School district · Contra Costa County

West Contra Costa Unified schools

West Contra Costa Unified has public schools at every stage: 42 of the 5,726 California elementary schools we score, 15 of 2,529 middle and 11 of 1,498 high. Every stage has schools in all four bands, Strong to Needs Support (spring 2026 tests; high schools, spring 2025).

Elementary · 42 schools

from bottom 1% to 92nd · among 5,726 California elementary schools we score · spring 2026 tests

24Needs Support
7Developing
6Solid
5Strong

Each column counts the schools in one five-percentile step; the number above it is that count.

Middle and high school pictures

Middle · 15 schools

from bottom 1% to 80th · among 2,529 California middle schools we score · spring 2026 tests

  • West County Mandarin: 80th percentile, Strong
  • Hercules Middle: 64th percentile, Solid
  • Fred T. Korematsu Middle: 59th percentile, Solid
  • Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy: 51st percentile, Solid
  • Stewart Elementary: 44th percentile, Developing
  • Mira Vista Elementary: 44th percentile, Developing
  • Richmond College Preparatory: 42nd percentile, Developing
  • Montalvin Manor Elementary: 39th percentile, Developing
  • Betty Reid Soskin Middle: 12th percentile, Needs Support
  • Voices College-Bound Language Academy at West Contra Costa County: 9th percentile, Needs Support
  • Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy: 9th percentile, Needs Support
  • Verde Elementary: 5th percentile, Needs Support
  • Lovonya DeJean Middle: 1st percentile, Needs Support
  • Helms Middle: 1st percentile, Needs Support
  • Peres Elementary: bottom 1%, Needs Support
7Needs Support
4Developing
3Solid
1Strong

High · 11 schools

from bottom 1% to 95th · among 1,498 California high schools we score · spring 2025 tests

  • Middle College High: 95th percentile, Strong
  • Hercules High: 68th percentile, Solid
  • Leadership Public Schools: Richmond: 62nd percentile, Solid
  • Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy: 55th percentile, Solid
  • El Cerrito High: 43rd percentile, Developing
  • Summit Public School: Tamalpais: 38th percentile, Developing
  • Pinole Valley High: 32nd percentile, Developing
  • De Anza High: 12th percentile, Needs Support
  • Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy: 4th percentile, Needs Support
  • Richmond High: 2nd percentile, Needs Support
  • John F. Kennedy High: bottom 1%, Needs Support
4Needs Support
3Developing
3Solid
1Strong

Each column counts the schools in one five-percentile step; the number above it is that count. One dot per school. Each stage is placed only among California schools at its own level. 10 of the 57 ranked schools teach more than one level, 1 of them all three, so they appear in more than one picture.

  • 57 ranked schools
  • 2 schools not ranked statewide

Schools around West Contra Costa Unified

59 listed public schools with mapped locations.

Open full map →

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Percentile among California schools at the same level

  • Strong75th+
  • Solid50–74th
  • Developing25–49th
  • Needs Supportbelow 25th
  • Not scored

The school lists on this page are also available without the map.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in West Contra Costa Unified score highest?

Madera Elementary is highest, at the 92nd percentile.

That’s higher than 92 in 100 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in West Contra Costa Unified

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean

Show the other 39 elementary schools
Context

The average elementary school in West Contra Costa Unified had 37 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once.

1 elementary school not ranked statewide
  • Harbour Way Elementary Community DayCommunity day school: students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral, including after an expulsion, so we don’t rank it

Middle schools

Which middle schools in West Contra Costa Unified score highest?

West County Mandarin is highest, at the 80th percentile.

That’s higher than 80 in 100 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests).

Highest in West Contra Costa Unified

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Show the other 12 middle schools
Context

The average middle school in West Contra Costa Unified had 32 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.

High schools

Which high schools in West Contra Costa Unified score highest?

Middle College High is highest, at the 95th percentile.

That’s higher than 95 in 100 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests).

Highest in West Contra Costa Unified

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level. What patterns mean

Show the other 8 high schools
Context

The average high school in West Contra Costa Unified had 30 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100.

1 high school not ranked statewide
  • Greenwood AcademyContinuation high school: compared only with other continuation schools

The district

Where does West Contra Costa Unified’s money go, and what does it plan?

West Contra Costa Unified spent $22,102 per student in the 2024–25 school year.

That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 55 cents of every West Contra Costa Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.

Spending by function

Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education. District-wide: it includes central administration and costs never assigned to one campus.

Share by function, 2024–25

  • Instruction55%
  • Instruction support12%
  • Student services11%
  • Administration7%
  • Buildings & maintenance10%
  • Other5%

Shares of the same spending total, by the report’s spending categories, rounded so they add up to 100. Names are simplified from the report’s own categories.

