Chico Unified
Chico Unified has 18 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 45.3/100 — 1.5 points near the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Sierra View Elementary at 71/100, where 48.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,999 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 5 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 19.9%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 44.5/100 | 12 | 21.4% | 16.1% |
| Middle | Developing 45.7/100 | 3 | 20.3% | 18.3% |
| High | Developing 48.0/100 | 3 | 20.9% | 36.4% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Chico Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Chico Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.0.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.5pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.
Consistency: Score range of 55.9 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 19.9%, 1.7pp near the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 3.8%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Sierra View Elementary leads the district at 71 with 48.6% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Chico Unified
Hidden gems: 9 schools in Chico Unified are classified as Growth Engine (5) or On the Rise (4) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Chico Unified spends $13,999 per student in current expenditures — $815 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (12)
Chico Unified has 12 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.5 — 0.7 points near the state average of 43.8. 1 of 12 elementary schools score above 70.
District-wide growth averages +0.5pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Sierra View Elementary with a Scope Score of 71 and 48.6% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra View Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 48.6% | Strong 71/100 |
| 2 | Parkview Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 33.6% | Solid 63/100 |
| 3 | Shasta Elementary Chico Unified Culture First | 29.1% | Solid 51/100 |
| 4 | Hooker Oak Elementary Chico Unified On the Rise | 22.9% | Solid 50/100 |
| 5 | Emma Wilson Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 19.8% | Developing 49/100 |
| 6 | Marigold Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 19.7% | Developing 48/100 |
| 7 | Neal Dow Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 25.3% | Developing 46/100 |
| 8 | Rosedale Elementary Chico Unified Culture First | 19.8% | Developing 42/100 |
| 9 | Little Chico Creek Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 18.4% | Developing 38/100 |
| 10 | Citrus Avenue Elementary Chico Unified On the Rise | 8.3% | Developing 32/100 |
| 11 | McManus (John A.) Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 5.5% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 12 | Chapman Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 5.7% | Needs Support 21/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Chico Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.7 — 5.2 points above the state average of 40.5.
District-wide growth averages +6.8pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High with a Scope Score of 53 and 25.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High Chico Unified Growth Engine | 25.7% | Solid 53/100 |
| 2 | Bidwell Junior High Chico Unified On the Rise | 17.2% | Developing 44/100 |
| 3 | Chico Junior High Chico Unified On the Rise | 18.1% | Developing 40/100 |
High Schools (3)
Chico Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.0 — 0.5 points near the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Pleasant Valley High with a Scope Score of 65 and 31.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pleasant Valley High Chico Unified Strong All-Around | 31.9% | Solid 65/100 |
| 2 | Chico High Chico Unified Building Momentum | 30.8% | Solid 64/100 |
| 3 | Fair View High (Continuation) Chico Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 15/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Chico Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology