Total enrollment
4,003
+185 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
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).
4-year change in Del Norte County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
+2 (+17%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Del Norte County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In California | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 27.0% | #52 of 55 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,003 | #49 of 55 | #1,531 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #53 of 55 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 20.0:1 | #21 of 55 | #2,578 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 69.1% | #18 of 55 | #779 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 67.6% | #11 of 55 | #201 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Del Norte County school rankings
Residents
27,107
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
16
4 districts
Enrollment
4,003
students · 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
School enrollment
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 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. California state average: 49.4%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Del Norte High· 50.6%
- Redwood Elementary· 49.0%
- Smith River Elementary· 38.2%
- Castle Rock· 29.4%
- Crescent Elk Middle· 29.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- 'O Me-nok Learning Center· 13.0%
- Bess Maxwell Elementary· 13.6%
- Joe Hamilton Elementary· 18.3%
- Pine Grove Elementary· 22.7%
- Mary Peacock Elementary· 28.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Del Norte High | Crescent City | High | 09-12 | 918 | · |
| Crescent Elk Middle | Crescent City | Middle | 06-08 | 507 | · |
| Redwood Elementary | Crescent City | Elementary | KG-08 | 452 | · |
| Castle Rock | Crescent City | Combined | KG-12 | 315 | · |
| Joe Hamilton Elementary | Crescent City | Elementary | KG-05 | 298 | · |
| Uncharted Shores Academy | Crescent City | Combined | KG-09 | 283 | · |
| Pine Grove Elementary | Crescent City | Elementary | KG-05 | 265 | · |
| Smith River Elementary | Smith River | Elementary | KG-08 | 258 | · |
| Mary Peacock Elementary | Crescent City | Elementary | KG-05 | 251 | · |
| Bess Maxwell Elementary | Crescent City | Elementary | KG-05 | 217 | · |
| 'O Me-nok Learning Center | Klamath | Elementary | KG-06 | 86 | · |
| Sunset High | Crescent City | High | 09-12 | 82 | · |
| Mountain Elementary | Gasquet | Elementary | KG-08 | 44 | · |
| Del Norte Community | Crescent City | Combined | KG-12 | 27 | · |
| Del Norte County ROP | Crescent City | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Elk Creek | Crescent City | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Del Norte County
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 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment expanded 5%: 3,818 students in SY 2020-21 versus 4,003 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 12 to 14 across the same 4-year window.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data