Best Public Schools in Chico, CA

Chico has 32 schools: 17 elementary, three middle, seven high and five alternative schools, serving students from elementary grades through high school. In 2025–26, results varied widely among schools, especially at the elementary level: all-grades proficiency ranged from 29% to 65% in ELA, 25% to 64% in math and 22% to 64% in science. The most important takeaway is that a citywide or stage-wide average can hide substantial differences between individual schools.

Several schools stand out, but the leaders differ by stage and subject. Among the comprehensive high schools, Chico High led in ELA at 75% and science at 56%, while Pleasant Valley High led in math at 42%. In middle school, Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High had 45% proficiency in math, compared with 30% at Chico Junior High—a 15-point difference. At the elementary level, Sierra View Elementary led in ELA and math, while Parkview Elementary led in science. Chapman Elementary had the lowest elementary ELA result, and Citrus Avenue Elementary the lowest math and science results.

Across 17 traditional schools with results in both years, mean ELA increased by 1 point from 2024–25 to 2025–26, slightly more than the state’s increase; math rose by less than 1 point and science by 1 point, while state results rose faster in both subjects. SchoolDigger’s statewide percentile ranking for Shasta Elementary rose from 65 to 77 between 2023–24 and 2025–26, while Chico Junior High fell from 71 to 58. Other factors do not form a simple pattern: the reported free/reduced lunch eligible measure for 2024–25 was 46% at Shasta, 78% at McManus (John A.) Elementary and 91% at Chapman, alongside differing school results. Student–teacher ratios also varied, from 18.0 at McManus to 21.2 at Shasta; these figures provide context, not explanations for achievement.