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Humboldt County

California · Public K-12

Humboldt County, California reports 92 public K-12 schools to NCES, set against a county population of about 134,541, with a mix of 49 elementary, 10 middle, and 24 high.

7-year change in Humboldt County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
17,175
-1,265 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
88
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
92
46 districts
Enrollment
17,319
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,160
Below California avg
Free/reduced lunch
60.4%
Below California avg
Elementary
49
8,443 students
Middle
10
2,199 students
High
24
5,063 students
Combined / other
9
1,614 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Eureka City Schools
3,462 students · 46 districts in Humboldt County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Humboldt 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
72%
Hispanic
14%
Black
2%
Asian
3%
Two or more
13%
Native American
4%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
53%
Hispanic
22%
Black
1%
Asian
3%
Two or more
12%
Native American
9%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
33.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
9.0%
civilian labor
Median age
40
18.8% under 18

Test scores in Humboldt County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 45 schools ranked. California state average: 47.6%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. Garfield Elementary· 77.1%
  2. Jacoby Creek· 75.4%
  3. Arcata High· 60.9%
  4. Fieldbrook Elementary· 58.1%
  5. Eureka Senior High· 54.2%

See all 45 schools in Humboldt County ranked by score →

All schools (92)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Eureka Senior HighEurekaHigh09-121,162·
Arcata HighArcataHigh09-121,007·
Fortuna Union HighFortunaHigh09-12826·
McKinleyville HighMckinleyvilleHigh09-12566·
Pacific Union ElementaryArcataElementaryKG-08534·
Alder Grove Charter School 2EurekaCombinedKG-12481·
Jacoby CreekBaysideElementaryKG-08455·
Washington ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-05426·
Catherine L. Zane MiddleEurekaMiddle06-08417·
Winship MiddleEurekaMiddle06-08413·
Alice Birney ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-05375·
Hoopa Valley ElementaryHoopaElementaryKG-08363·
Ferndale ElementaryFerndaleElementaryKG-08338·
Northern United - Humboldt CharterEurekaCombinedKG-12330·
Lafayette ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-05324·
McKinleyville MiddleMckinleyvilleMiddle06-08302·
Cutten ElementaryEurekaElementary03-06288·
Dow's Prairie ElementaryMckinleyvilleElementaryKG-02283·
Freshwater ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-06283·
Norman G. Ambrosini ElementaryFortunaElementaryKG-04282·
Grant ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-05278·
Redway ElementaryRedwayElementaryKG-06272·
Hoopa Valley HighHoopaHigh09-12265·
Ridgewood ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-02260·
Linell K. Walker ElementaryFortunaElementaryKG-04256·
Morris ElementaryMckinleyvilleElementary03-05255·
Arcata ElementaryArcataElementaryKG-05240·
Redwood Preparatory CharterFortunaElementaryKG-08236·
Coastal Grove CharterArcataElementaryKG-08235·
Toddy Thomas MiddleFortunaMiddle05-08233·
Sunny Brae MiddleArcataMiddle06-08232·
Fortuna MiddleFortunaMiddle07-08231·
Eagle Prairie ElementaryRio DellElementaryKG-05223·
Hydesville ElementaryHydesvilleElementaryKG-08220·
Redwood Coast MontessoriManilaCombinedKG-12218·
South Fork HighMirandaHigh09-12211·
Trinity Valley ElementaryWillow CreekElementaryKG-08200·
Laurel Tree CharterArcataCombinedKG-12197·
Pine Hill ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-03189·
Stanwood A. Murphy ElementaryScotiaElementaryKG-08187·
Trinidad UnionTrinidadElementaryKG-08161·
Cuddeback ElementaryCarlottaElementaryKG-08157·
Academy of the RedwoodsEurekaHigh09-12154·
Blue Lake Union ElementaryBlue LakeElementaryKG-08153·
Pacific View Charter 2.0EurekaCombinedKG-12152·
Fuente Nueva CharterArcataElementaryKG-05150·
Ferndale HighFerndaleHigh09-12145·
South Bay ElementaryEurekaMiddle04-06141·
Glen PaulEurekaCombinedKG-12128·
Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts AcademyArcataHigh06-12118·
Six Rivers Charter HighArcataHigh09-12113·
Six Rivers Charter HighArcataHigh09-12106·
Union Street CharterArcataElementaryKG-0599·
Agnes J. Johnson CharterWeottCombinedKG-1291·
Monument MiddleRio DellMiddle06-0891·
Fieldbrook ElementaryMckinleyvilleElementaryKG-0890·
Miranda Junior HighMirandaMiddle07-0888·
Loleta ElementaryLoletaElementaryKG-0882·
Garfield ElementaryEurekaElementaryKG-0673·
Eureka CommunityEurekaHigh07-1270·
Zoe Barnum HighEurekaHigh10-1267·
East High (Continuation)FortunaHigh10-1266·
Peninsula UnionSamoaElementaryKG-0866·
Eel River CommunityFortunaHigh07-1264·
Orleans ElementaryOrleansElementaryKG-0862·
Freshwater Charter MiddleEurekaMiddle07-0851·
South Bay CharterEurekaElementaryKG-0844·
Trillium CharterArcataElementaryKG-0540·
Bridgeville ElementaryBridgevilleElementaryKG-0839·
Casterlin ElementaryBlocksburgElementaryKG-0839·
Trillium CharterArcataElementaryKG-0534·
Mad River High (Continuation)MckinleyvilleHigh09-1228·
Arcata Educational Resource CenterArcataHigh07-1227·
Mattole ElementaryPetroliaElementaryKG-0827·
Captain John Continuation HighHoopaHigh09-1225·
Kneeland ElementaryKneelandElementaryKG-0824·
Pacific Coast High (Continuation)ArcataHigh09-1224·
Weitchpec ElementaryHoopaElementaryKG-0324·
Whitethorn ElementaryWhitethornElementaryKG-0616·
Big Lagoon ElementaryTrinidadElementaryKG-0815·
Honeydew ElementaryHoneydewElementaryKG-0813·
Jack Norton ElementaryHoopaElementaryKG-0812·
Maple Creek ElementaryKorbelElementaryKG-0810·
Humboldt County Office of Education Juvenile Hall CourtEurekaCombinedKG-129·
Osprey Learning CenterRedwayHigh09-129·
Orick ElementaryOrickElementaryKG-088·
Osprey Learning Center (Alternative)RedwayCombinedKG-128·
Casterlin HighBlocksburgHigh09-124·
Southern Humboldt CommunityGarbervilleHigh07-124·
Green Point ElementaryBlue LakeElementaryKG-083·
Mattole Triple Junction HighPetroliaHigh09-122·
Humboldt County ROPEurekaHigh10-120·

