Chico Unified: Chico Unified middle schools lead at 48.9. A 59.7-point spread across all schools shows this is a district of contrasts.
Chico Unified has 29 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 46.0/100 — within 1.2 points of 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. The district spends $13,999 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 6 schools show positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.8%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 45.3/100 | 22 | 20.6% | 18.8% |
| Middle | Developing 48.9/100 | 3 | 20.3% | 18.3% |
| High | Developing 47.8/100 | 4 | 22.8% | 33.9% |
Chico Unified's middle schools average 48.9/100 — 6.2 points above the state average with +6.8pp grade-to-grade growth.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Chico Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Chico Unified has 29 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 46.0/100 — within 1.2 points of the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: Chico Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 48.9.
District-wide elementary growth averages +0.8pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — schools are making incremental gains.
Score range of 59.7 points — showing significant variation between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 20.8%, 2.9pp above the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 3.3%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Nord Country leads the district at 73 with 42.4% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Chico Unified
Hidden gems: 11 schools in Chico Unified are classified as Growth Engine (6) or On the Rise (5) — 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
Every school in Chico Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (22)
Chico Unified has 22 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.3 — within 0.4 points of the state average of 44.8. 2 of 22 elementary schools score above 70.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +0.8pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Nord Country with a Scope Score of 73 and 42.4% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nord Country Chico Unified Growth Engine | 42.4% | Strong 73/100 |
| 2 | Parkview Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 33.6% | Strong 70/100 |
| 3 | Sierra View Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 48.6% | Solid 68/100 |
| 4 | Emma Wilson Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 19.8% | Solid 56/100 |
| 5 | Forest Ranch Charter Chico Unified Solid Base | 25.0% | Solid 55/100 |
| 6 | Hooker Oak Elementary Chico Unified On the Rise | 22.9% | Solid 54/100 |
| 7 | Chico Country Day Chico Unified Building Momentum | 27.4% | Solid 52/100 |
| 8 | Achieve Charter School of Chico Chico Unified Culture First | 20.8% | Solid 52/100 |
| 9 | Marigold Elementary Chico Unified Growth Engine | 19.7% | Solid 51/100 |
| 10 | Shasta Elementary Chico Unified Culture First | 29.1% | Developing 50/100 |
| 11 | Wildflower Open Classroom Chico Unified Building Momentum | 26.2% | Developing 50/100 |
| 12 | Sherwood Montessori Chico Unified Building Momentum | 29.9% | Developing 49/100 |
| 13 | Neal Dow Elementary Chico Unified On the Rise | 25.3% | Developing 42/100 |
| 14 | Rosedale Elementary Chico Unified Culture First | 19.8% | Developing 40/100 |
| 15 | Little Chico Creek Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 18.4% | Developing 40/100 |
| 16 | Blue Oak Charter Chico Unified On the Rise | 12.4% | Developing 37/100 |
| 17 | Citrus Avenue Elementary Chico Unified On the Rise | 8.3% | Developing 37/100 |
| 18 | Oak Bridge Academy Chico Unified Building Momentum | 7.7% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 19 | Pivot Charter School North Valley II Chico Unified Building Momentum | 4.5% | Needs Support 27/100 |
| 20 | McManus (John A.) Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 5.5% | Needs Support 25/100 |
| 21 | Chapman Elementary Chico Unified Building Momentum | 5.7% | Needs Support 22/100 |
| 22 | Oakdale Chico Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 17/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Chico Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 48.9 — 6.2 points above the state average of 42.6.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +6.8pp — 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 57 and 25.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High Chico Unified Growth Engine | 25.7% | Solid 57/100 |
| 2 | Bidwell Junior High Chico Unified On the Rise | 17.2% | Developing 45/100 |
| 3 | Chico Junior High Chico Unified Growth Engine | 18.1% | Developing 44/100 |
High Schools (4)
Chico Unified has 4 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 47.8 — 4.1 points above the state average of 43.7.
The highest-scoring high school is Inspire School of Arts and Sciences with a Scope Score of 60 and 28.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences Chico Unified Building Momentum | 28.5% | Solid 60/100 |
| 2 | Pleasant Valley High Chico Unified Strong All-Around | 31.9% | Solid 59/100 |
| 3 | Chico High Chico Unified Building Momentum | 30.8% | Solid 59/100 |
| 4 | Fair View High (Continuation) Chico Unified Building Momentum | 0.0% | Needs Support 14/100 |
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.
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