What the district plans

$87.0 million

planned in its 2026–27 plan for 20 funded actions in 8 goals. That’s 17% of its $520.3 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the district reports what it spent in a later plan.

The plan in short

Source: the district’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 291 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 52% of the money. The plan itself puts 91% of it toward staff.

  • Employee Recruitment & Retention $21.2 million
  • Positive School Culture & Climate $13.9 million
  • Elementary School Support $10.6 million
  • 17 other actions
Reading, math and catch-up help

1 of the plan’s 20 funded actions names reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in its title.

Actions whose titles name catch-up help
  • Catch-up help $4.6 million

Largest of these

  • Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS)$4.6 million
For high-need students (English learners, low-income students and foster youth), what changed and what its goals measure
For high-need students

It plans $66.7 million in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $65.5 million and estimates it spent $65.8 million, within 1% of the plan.

What changed

The total is $923,765 (1%) lower than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is Professional Development & Collaboration, which went from $2.3 million to $532,966.

Largest cuts

  • Professional Development & Collaboration−⁠$1.7 million
  • Allocations to Schools−⁠$1.5 million
  • Supplemental Instructional Program−⁠$237,298

Largest increases

  • Evaluation & Program Monitoring+⁠$907,337
  • Secondary School Support+⁠$740,337
  • Elementary School Support+⁠$704,273

Ask: What did Professional Development & Collaboration pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $1.7 million less?

What its goals measure

Read these state results for the district’s own schools as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.

What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure2024–252025–26Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 2, 3 and 533%34%up 1 pt
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 2, 3 and 526%28%up 2 pts
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolGoals 1 and 528 in 10037 in 1009 more in 100
Suspended at least onceGoals 1 and 54.5%3.8%down 0.7 pts
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Students with disabilities · Goal 4 · Students with Disabilities8%10%up 2 pts
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Students with disabilities · Goal 4 · Students with Disabilities5%6%up 1 pt
Chronically absentCounted across all the district’s students, not averaged by schoolStudents with disabilities · Goal 4 · Students with Disabilities40 in 10049 in 1009 more in 100
Suspended at least onceStudents with disabilities · Goal 4 · Students with Disabilities7.1%6.0%down 1.1 pts

Goals 6, 7 and 8 aren’t shown because they track named schools.

Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the district tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. We combined the district’s schools ourselves, weighted by students and leaving out charter schools. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.

The plan’s own titles and amounts
  • Employee Recruitment & Retention · $21,151,581
  • Positive School Culture & Climate · $13,863,667
  • Elementary School Support · $10,557,998
The full plan8 goals, 97 measures and where the money goes

We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($87.0 million).

Where does the money go?

35% to Goal 3, Relentless Attention to Achievement. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.

G1
G2
G3
G4
G5

Change since the 2025–26 plan, same title

  • fell 25% or more
  • fell 10–25%
  • fell 2–10%
  • within 2%
  • grew 2–10%
  • grew 10–25%
  • grew 25% or more
  • new or renamed title
  • not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1Authentic Engagement$20.3 million23% of action budgets

“Build authentic, engaging learning communities by providing students access to enrichment, emotional support, and intentionally collaborating with educational partners” p. 19 ↗

3 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $20.2 million (+⁠$58,565)

Largest funded actions

  1. Positive School Culture & Climate$13.9 millionaction 1.1 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $8.3 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Parent Engagement & Volunteer Outreach$3.4 millionaction 1.2 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $648,523 is state funding counted toward those services
  3. Whole Child Education$3.0 millionaction 1.3 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Positive School Culture & Climate+⁠$0.3 million$13.6 million → $13.9 million · p. 250 ↗
  2. Parent Engagement & Volunteer Outreach−⁠$0.2 million$3.5 million → $3.4 million · p. 250 ↗
  3. Whole Child Education−⁠$41,068$3.1 million → $3.0 million · p. 250 ↗

How the plan measures it · 16 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 19 ↗.

Goal 2Universal Systems & Accessible Support$27.7 million32% of action budgets

“Ensure each student is provided with high quality educators to foster anti-racist, inclusive, and accessible learning environments” p. 61 ↗

2 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $27.3 million (+⁠$328,815)

Largest funded actions

  1. Employee Recruitment & Retention$21.2 millionaction 2.2 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  2. Additional Staff for Identified schools with high % UPC$6.5 millionaction 2.1 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Employee Recruitment & Retention+⁠$0.2 million$20.9 million → $21.2 million · p. 250 ↗
  2. Additional Staff for Identified schools with high % UPC+⁠$0.1 million$6.4 million → $6.5 million · p. 250 ↗