Cities in Humboldt County

Eureka24 schoolsArcata15 schoolsFortuna8 schoolsMckinleyville6 schoolsHoopa5 schoolsRedway3 schoolsBlocksburg2 schoolsBlue Lake2 schoolsFerndale2 schoolsMiranda2 schoolsPetrolia2 schoolsRio Dell2 schoolsTrinidad2 schoolsBayside1 schoolBridgeville1 schoolCarlotta1 schoolGarberville1 schoolHoneydew1 schoolHydesville1 schoolKneeland1 schoolKorbel1 schoolLoleta1 schoolManila1 schoolOrick1 schoolOrleans1 schoolSamoa1 schoolScotia1 schoolWeott1 schoolWhitethorn1 schoolWillow Creek1 school

About Humboldt County

In California, Humboldt County is a mid-sized county of about 134,541 residents. 92 public schools across the county hosts about 17,319 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $61,160, 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 32% below the California median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Humboldt County consists of 49 elementary schools (8,443 students), 10 middle schools (2,199), 24 high schools (5,063), and 9 combined or other schools.

Eureka City Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,462 students across Humboldt County.

Five-year track record. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 7%: 18,440 students in SY 2017-18 versus 17,175 in SY 2024-25.

On this page, the community for Humboldt County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Humboldt County?
Humboldt County, California has 92 public K-12 schools serving approximately 17,319 students.
How many high schools are in Humboldt County?
Humboldt County, California has 24 public high schools, serving approximately 5,063 students.
How many middle schools are in Humboldt County?
Humboldt County, California has 10 public middle schools, serving approximately 2,199 students.
How many elementary schools are in Humboldt County?
Humboldt County, California has 49 public elementary schools, serving approximately 8,443 students.
What is the largest school district in Humboldt County?
Eureka City Schools is the largest school district in Humboldt County, serving approximately 3,462 students. The county contains 46 school districts overall.
What is the population of Humboldt County?
Humboldt County, California has a population of approximately 134,541, with a median age of 40. About 18.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Humboldt County?
Median household income in Humboldt County is $61,160, below the California average of $89,387. About 10.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Humboldt County?
Approximately 33.1% of adults 25 and older in Humboldt County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Humboldt County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 60.4% of students in Humboldt County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the California county average of 60.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Humboldt County schools?
Across Humboldt County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 19.1 to 1.

Humboldt County school rankings

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