Arcata Elementary

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Arcata, California - 2 schools

An equity score of 61/100 ranks Arcata Elementary #491 of 1526 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,873 per pupil, Arcata Elementary ranks #843 of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

482
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$17,873
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Arcata Elementary operates 2 public schools serving 482 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Humboldt County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,873 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 31.5% local, 52.2% state, and 16.3% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 61/100, ranked #491 of 1526 in California against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 42.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 50.8% White, 23.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Arcata Elementary, enrolling 240 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).

Arcata Elementary accounts for 49.8% of all Arcata Elementary student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Arcata Elementary a distant remainder — means Arcata Elementary-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Arcata Elementary reports 63.0% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share sits between 62.5% and 75%, above a simple majority but below the highest descriptive band used here. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Arcata Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 42.5% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

16.3%
Federal
52.2%
State
31.5%
Local

Funding Equity

61
Equity Score
491 / 1526
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Arcata Elementary.

White 50.8%
Hispanic or Latino 23.9%
African American 2.4%
Asian 3.2%
Multiracial 16.3%
Other 3.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

42.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Arcata Elementary

School Enrollment
Arcata Elementary
240
Sunny Brae Middle
232

How Arcata Elementary Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Kipp Promesa Prep District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Cox Academy District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Central City Value District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Opportunities for Learning - Baldwin Park District Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Ednovate - Brio College Prep District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Arcata Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $22,606/pupil
Compare vs Arcata Elementary →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $20,783/pupil
Compare vs Arcata Elementary →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,909/pupil
Compare vs Arcata Elementary →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $18,419/pupil
Compare vs Arcata Elementary →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $15,921/pupil
Compare vs Arcata Elementary →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Arcata Elementary

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Arcata Elementary?

Arcata Elementary has 2 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 482 students.

How much does Arcata Elementary spend per student?

Arcata Elementary spends $17,873 per student. The district has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #491 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Arcata Elementary?

Arcata Elementary students are 50.8% White, 23.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% Asian, 2.4% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Arcata Elementary?

Arcata Elementary has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #491 out of 1526 districts in California.