How the plan measures it · 10 measures · 2 quoted

  • Teacher Retention p. 62 ↗
    Baseline
    2022-2023 66%
    Target for year 3
    80% of teachers will be retained year-to-year
  • Maintain 100% of students with access to standards aligned materials (per Williams’ certification) B - Basic Services p. 66 ↗
    Baseline
    100% of students will have access in 2022- 2023
    Target for year 3
    100% of students will have access

8 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 3Relentless Attention to Achievement$30.9 million35% of action budgets

“Empower each student to graduate with the essential skills to be college and career ready in a multilingual, technology-driven world” p. 78 ↗

7 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $32.1 million (−⁠$1.3 million)

Largest funded actions

  1. Elementary School Support$10.6 millionaction 3.2 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $7.0 million is state funding counted toward those services
  2. Secondary School Support$7.9 millionaction 3.3 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
  3. Allocations to Schools$6.8 millionaction 3.1 · p. 250 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.3 million is state funding counted toward those services
  4. Evaluation & Program Monitoring$2.6 millionaction 3.6 · p. 251 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.0 million is state funding counted toward those services
  5. Supplemental Instructional Program$2.1 millionaction 3.4 · p. 251 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.5 million is state funding counted toward those services

2 more funded actions in this goal

  • Professional Development & Collaboration · action 3.7 · p. 251 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$0.5 million
  • Multilingual Program Support · action 3.5 · p. 251 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $275,000 is state funding counted toward those services$0.3 million

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Professional Development & Collaboration−⁠$1.7 million$2.3 million → $0.5 million · p. 251 ↗
  2. Allocations to Schools−⁠$1.5 million$8.3 million → $6.8 million · p. 250 ↗
  3. Evaluation & Program Monitoring+⁠$0.9 million$1.7 million → $2.6 million · p. 251 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Elementary School Support · $9.9 million → $10.6 million · p. 250 ↗+⁠$0.7 million
  • Secondary School Support · $7.2 million → $7.9 million · p. 250 ↗+⁠$0.7 million
  • Supplemental Instructional Program · $2.4 million → $2.1 million · p. 251 ↗−⁠$0.2 million
  • Multilingual Program Support · $486,712 → $341,000 · p. 251 ↗−⁠$145,712

How the plan measures it · 24 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 78 ↗.

Goal 4Students with Disabilities$4.6 million5% of action budgets

“Accelerate academic growth for students with disabilities by providing adaptive resources to supplement programming and accelerate academic growth” p. 132 ↗

1 funded action · 2025–26 plan: $3.9 million (+⁠$681,512)

Largest funded actions

  1. Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS)$4.6 millionaction 4.1 · p. 251 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS)+⁠$0.7 million$3.9 million → $4.6 million · p. 251 ↗

How the plan measures it · 12 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 132 ↗.

Goal 5Targeted Intervention & Support$3.2 million4% of action budgets

“Accelerate academic growth and reduce disproportionate outcomes for focal student groups including: Foster Youth, Homeless, English Language Learners, and Socio-economically Disadvantaged, African American, and Latinx (reported as Hispanic) students” p. 152 ↗

2 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $3.2 million (+⁠$60,407)

Largest funded actions

  1. English Language Learner Support$1.9 millionaction 5.1 · p. 251 ↗
  2. African American Student Support$1.3 millionaction 5.2 · p. 251 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $300,000 is state funding counted toward those services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. English Language Learner Support+⁠$0.1 million$1.9 million → $1.9 million · p. 251 ↗
  2. African American Student Support−⁠$4,113$1.3 million → $1.3 million · p. 251 ↗

How the plan measures it · 17 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 152 ↗.

Goal 6 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalLCFF Equity Multiplier$00% of action budgets

“Lincoln Elementary School: By June 2025, Lincoln Elementary school will increase average distance from standard on the academic indicators as measured by the smarter balanced/​SBAC state assessments, 3rd-8th grade, in English Language Arts/​Literacy and mathematics by 5.0 points or more” p. 184 ↗

No funded actions in this plan · 2025–26 plan: $403,792 (−⁠$403,792)

How the plan measures it · 6 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 184 ↗.

Goal 7 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalLCFF Equity Multiplier$353,629under 1% of action budgets

“Greenwood Academy: By June 2027, Greenwood Academy will reach a graduation rate of 91%” p. 192 ↗

5 funded actions · reworded since the 2025–26 plan

Largest funded actions

  1. Assistant Principal$190,000action 7.1 · p. 252 ↗
  2. Materials & Supplies$93,341action 7.5 · p. 252 ↗
  3. Classified Extra Hours$45,000action 7.2 · p. 252 ↗
  4. Study Trips$20,000action 7.3 · p. 252 ↗
  5. Professional Conferences$5,288action 7.4 · p. 252 ↗

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

  1. Study Trips+⁠$15,000$5,000 → $20,000 · p. 252 ↗
  2. Professional Conferences+⁠$288$5,000 → $5,288 · p. 252 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

  • Assistant Principal · $190,000 · p. 252 ↗new or renamed
  • Materials & Supplies · $93,341 · p. 252 ↗new or renamed
  • Classified Extra Hours · $45,000 · p. 252 ↗new or renamed

A reworded title counts as new.

