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Del Norte County

California · Public K-12

Of the public K-12 schools operating across California, 16 sit inside Del Norte County, collectively enrolling roughly 4,003 students (8 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high).

7-year change in Del Norte County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,003
-150 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
14
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
16
4 districts
Enrollment
4,003
NCES CCD
Median income
$67,058
Below California avg
Free/reduced lunch
69.1%
Above California avg
Elementary
8
1,871 students
Middle
1
507 students
High
4
1,000 students
Combined / other
3
625 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Del Norte County Unified
3,378 students · 4 districts in Del Norte County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Del Norte County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
64%
Hispanic
20%
Black
3%
Asian
3%
Two or more
14%
Native American
6%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
48%
Hispanic
25%
Black
0%
Asian
3%
Two or more
10%
Native American
13%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
21.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.4%
civilian labor
Median age
40
20.9% under 18

Test scores in Del Norte County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. California state average: 47.6%.

See all 11 schools in Del Norte County ranked by score →

All schools (16)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Del Norte HighCrescent CityHigh09-12918·
Crescent Elk MiddleCrescent CityMiddle06-08507·
Redwood ElementaryCrescent CityElementaryKG-08452·
Castle RockCrescent CityCombinedKG-12315·
Joe Hamilton ElementaryCrescent CityElementaryKG-05298·
Uncharted Shores AcademyCrescent CityCombinedKG-09283·
Pine Grove ElementaryCrescent CityElementaryKG-05265·
Smith River ElementarySmith RiverElementaryKG-08258·
Mary Peacock ElementaryCrescent CityElementaryKG-05251·
Bess Maxwell ElementaryCrescent CityElementaryKG-05217·
'O Me-nok Learning CenterKlamathElementaryKG-0686·
Sunset HighCrescent CityHigh09-1282·
Mountain ElementaryGasquetElementaryKG-0844·
Del Norte CommunityCrescent CityCombinedKG-1227·
Del Norte County ROPCrescent CityHigh09-120·
Elk CreekCrescent CityHigh07-120·

Cities in Del Norte County

Crescent City13 schoolsGasquet1 schoolKlamath1 schoolSmith River1 school

About Del Norte County

Across the compact California county of Del Norte County of about 27,107 residents, the public-school footprint covers 16 schools and about 4,003 students.

For perspective, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $67,058, roughly 21% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 25% noticeably below the California median.

On the school-mix side, Del Norte County is built around 8 elementary schools (1,871 students), 1 middle school (507), 4 high schools (1,000), and 3 combined or other schools.

Del Norte County Unified is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,378 students across Del Norte County.

Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 4%: 4,153 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,003 in SY 2024-25.

On this page, the community for Del Norte County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Del Norte County?
Del Norte County, California has 16 public K-12 schools serving approximately 4,003 students.
How many high schools are in Del Norte County?
Del Norte County, California has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 1,000 students.
How many middle schools are in Del Norte County?
Del Norte County, California has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 507 students.
How many elementary schools are in Del Norte County?
Del Norte County, California has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,871 students.
What is the largest school district in Del Norte County?
Del Norte County Unified is the largest school district in Del Norte County, serving approximately 3,378 students. The county contains 4 school districts overall.
What is the population of Del Norte County?
Del Norte County, California has a population of approximately 27,107, with a median age of 40. About 20.9% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Del Norte County?
Median household income in Del Norte County is $67,058, below the California average of $89,387. About 8.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Del Norte County?
Approximately 21.4% of adults 25 and older in Del Norte County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Del Norte County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 69.1% of students in Del Norte County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the California county average of 60.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Del Norte County schools?
Across Del Norte County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 20.3 to 1.

Del Norte County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data