West Contra Costa Unified School District
School District · Richmond, California
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
52
37 elem, 6 mid, 8 high
Enrollment
25,575
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
52
37 elem, 6 mid, 8 high
Enrollment
25,575
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
How this district compares
California rank
#563 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
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 #563 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. West Contra Costa Unified's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 52 schools. Its top-rated schools are Madera Elementary (9.0/10), Ohlone Elementary (8.8/10), and Middle College High (8.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.5/10 despite 64% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 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 | Madera Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Ohlone Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Middle College High | 8.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Ellerhorst Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Stewart Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Hercules High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | West County Mandarin | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Harding Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Mira Vista Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Pinole Valley High | 7.3 / 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. District-level spending was $19,205 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.6/10, West Contra Costa Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Madera Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, West Contra Costa Unified students show an average math proficiency of 29.6% and ELA proficiency of 35.4%.
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 schoolsElementary Schools37
Middle Schools6
High Schools8
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Richmond
- Total Enrollment
- 25,575
- Teachers (FTE)
- 1,190
- District spending per student
- $19,205NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 13.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory 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 5.6/10. 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 West Contra Costa Unified?
West Contra Costa Unified's district-level spending was $19,205 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 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?
Madera Elementary is the highest-rated school in West Contra Costa Unified with a composite score of 9.0/10.
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 29.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 35.4%. 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 5.6/10 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
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 29.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 35.4%
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)
- Chula Vista Elementary (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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