How the plan measures it · 6 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 192 ↗.

Goal 8 · Equity Multiplier Focus GoalBy June 2026, Stege Elementary school will increase average distance from standard on the academic indicators…$00% of action budgets

“By June 2026, Stege Elementary school will increase average distance from standard on the academic indicators as measured by the Smarter Balanced/​SBAC state assessments in English Language Arts & Mathematics by 5 points or more” p. 207 ↗

No funded actions in this plan · 2025–26 plan: $291,289 (−⁠$291,289)

How the plan measures it · 6 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 207 ↗.

All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.

Who goes to the district’s schools
Who attends

Student mix

2024–25 · October enrollment count, 29,284 students
1. Hispanic or Latino: 59%2. Black or African American: 11%3. Asian: 10%4. White: 9%5. Two or more races: 6%6. Filipino: 4%7. Pacific Islander: <1%8. Not reported: <1%9. American Indian or Alaska Native: <1%Student mix2024–25
  1. Hispanic or Latino59%
  2. Black or African American11%
  3. Asian10%
  4. White9%
  5. Two or more races6%
  6. Filipino4%
  7. Pacific Islander<1%
  8. Not reported<1%
  9. American Indian or Alaska Native<1%
Shares use the district's own October enrollment counts from the CDE, including its charter schools.

Free or reduced-price meals

67%

Across California, 63% of students qualify.

2024–25 · 19,407 of 29,173 students qualify, summed from the CDE’s meal counts for every school it lists under the district, charters included. It comes from a different CDE file than the student mix, so the two totals differ.

The district’s state records

Is the state giving the district extra help?

The state is giving West Contra Costa Unified extra help in 2026. A student group had the Dashboard’s lowest results (red) on two or more measures three years in a row.

It also qualified the year before.

Which students, on which measures

Long-term English learners
English and English learner progress

How English learners moved up on the state’s English test

From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 37% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (2,057 of 5,590 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent.

13 schools getting state support, 2025–26

5 in extra targeted support · 8 in targeted support

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26.

Sources: District help (CDE) ↗ · English learner progress (CDE) ↗ · School support (CDE) ↗. State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Cities in the district

More places (9)

Districts nearby

Common questions

Which public schools in West Contra Costa Unified rank highest?

Elementary: Madera Elementary, 92nd percentile (Strong). Middle: West County Mandarin, 80th percentile (Strong). High: Middle College High, 95th percentile (Strong). Each percentile is among the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

Does living in the West Contra Costa Unified district decide which school my child attends?

Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
More questions (5)

Are the public schools in West Contra Costa Unified good?

West Contra Costa Unified’s 42 public elementary schools run from the bottom 1% to the 92nd percentile among the 5,726 California elementary schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 5 Strong, 6 Solid, 7 Developing and 24 Needs Support. West Contra Costa Unified’s 15 public middle schools run from the bottom 1% to the 80th percentile among the 2,529 California middle schools we score (spring 2026 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 3 Solid, 4 Developing and 7 Needs Support. West Contra Costa Unified’s 11 public high schools run from the bottom 1% to the 95th percentile among the 1,498 California high schools we score (spring 2025 tests). By band: 1 Strong, 3 Solid, 3 Developing and 4 Needs Support. A percentile compares a school with California public schools at the same level that we score. How we score schools.

How does chronic absence in West Contra Costa Unified compare with California?

The average elementary school in West Contra Costa Unified had 37 in 100 students chronically absent (missed 10% or more of school days) in 2025–26; the average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Both are averages of school rates, each school counted once. The average middle school in West Contra Costa Unified had 32 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California middle school we score had 18 in 100. The average high school in West Contra Costa Unified had 30 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26; the average California high school we score had 22 in 100. These are averages of school rates: each school counts once, whatever its size.

How much does West Contra Costa Unified spend per student?

West Contra Costa Unified spent $22,102 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 55 cents of every West Contra Costa Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.

What is in West Contra Costa Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $87.0 million into 20 funded actions in 8 goals, 17% of its $520.3 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $30.9 million, 35% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.

Where do these results come from?

California’s state tests (CAASPP): spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools, spring 2025 for high schools, and chronic-absence rates for 2025–26, published by the California Department of Education. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by West Contra Costa Unified, with the district’s spending and state accountability records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

View CDE data ↗ (opens in a new tab)How Scope Scores work →

Download these schools (CSV)Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.