Del Norte County Unified
Del Norte County Unified has 10 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 29.0/100 — 14.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Del Norte High at 47/100, where 11.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,668 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 31.9%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Needs Support 26.7/100 | 7 | 6.0% | 27.7% |
| Middle | Needs Support 23.1/100 | 1 | 7.5% | 28.2% |
| High | Developing 40.0/100 | 2 | 7.9% | 48.6% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Del Norte County Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Del Norte County Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 40.0.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +0.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.
Consistency: Score range of 33.4 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 31.9%, 13.8pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 6.8%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Del Norte High leads the district at 47 with 11.5% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Del Norte County Unified
Hidden gems: 2 schools in Del Norte County Unified are classified as On the Rise (2) — 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
Del Norte County Unified spends $13,668 per student in current expenditures — $1,147 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Elementary Schools (7)
Del Norte County Unified has 7 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 26.7 — 17.1 points below the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +0.3pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Redwood Elementary with a Scope Score of 43 and 13.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood Elementary Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 13.9% | Developing 43/100 |
| 2 | Mary Peacock Elementary Del Norte County Unified On the Rise | 9.6% | Developing 35/100 |
| 3 | Smith River Elementary Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 7.7% | Developing 31/100 |
| 4 | Joe Hamilton Elementary Del Norte County Unified On the Rise | 5.2% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 5 | Pine Grove Elementary Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 2.6% | Needs Support 23/100 |
| 6 | Bess Maxwell Elementary Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 2.0% | Needs Support 18/100 |
| 7 | Margaret Keating Elementary Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 1.0% | Needs Support 13/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Del Norte County Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 23.1 — 17.4 points below the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -4.9pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Crescent Elk Middle with a Scope Score of 23 and 7.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crescent Elk Middle Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 7.5% | Needs Support 23/100 |
High Schools (2)
Del Norte County Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 40.0 — 7.4 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Del Norte High with a Scope Score of 47 and 11.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Del Norte High Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 11.5% | Developing 47/100 |
| 2 | Sunset High Del Norte County Unified Building Momentum | 4.3% | Developing 33/100 |
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 Del Norte County 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