Chico Unified School District
School District · Chico, California
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
22
12 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,317
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.7:1
Avg Rating
6.7
out of 10
Schools
22
12 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
12,317
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.7:1
Evaluating Chico Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Chico Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Sierra View Elementary
Chico · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Parkview Elementary
Chico · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Neal Dow Elementary
Chico · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#240 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.4
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,423
$1,224 vs California median
District size
12,317 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Chico Unified ranks #240 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Chico Unified's schools with real test data average 6.7/10 across 20 schools. Its top-rated schools are Sierra View Elementary (9.0/10), Parkview Elementary (8.4/10), and Neal Dow Elementary (8.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.8/10 despite 79% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Chico Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Chico Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Chico Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (20 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra View Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Parkview Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Neal Dow Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Hooker Oak Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Rosedale Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Little Chico Creek Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Marsh (harry M.) Junior High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Chico High | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Pleasant Valley High | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Citrus Avenue Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Chico Unified
Chico Unified is a Chico, California school district serving 22 schools.The district educates 12,317 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.7:1. District-level spending was $16,423 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.7/10, Chico Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Sierra View Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Chico Unified students show an average math proficiency of 40.1% and ELA proficiency of 47.2%.
The district includes 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Chico Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Chico Unified with test data.
Schools in Chico Unified
22 schoolsElementary Schools12
High Schools5
Other Schools2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Chico
- Total Enrollment
- 12,317
- Teachers (FTE)
- 568
- District spending per student
- $16,423NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 15.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Chico Unified?
Chico Unified has 22 schools in total — 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Chico Unified?
The average composite rating for Chico Unified is 6.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Chico Unified?
Chico Unified's district-level spending was $16,423 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Chico Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Chico Unified is 21.7:1.
What is the top-rated school in Chico Unified?
Sierra View Elementary is the highest-rated school in Chico Unified with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Chico Unified?
Across schools in Chico Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 40.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.2%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Chico Unified compare to other districts in California?
Chico Unified has an average school rating of 6.7/10 across 22 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 40.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 47.2%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Chico Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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