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Pacific Union Elementary

Q: Is Pacific Union Elementary a good school?

Pacific Union Elementary ranks 2476 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

2476^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 58% of California elementary schools

Summary

Pacific Union Elementary is a K-8 public school serving 534 students in Arcata, California, offering a consistent educational experience within a higher-performing district.

The school stands out for its stable, above-average academic performance, especially in the middle school grades where students often exceed state averages in English and Math. This is notable because Pacific Union achieves these results while serving a student population with greater economic needs than some neighbors and doing so with lower per-student spending than comparable schools like Dow's Prairie Elementary or Blue Lake Union Elementary. While not at the exceptional performance level of nearby schools like Jacoby Creek or Union Street Charter, it consistently outperforms other schools with similar demographics, such as Arcata Elementary.

Areas for growth include addressing a chronic absenteeism rate that is above the state average and strengthening performance in the lower elementary grades, where proficiency scores are currently below state benchmarks. The school also shows an opportunity to boost science scores, which are above average but trail its own performance in other subjects. Overall, Pacific Union provides a solid, reliably managed education within the supportive Pacific Union Elementary district framework.

534

Students ?

18.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,783

Per pupil spending ?

54.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3001 Janes Rd.
Arcata, CA 95521-4701

(707) 822-4619

District: Pacific Union Elementary

Students who attend Pacific Union Elementary usually attend:

High:

Arcata High

Racial breakdown:

White:

48.9%

Hispanic:

27.3%

Two or more races:

13.3%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Pacific Union Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 54th percentile in 2015 → 58th in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the California median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school44%

District avg44%

California avg41%

Elementary school

2,476^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 42%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From top 46% (2015) to top 42% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

694^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 25%▲ up 6 pts since 2015

From top 31% (2015) to top 25% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

446^th of 1,543Pacific Union Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	52.3	2476 of 5857	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.0	2398 of 5869	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.1	2383 of 5859	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.6	2050 of 5883	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.9	473 of 1417	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.3	2688 of 5789	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.9	2836 of 5662	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.2	2700 of 5692	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	45.5	2748 of 5614	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2015	47.8	2576 of 5611	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2013	45.0	3009 of 5530	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	43.8	3017 of 5390	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	42.4	3057 of 5377	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	41.8	3065 of 5314	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2009	45.9	2714 of 5193	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	43.6	2748 of 5113	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	52.9	2166 of 5113	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2006	64.0	1588 of 4818	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	60.8	1710 of 4822	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2004	66.5	1427 of 4809	70.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	45.5	1473 of 3275	55.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	2483 of 5597	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.2	2403 of 5612	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.5	2431 of 5609	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.5	1841 of 5635	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.5	407 of 1267	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.7	2352 of 5492	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.0	3153 of 5413	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.8	2514 of 5107	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.8	2487 of 5107	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.3	2880 of 5087	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	58.3	1723 of 5084	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	20.6	4327 of 4963	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.6	4068 of 4830	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	2457 of 5460	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.2	2102 of 5517	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.6	2254 of 5363	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.9	1981 of 5264	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.5	447 of 1110	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.4	2942 of 5173	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.0	3243 of 5084	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.4	2269 of 5628	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.7	2280 of 5643	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.2	2213 of 5638	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.9	2243 of 5663	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.4	455 of 1272	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.9	2980 of 5510	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.7	2404 of 5431	55.7%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	23.7	1979 of 2420	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.6	1831 of 2598	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.6	1973 of 2651	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	37.6	1780 of 2661	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.0	1742 of 2726	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.0	1883 of 2834	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.5	1833 of 2737	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.1	694 of 2761	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	73.2	627 of 2783	77.5%	★★★★☆
2023	62.1	842 of 2781	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.9	1083 of 2740	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.7	285 of 894	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.7	825 of 2715	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.4	907 of 2480	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	67.7	720 of 2508	71.3%	★★★★☆
2016	64.4	768 of 2497	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	65.1	762 of 2477	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	44.9	1293 of 2379	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	65.0	705 of 2259	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	54.3	981 of 2236	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	64.6	666 of 2179	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	55.5	844 of 2063	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	66.5	550 of 2005	72.6%	★★★★☆
2007	65.7	577 of 1999	71.1%	★★★★☆
2006	76.7	345 of 1804	80.9%	★★★★☆
2005	66.0	504 of 1777	71.6%	★★★★☆
2004	67.6	472 of 1769	73.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.7	643 of 2533	74.6%	★★★★☆
2024	74.6	556 of 2551	78.2%	★★★★☆
2023	57.9	870 of 2531	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.0	839 of 2509	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.3	241 of 738	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.4	947 of 2380	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.7	1008 of 2262	55.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	80.6	311 of 2395	87.0%	★★★★☆
2024	62.7	670 of 2388	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	53.6	880 of 2374	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.0	1707 of 2359	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	44.9	1100 of 2213	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.3	847 of 2072	59.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.6	794 of 2542	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	74.3	446 of 2579	82.7%	★★★★☆
2023	51.2	985 of 2531	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.5	1180 of 2458	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.2	242 of 721	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.9	636 of 2369	73.2%	★★★★☆
2018	51.4	929 of 2230	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.2	748 of 2534	70.5%	★★★★☆
2024	67.3	682 of 2552	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	62.9	751 of 2538	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	45.7	1169 of 2527	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.8	243 of 763	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.5	655 of 2407	72.8%	★★★★☆
2018	62.8	720 of 2273	68.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	52.2	721 of 1520	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.9	553 of 1537	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.7	660 of 1543	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.9	635 of 1555	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.6	678 of 1602	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	50.5	736 of 1496	50.8%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Male (2025)60th percentile~ school

Female (2025)56th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2019)55th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)55th percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)51st percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)30th percentile-28 vs school

Special Education (2023)18th percentile-41 vs school

Middle school

Hispanic (2025)87th percentile+12 vs school

Female (2025)75th percentile~ school

Male (2025)70th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)69th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)53rd percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy49%~ state avg

Science40%+7 vs state

Mathematics39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Pacific Union Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pacific Union Elementary	Public	K-8	3001 Janes Rd.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Pacific Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-4619	534	29	18.4	54.9%	261 (48.9%)	11 (2.1%)	146 (27.3%)	8 (1.5%)	35 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (13.3%)	52.3	2476^th of 5857 public elementary schools	57.7%		53	2398^th of 5869 public elementary schools	59.1%	78	40.4	39.6	40.0	31.1	41.2	44.7	58.1	57.6	54.7	49.1	42.2	29.4	27.7	59.7	39.4	32.1	39.2							$14,783	$1,942	$12,841
Trillium Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	1464 Spear Ave.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Trillium Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-4721	40	3	13.2	87.5%	23 (57.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (5.0%)								(n/a)										63.2							42.1							$19,571	$3,680	$15,891
Arcata Elementary	Public	K-5	2400 Baldwin St.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Arcata Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-4858	240	15	16.0	78.8%	110 (45.8%)	9 (3.8%)	57 (23.8%)	9 (3.8%)	13 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (17.1%)	32.9	3738^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.2%		32.6	3726^th of 5869 public elementary schools	36.5%	12	35.0		35.0	18.0	25.0	52.5				32.4	20.5	15.6	37.5				25.2	94.3						$24,176	$5,622	$18,554
Fuente Nueva Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	1730 Janes Rd.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Fuente Nueva Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-3348	150	8	18.7	45.3%	55 (36.7%)	1 (0.7%)	66 (44.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (17.3%)	47	2765^th of 5857 public elementary schools	52.8%		54.7	2302^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	60.8%	463	42.9		42.9	25.0	30.4	61.9				40.0	25.0	39.1	42.9				36.7	79.2		87.5		91.7		$17,389	$450	$16,939
Coastal Grove Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	1897 S St.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Coastal Grove Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 825-8804	235	16	14.8	60.9%	181 (77.0%)	5 (2.1%)	19 (8.1%)	2 (0.9%)	7 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	18 (7.7%)	50.3	2570^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.1%		59.8	2072^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	64.7%	498	40.9	31.8	36.4	24.0	50.0	63.6	45.5	56.3	86.4	53.4	32.0	70.8	22.7	27.3	62.5	50.0	43.5	30.8	69.2	76.9	80.8	80.8	84.6	$16,765	$550	$16,215
Union Street Charter	Public, Charter	K-5	470 Union St.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Union Street Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-4845	99	6	16.3	44.4%	69 (69.7%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (15.2%)	1 (1.0%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (12.1%)	97	156^th of 5857 public elementary schools	97.3%		98.4	57^th of 5869 public elementary schools	99.0%	99	100.0		100.0	70.6	88.2	100.0				85.4	76.5	88.2	92.9				85.4							$13,620	$404	$13,216
Jacoby Creek	Public	K-8	1617 Old Arcata Rd.	Bayside	95524	Humboldt County	Jacoby Creek Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-4896	455	22	20.5	34.9%	330 (72.5%)	2 (0.4%)	47 (10.3%)	9 (2.0%)	6 (1.3%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (13.2%)	87.9	785^th of 5857 public elementary schools	86.6%		91.4	614^th of 5869 public elementary schools	89.5%	171	64.0	57.7	60.8	67.4	79.6	70.0	70.6	83.0	82.7	75.4	59.2	67.4	50.0	76.5	70.2	69.2	65.4	94.9	96.6		96.6	96.6		$13,732	$1,104	$12,628
Morris Elementary	Public	3-5	2395 McKinleyville Ave.	McKinleyville	95519	Humboldt County	McKinleyville Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 839-1529	255	9	28.3	57.3%	138 (54.1%)	2 (0.8%)	44 (17.3%)	4 (1.6%)	21 (8.2%)	1 (0.4%)	44 (17.3%)	46.2	2816^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.9%		43.7	2947^th of 5869 public elementary schools	49.8%	131	45.6		45.6	34.3	40.6	52.2				43.1	37.3	32.3	28.9				32.4							$16,777	$1,914	$14,863
Fieldbrook Elementary	Public	K-8	4070 Fieldbrook Rd.	McKinleyville	95519	Humboldt County	Fieldbrook Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 839-3201	90	6	15.0	38.9%	68 (75.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (8.9%)	2 (2.2%)	5 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (7.8%)	41.6	3102^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	47.0%		66.5	1751^st of 5869 public elementary schools	70.2%	1351			21.4	35.7	66.7		33.3			45.9	35.7	25.0		33.3			34.4							$15,885	$1,405	$14,480
Blue Lake Union Elementary	Public	K-8	631 Greenwood Ave.	Blue Lake	95525	Humboldt County	Blue Lake Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 668-5674	153	12	13.0	62.1%	92 (60.1%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (15.7%)	2 (1.3%)	8 (5.2%)	1 (0.7%)	26 (17.0%)	34.1	3644^th of 5857 public elementary schools	37.8%		25.2	4349^th of 5869 public elementary schools	25.9%	705	27.3	11.8	20.5	36.8	30.8	31.8	30.0	45.5	29.4	33.3	52.6	46.2	22.7	15.0	27.3	11.8	28.4	90.5						$21,492	$3,925	$17,567

Frequently Asked Questions about Pacific Union Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Pacific Union Elementary?

Students at Pacific Union Elementary are 49% White, 27% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 7% American Indian, 2% African American, 1% Asian.

Is Pacific Union Elementary a good school?

Pacific Union Elementary ranks 2476^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pacific Union Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 534 students attended Pacific Union Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Pacific Union Elementary attend?

Students who attend Pacific Union Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Arcata High

What district is Pacific Union Elementary in?

Pacific Union Elementary

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.