West Contra Costa Unified School District
School District · Richmond, California
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
52
37 elem, 6 mid, 8 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,205
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
Avg Rating
5.3
out of 10
Schools
52
37 elem, 6 mid, 8 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,205
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
Evaluating West Contra Costa Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge West Contra Costa 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.
West County Mandarin
Pinole · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Kensington Elementary
Kensington · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Mira Vista Elementary
Richmond · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#552 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.9
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$19,205
+$1,558 vs California median
District size
25,575 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
West Contra Costa Unified ranks #552 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. West Contra Costa Unified's schools with real test data average 5.3/10 across 52 schools. Its top-rated schools are West County Mandarin (8.9/10), Kensington Elementary (8.4/10), and Mira Vista Elementary (8.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.0/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 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 West Contra Costa Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +14.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among West Contra Costa Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in West Contra Costa Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (52 of 52). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West County Mandarin | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Kensington Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Mira Vista Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Hercules High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Middle College High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Ohlone Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Shannon Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Fred T. Korematsu Middle | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Harding Elementary | 7.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Madera Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
See all 52 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About West Contra Costa Unified
West Contra Costa Unified is a Richmond, California school district serving 52 schools. The district educates 25,575 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.5:1. The district invests $19,205 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.3/10, West Contra Costa Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is West County Mandarin, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, West Contra Costa Unified students show an average math proficiency of 30.8% and ELA proficiency of 36.5%.
The district includes 37 elementary schools , 6 middle schools , and 8 high schools.
District Map
Schools in West Contra Costa Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in West Contra Costa Unified with test data.
Schools in West Contra Costa Unified
52 schools Elementary Schools 37
Middle Schools 6
High Schools 8
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Richmond
- Total Enrollment
- 25,575
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,190
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in West Contra Costa Unified?
West Contra Costa Unified has 52 schools in total — 37 elementary, 6 middle, and 8 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for West Contra Costa Unified?
The average composite rating for West Contra Costa Unified is 5.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in West Contra Costa Unified?
West Contra Costa Unified spends $19,205 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in West Contra Costa Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in West Contra Costa Unified is 21.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in West Contra Costa Unified?
West County Mandarin is the highest-rated school in West Contra Costa Unified with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in West Contra Costa Unified?
Across schools in West Contra Costa Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 30.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 36.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does West Contra Costa Unified compare to other districts in California?
West Contra Costa Unified has an average school rating of 5.3/10 across 52 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
- 5.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 30.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 36.5%
Resources
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 West Contra Costa 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)
- 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)
- Twin Rivers Unified (43)
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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