Palermo Middle

As a compact junior high in Palermo, California, Palermo Middle teaches 458 students from grades 6 through 8, run under Palermo Union Elementary. That puts it 31% leaner than the typical public school in California, which averages around 659 students.

Across the 5 schools in Palermo Union Elementary (1,343 students total), Palermo Middle accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Palermo Middle records that the largest single group is White at 42%, but no single group is in the majority. Beyond that, the school lists 35% Hispanic, 14% multiracial, 5% Asian, 3% Native American. By comparison, Butte County as a whole is about 70% White, so the school skews visibly less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Staff filings list 24 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 18.8:1 students per teacher. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 20.7:1 average. An estimated 76% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is higher than Butte County's rate of about 63%.

Adjusting for the school's free-and-reduced-lunch share, Palermo Middle sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 34.2%; this one delivers 23.5%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Butte County) records that median household income runs about $67,928, about 32% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 12%. Across Butte County's 96 public schools (combined enrollment of about 29,730 students), Palermo Middle is one campus in the mix.

Palermo Community Day is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Palermo Middle at 5th of 7; the average score across the group is 26.9%.

The campus sits in a town-based setting.

Five-year trend. Palermo Middle's enrollment has increased 7% since 2018, when it stood at 430 (now 458). Class-load math has pulled in: from 23.2:1 in 2018 to 18.8:1 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Members of the school community can share what they know.