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Elementary Schools in Chico, California: Chico schools average 3.3 points above the state — but the range is 56.5 points wide.

Near Average2024–25 data19 schools · avg 48.1/100

Chico, California has 19 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 48.1/100 — 3.3 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Nord Country at 73/100, where 42.4% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Chico schools average 22.5% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.8% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
48.1
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
56.5
16.9 – 73.4
Avg Exceeded %
22.5%
State avg: 21.3%
CDE CAASPP 2025
Chronic Absenteeism
15.8%
State avg: 17.9%
CDE Attendance 2025
Schools Ranked
19
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary19Developing
48.1/100
22.5%+3.3
High4Developing
47.8/100
22.8%+4.1
Middle6Developing
36.6/100
12.2%-6.1

How Chico schools compare

Chico has 19 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 48.1/100 — 3.3 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Nord Country with a Scope Score of 73 and 42.4% of students exceeding standard.

These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Chico schools average 22.5% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.

Chronic absenteeism in Chico averages 15.8% — below the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

School archetypes in Chico

4 Culture First3 Strong All-Around15 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Chico

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Nord Country
Chico Unified Strong All-Around
42.4%Strong
73/100
2Parkview Elementary
Chico Unified Strong All-Around
33.6%Strong
70/100
3Sierra View Elementary
Chico Unified Strong All-Around
48.6%Solid
68/100
4Inspire School of Arts and Sciences
Chico Unified Building Momentum
28.5%Solid
60/100
5Pleasant Valley High
Chico Unified Strong All-Around
31.9%Solid
59/100
6Chico High
Chico Unified Building Momentum
30.8%Solid
59/100
7Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High
Chico Unified Building Momentum
25.7%Solid
57/100
8Emma Wilson Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
19.8%Solid
56/100
9Hooker Oak Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
22.9%Solid
54/100
10Chico Country Day
Chico Unified Building Momentum
27.4%Solid
52/100
11Achieve Charter School of Chico
Chico Unified Culture First
20.8%Solid
52/100
12Marigold Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
19.7%Solid
51/100
13Shasta Elementary
Chico Unified Culture First
29.1%Developing
50/100
14Wildflower Open Classroom
Chico Unified Building Momentum
26.2%Developing
50/100
15Sherwood Montessori
Chico Unified Building Momentum
29.9%Developing
49/100
16CORE Butte Charter
Butte County Office of Education Culture First
11.2%Developing
46/100
17Bidwell Junior High
Chico Unified Building Momentum
17.2%Developing
45/100
18Chico Junior High
Chico Unified Building Momentum
18.1%Developing
44/100
19Neal Dow Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
25.3%Developing
42/100
20Rosedale Elementary
Chico Unified Culture First
19.8%Developing
40/100
21Little Chico Creek Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
18.4%Developing
40/100
22Blue Oak Charter
Chico Unified Building Momentum
12.4%Developing
37/100
23Citrus Avenue Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
8.3%Developing
37/100
24Oak Bridge Academy
Chico Unified Building Momentum
7.7%Needs Support
29/100
25Pivot Charter School North Valley II
Chico Unified Building Momentum
4.5%Needs Support
27/100
26McManus (John A.) Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
5.5%Needs Support
25/100
27Chapman Elementary
Chico Unified Building Momentum
5.7%Needs Support
22/100
28Oakdale
Chico Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
17/100
29Fair View High (Continuation)
Chico Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
14/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 29 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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.

Private Schools in Chico

Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.

Notre Dame School
Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 228 students
20:1Private
Chico Oaks Adventist School
Pentecostal · Grades Pre-K-8 · 110 students
14:1Private
Hope Academy for Personalized Education
Brethren · Grades Pre-K-8 · 60 students
12:1Private
Pleasant Valley Baptist School
Amish · Grades Pre-K-12 · 25 students
5:1Private
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Chico

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Chico good?
Chico's 19 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 48.1/100, which is 3.3 points above the state average. 22.5% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Chico?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Chico is Nord Country with a Scope Score of 73/100 and 42.4% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Chico schools compare to the state average?
Chico elementary schools average a Scope Score of 48.1/100 — 3.3 points above the state average of 44.8. The exceeded rate averages 22.5% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 15.8% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Chico?
Chico has 19 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.

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