Arcata High

Arcata High is an average-sized secondary school in Arcata, California, operated by Northern Humboldt Union High. The school instructs 1,007 students in grades 9 through 12. Enrollment runs roughly 20% above the state mean of about 838.

Across the 5 schools in Northern Humboldt Union High (1,731 students total), Arcata High accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

In terms of who attends, Arcata High records that White students make up the majority at 62%. Beyond that, the school lists 18% Hispanic, 11% multiracial, 3% Native American, 3% Asian. That is considerably less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 72%.

On the resource side, Arcata High lists 53 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 19.0:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 18.2:1, putting Arcata High higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 40% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Humboldt County (around 60%), the school's rate is meaningfully below typical.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Arcata High tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 55.5% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 48.9%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Humboldt County) reports that the typical household earns roughly $61,160 per year, roughly 33% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Humboldt County runs 92 public schools (combined enrollment of about 17,319 students), of which Arcata High is one.

Nearest neighbor: Pacific Coast High (Continuation), around 0.0 miles off. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Arcata High operates from a town-based location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked up 13%: 889 students in 2018 compared to 1,007 in 2025. The White share of enrollment decreased from 70% to 62% over that span. Class-load math has fell: from 20.4:1 in 2018 to 19.0:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, members of the Arcata High community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.