuna is served by 3 school districts: Fortuna Elementary, Redwood Preparatory Charter District, Fortuna Union High.

What is the education level in Fortuna, California?

According to Census data, 24% of adults in Fortuna have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Fortuna, California?

The median household income in Fortuna is approximately $62,346 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Fortuna, California?

Yes, Fortuna has 1 private school alongside 8 public schools.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fortuna 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 Fortuna, 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.

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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.