Public schools in Arcata, CA

12 open public schools with an address in Arcata, operated by 10 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.

Public schools

NCES preliminary directory 2025–26

Reported students

2,903

12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25

Median student–teacher ratio

16.9:1

California median 21.6:1

Charter schools

0 virtual

An overview of Arcata public schools

The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Arcata, CA: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,903 students, an average of 242 per school. The largest campus is Arcata High (1,007 students), and the largest elementary school is Pacific Union Elementary (534).

Arcata Elementary operates the most schools here (2), and 4 regular districts have at least one Arcata campus, plus 6 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.

Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.9:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.

School choice options include 6 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.

Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.

Independent charter agency

1 school in Arcata

Elementary schools in Arcata

School	Grades	Students	Ratio
Arcata Elementary Arcata Elementary	KG–05	240	16:1
Coastal Grove Charter Coastal Grove Charter District · Charter	KG–08	235	14.9:1
Fuente Nueva Charter Fuente Nueva Charter District · Charter	KG–05	150	18.8:1
Pacific Union Elementary Pacific Union Elementary	KG–08	534	18.5:1
Trillium Charter Trillium Charter District · Charter	KG–05	40	13.2:1
Union Street Charter Union Street Charter District · Charter	KG–05	99	16.4:1

Middle schools in Arcata

School	Grades	Students	Ratio	Compare
Sunny Brae Middle Arcata Elementary	06–08	232	17.3:1

High schools in Arcata

School	Grades	Students	Ratio
Arcata Educational Resource Center Humboldt County Office of Education · Alternative School	07–12	27	12.9:1
Arcata High Northern Humboldt Union High	09–12	1,007	19:1
Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy District · Charter	06–12	118	19.3:1
Pacific Coast High (Continuation) Northern Humboldt Union High · Alternative School	09–12	24	10.9:1

Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Arcata

School	Grades	Students	Ratio	Compare
Laurel Tree Charter Laurel Tree Charter District · Charter	KG–12	197	26:1

Student demographics

Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment

White58.8%
Hispanic20%
Black1.6%
Asian2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native3.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
Multiracial12.8%

Enrollment-weighted across 12 Arcata schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,903 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.

Questions about public schools in Arcata

How many public schools are in Arcata, CA?

The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Arcata: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,903 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.

Which school districts serve Arcata?

Schools with an address in Arcata belong to 10 education agencies, led by Arcata Elementary (2 schools), Northern Humboldt Union High (2 schools), Coastal Grove Charter District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.

What is the largest public high school in Arcata?

Arcata High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Arcata, with 1,007 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.

Are there charter schools in Arcata?

Yes. 6 of the 12 public schools in Arcata are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Coastal Grove Charter, Fuente Nueva Charter, Laurel Tree Charter. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.

What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Arcata schools?

The median reported student–teacher ratio across Arcata public schools is 16.9:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.

Does living in Arcata guarantee a seat at a specific school?

No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.

Nearby California cities

Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities