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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 95521

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its California rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

Schools

3,004

Students

Districts

5-star school

Top rankedUnion Street Charter513^th of 5,817 California elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Fuente Nueva Charter up 475 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Redwood Coast Montessori 11.2 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

5★

4★

3★

1★

4 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

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Summary:

Schools in ZIP code 95521 include 12 schools: six elementary, one middle, three high and two alternative schools, serving different grade spans and ranging from 24 students at Pacific Coast High (Continuation) to 1,007 at Arcata High. Results are available for 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, but not for every school in both years. The most important finding for families is that outcomes vary sharply from school to school: in 2024–2025, the gap between the highest and lowest reported results was 55 points in ELA, 78 in math and 68 in science.

Union Street Charter was the clearest standout in 2024–2025, with 85% proficiency in both ELA and math and 100% in science; those results were 37, 48 and 67 points above California, respectively. SchoolDigger also placed it in the 97th percentile and gave it five stars that year. In 2025–2026, the leaders differed by subject: Arcata High led ELA at 62%, Pacific Union Elementary led math at 43%, and Redwood Coast Montessori led science at 51%. At the lower end, Arcata Elementary had the lowest reported results in all three subjects: 23% in ELA, 15% in math and 21% in science—26, 23 and 15 points below state results. Pacific Coast High reported 0% proficiency in 2025–2026 math.

Recent trends are mixed: Arcata Elementary fell 9 points in ELA, 10 in math and 14 in science from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, while Sunny Brae Middle improved by 5, 3 and 14 points, respectively. Context measures do not make a simple performance pattern: Trillium Charter had 63% ELA and 42% math in 2024–2025, alongside 88% free/reduced lunch eligible that school year. School-level results are not available for every school in both years, and school averages are unweighted.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)								Vaccination (2024-25)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Laurel Tree Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2730 Foster Ave	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Laurel Tree Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 683-5708	197	8	25.9	54.3%	145 (73.6%)	2 (1.0%)	16 (8.1%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (14.7%)								(n/a)	28.6	52.6			42.4	35.7	29.4	25.0	21.4	60.0	57.9		38.2	28.6	7.1	20.0	21.4	60.0	66.7		34.7	76%	0%	$15,412	$1,789	$13,623
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%)	55.6	2290^th of 5817 public elementary schools	60.6%		47	2765^th of 5857 public elementary schools	52.8%	475	45.8				45.8	36.8	57.9	70.8					56.5	42.1	21.1	33.3					32.3	≥ 95%		$16,889	$260	$16,629
Redwood Coast Montessori	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1611 Peninsula Dr.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Redwood Coast Montessori District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 832-4194	218	19	11.2	47.7%	134 (61.5%)	1 (0.5%)	28 (12.8%)	4 (1.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (19.7%)								(n/a)	33.3	52.2	50.0		50.9	50.0	23.1	50.0	83.3	63.6	47.8	66.7	55.1	58.3	33.3	16.7	33.3	50.0	47.8		40.0	89%	0%	$16,172	$251	$15,921
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%)	92.4	513^th of 5817 public elementary schools	91.2%		97	156^th of 5857 public elementary schools	97.3%	357	76.5				76.5	62.5	68.8	70.6					67.4	87.5	75.0	76.5					79.6			$14,480	$232	$14,248
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%)	47.8	2730^th of 5817 public elementary schools	53.1%		50.3	2570^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.1%	160	32.0	42.9			35.9	23.8	61.5	52.0	30.0	54.2	50.0		46.2	38.1	46.2	44.0	25.0	29.2	42.9		37.7	79%	0%	$15,422	$495	$14,927
Sunny Brae Middle	Public	6-8	1430 Buttermilk Ln.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Arcata Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-5988	232	13	17.3	54.3%	127 (54.7%)	2 (0.9%)	55 (23.7%)	6 (2.6%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (15.1%)	57.9	979^th of 2740 public middle schools	64.3%		50	1177^th of 2761 public middle schools	57.4%	198		46.5			46.5				57.1	43.3	53.5		51.2				40.6	32.8	32.4		35.2			$21,739	$2,105	$19,634
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%)	15.7	5165^th of 5817 public elementary schools	11.2%		32.9	3738^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.2%	1427	20.7				20.7	29.0	20.5	20.7					23.2	32.3	2.6	13.8					15.2	89%	0%	$25,418	$1,810	$23,608
Arcata High	Public	9-12	1720 M St.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Northern Humboldt Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 825-2400	1,007	53	19.0	40.3%	628 (62.4%)	15 (1.5%)	183 (18.2%)	31 (3.1%)	34 (3.4%)	2 (0.2%)	108 (10.7%)	76.3	488^th of 2135 public high schools	77.1%		82.2	379^th of 2162 public high schools	82.5%	109				47.1	47.1							62.0	62.0							33.3	33.3			$18,234	$3,127	$15,107
Pacific Coast High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1720 M St.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Northern Humboldt Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 822-2443	24	2	10.9	58.3%	13 (54.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (25.0%)	1 (4.2%)	2 (8.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (8.3%)	15.7	1740^th of 2135 public high schools	18.5%		22.5	1638^th of 2162 public high schools	24.2%	102												28.6	28.6							0.0	0.0			$26,845	$2,885	$23,960
Mad River High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1300 Murray Rd.	McKinleyville	95521	Humboldt County	Northern Humboldt Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 839-6480	28	2	13.8	82.1%	14 (50.0%)	1 (3.6%)	5 (17.9%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (17.9%)								(n/a)																								$29,353	$8,137	$21,216
Six Rivers Charter High	Public, Charter	9-12	1720 M St.	Arcata	95521	Humboldt County	Northern Humboldt Union High	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 825-2428	106	5	20.3	—	63 (59.4%)	1 (0.9%)	17 (16.0%)	1 (0.9%)	4 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (18.9%)	65.5	700^th of 2135 public high schools	67.2%		83.3	351^st of 2162 public high schools	83.8%	349			50.0		51.9							57.7	57.7							25.9	25.9			$17,729	$2,804	$14,925
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%)	46.1	2846^th of 5817 public elementary schools	51.1%		52.3	2476^th of 5857 public elementary schools	57.7%	370	32.7	54.0			44.6	25.0	39.1	44.9	57.1	66.7	57.1		48.6	40.0	50.0	30.6	38.8	48.3	46.0		42.5	97%	0%	$14,886	$1,839	$13,047
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)																								$22,140	$1,624	$20,516

Cities Near Zip Code 95521

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Arcata	2.19 mi	21	316^th
McKinleyville	2.35 mi	7	556^th
Blue Lake	4.69 mi	3	560^th
Bayside	5.68 mi	1	69^th
Samoa	9.78 mi	1

See the top CA California cities

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.