Durham Unified

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, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Durham, California - 3 schools

An equity score of 30/100 ranks Durham Unified #1247 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,634 per pupil, Durham Unified ranks #1488 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

996
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$12,634
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Durham Unified operates 3 public schools serving 996 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary, 1 high, 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 Butte County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,634 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 42.0% local, 50.2% state, and 7.8% 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 30/100, ranked #1247 of 1517 in California against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 339.6:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 21.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 68.7% White, 22.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Durham High, with a diversity index of 49.1/100.

Its largest campus is Durham Elementary, enrolling 495 students (47% of the district's total enrollment).

Durham Elementary accounts for 47.2% of all Durham Unified student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Durham Unified a distant remainder — means Durham Unified-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Durham Unified school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Durham Unified school enrollment ranges from 233 students (lowest) to 495 students (highest), a spread of 262 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Durham Unified student-counselor ratio is 340:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Durham Unified is typically wider than the Durham Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Durham Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 21.1% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Durham Unified is typically wider than the Durham Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.8%
Federal
50.2%
State
42.0%
Local

Funding Equity

30
Equity Score
1247 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Durham Unified.

White 68.7%
Hispanic or Latino 22.6%
Multiracial 7.2%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 47.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Durham Unified's schools, about the same as the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Durham High 49.1
  2. 2 Durham Elementary 47.1
  3. 3 Durham Intermediate 45.0

Programs & Resources

339.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Durham Unified

School Enrollment
Durham Elementary
495
Durham High
320
Durham Intermediate
233

How Durham Unified Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
New West Charter District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex District Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
River Islands Technology Academy Ii District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Aromas - San Juan Unified Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Acton-Agua Dulce Unified Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Durham Unified'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 · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs Durham Unified →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
Compare vs Durham Unified →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs Durham Unified →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
Compare vs Durham Unified →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs Durham Unified →

Compare Durham Unified

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 Durham Unified?

Durham Unified has 3 schools, including 1 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 996 students.

How much does Durham Unified spend per student?

Durham Unified spends $12,634 per student. The district has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #1247 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Durham Unified?

Durham Unified students are 68.7% White, 22.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Durham Unified?

Durham Unified has an equity score of 30/100, ranking #1247 out of 1517 districts in California.