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Arcata Elementary: Arcata Elementary elementary schools add +20.2 points from grade 3 to 5 — a signal that schools are adding real value.

Near Average2024–25 data6 schools · avg 48.3/100

Arcata Elementary has 6 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 48.3/100 — 3.4 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Union Street Charter at 82/100, where 56.4% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,782 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 2 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 22.2%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
48.3
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
56.1
26.1 – 82.2
Avg Exceeded %
21.8%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
22.2%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
6
With Scope Scores
Charter Schools
4
of 6 ranked
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementarySolid
50.2/100
522.8%18.9%
MiddleDeveloping
38.5/100
116.5%38.8%

Arcata Elementary's elementary schools average 50.2/100 — 5.4 points above the state average with +20.2pp grade-to-grade growth.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Arcata Elementary, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
50.2
avg score · 5 schools
Fuente Nueva Charter
Developing
45/100
+2 more elementary schools
Middle
38.5
avg score · 1 school
Sunny Brae Middle
Developing
39/100

District Analysis

Arcata Elementary has 6 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 48.3/100 — 3.4 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Arcata Elementary's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 50.2.

District-wide elementary growth averages +20.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are adding meaningful value beyond what students arrive with.

Score range of 56.1 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 22.2%, 4.3pp above the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 4.9%, above the state average of 1.6%.

Union Street Charter leads the district at 82 with 56.4% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Arcata Elementary

3 On the Rise2 Growth Engine1 High Ceiling

Hidden gems: 5 schools in Arcata Elementary are classified as On the Rise (3) or Growth Engine (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

Hispanic
21.4%
White
58.2%
Asian
1.5%
Black
1.3%
Other
17.6%
Free/Reduced Lunch
55%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Arcata Elementary spends $12,782 per student in current expenditures — $2,033 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$12,782
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
1,137
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 9.8%
$11,636 → $12,782
Spending Efficiency
3.78
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 63%Support 33%Other 4%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$50,829–$96,295
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
36
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Arcata Elementary

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (5)

Arcata Elementary has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 50.2 — 5.4 points above the state average of 44.8. 1 of 5 elementary schools score above 70.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +20.2pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Union Street Charter with a Scope Score of 82 and 56.4% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Union Street Charter
Arcata Elementary High Ceiling
56.4%Strong
82/100
2Coastal Grove Charter
Arcata Elementary Growth Engine
18.9%Solid
55/100
3Fuente Nueva Charter
Arcata Elementary Growth Engine
13.9%Developing
45/100
4Redwood Coast Montessori
Arcata Elementary On the Rise
16.5%Developing
43/100
5Arcata Elementary
Arcata Elementary On the Rise
8.5%Needs Support
26/100

Middle Schools (1)

Arcata Elementary has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.5 — 4.1 points below the state average of 42.6.

Grade-to-grade growth averages +3.6pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Sunny Brae Middle with a Scope Score of 39 and 16.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Sunny Brae Middle
Arcata Elementary On the Rise
16.5%Developing
39/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 6 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.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Arcata Elementary

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 resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Arcata Elementary a good school district?
Arcata Elementary has 6 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.3/100, which is 3.4 points above the state average. 21.8% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Arcata Elementary?
The highest-scoring school in Arcata Elementary is Union Street Charter with a Scope Score of 82/100 and 56.4% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Arcata Elementary spend per student?
Arcata Elementary spends $12,782 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Arcata Elementary?
Teacher salaries in Arcata Elementary range from $50,829–$96,295 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
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-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.