Best High Schools in Zip Code 95540

In zip code 95540, which serves the Fortuna, California area, there are three public high schools collectively serving 956 students in grades 9-12, including one traditional comprehensive high school and two alternative education schools.

The primary school is Fortuna Union High, a large comprehensive high school serving over 800 students within the Fortuna Union High district. It stands out for its very high graduation rate of 96%, which exceeds the state average, though its academic proficiency rates, especially in math at 11%, are below state averages. The two smaller alternative schools, East High (Continuation) and Eel River Community (part of the Humboldt County Office of Education district), serve students with greater needs and have much lower proficiency and graduation rates alongside very high rates of chronic student absenteeism.

Comparing the schools reveals significant differences; the alternative schools receive much higher funding per student than Fortuna Union High but face severe challenges with student attendance and academic achievement. A key finding across all three schools is a major struggle with mathematics proficiency, with rates far below state averages. For parents, this area offers a standard comprehensive high school with a strong record of graduating students, alongside specialized alternative options that serve smaller, high-need populations with intensive support.