Ferndale Unified

Public school district · Humboldt County · California · NCES district ID 0600037

Ferndale Unified spent $15,763 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, below the middle: 65% of the other California districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 spent more (median $17,666). Its 2 schools enrolled 483 students in 2024-25; 65.4% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $21,751 per student, up 38.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 80% or more (California: 86.2%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among California districts of similar size

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. The 9 districts closest to Ferndale Unified in enrollment (467 to 472 students) and Ferndale Unified itself.

Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Ferndale Unified, FY23Shoreline Unified $37,445; Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle District $20,561; Darnall Charter School $19,422; Mission Preparatory District $18,642; KIPP Academy of Opportunity District $18,540; Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District $16,558; Ferndale Unified $15,763; Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto District $13,781; Dimensions Collaborative School $13,288; Innovations Academy $12,013; State median, under 1,000 students $17,666.10k20k30k40kShoreline Unified$37,445Animo Mae Jemison Charter Midd…$20,561Darnall Charter School$19,422Mission Preparatory District$18,642KIPP Academy of Opportunity Di…$18,540Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District$16,558Ferndale Unified$15,763Taylion High Desert Academy/Ad…$13,781Dimensions Collaborative School$13,288Innovations Academy$12,013State median, under 1,000 students $17,666
Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Ferndale Unified, FY23Shoreline Unified $37,445; Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle District $20,561; Darnall Charter School $19,422; Mission Preparatory District $18,642; KIPP Academy of Opportunity District $18,540; Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District $16,558; Ferndale Unified $15,763; Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto District $13,781; Dimensions Collaborative School $13,288; Innovations Academy $12,013; State median, under 1,000 students $17,666.10k20k30k40kShoreline Unified$37,445Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle Di…$20,561Darnall Charter School$19,422Mission Preparatory District$18,642KIPP Academy of Opportunity District$18,540Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District$16,558Ferndale Unified$15,763Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelant…$13,781Dimensions Collaborative School$13,288Innovations Academy$12,013State median, under 1,000 students $17,666
Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Ferndale Unified, FY23Shoreline Unified $37,445; Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle District $20,561; Darnall Charter School $19,422; Mission Preparatory District $18,642; KIPP Academy of Opportunity District $18,540; Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District $16,558; Ferndale Unified $15,763; Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto District $13,781; Dimensions Collaborative School $13,288; Innovations Academy $12,013; State median, under 1,000 students $17,666.10k20k30k40kShoreline Unified$37,445Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle District$20,561Darnall Charter School$19,422Mission Preparatory District$18,642KIPP Academy of Opportunity District$18,540Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District$16,558Ferndale Unified$15,763Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto Distri…$13,781Dimensions Collaborative School$13,288Innovations Academy$12,013State median, under 1,000 students $17,666
Current spending per student, California districts closest in size to Ferndale Unified, FY23Shoreline Unified $37,445; Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle District $20,561; Darnall Charter School $19,422; Mission Preparatory District $18,642; KIPP Academy of Opportunity District $18,540; Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District $16,558; Ferndale Unified $15,763; Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto District $13,781; Dimensions Collaborative School $13,288; Innovations Academy $12,013; State median, under 1,000 students $17,666.10k20k30k40kShoreline Unified$37,445Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle Distri…$20,561Darnall Charter School$19,422Mission Preparatory District$18,642KIPP Academy of Opportunity District$18,540Alpha: Blanca Alvarado District$16,558Ferndale Unified$15,763Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto Di…$13,781Dimensions Collaborative School$13,288Innovations Academy$12,013State median, under 1,000 students $17,666

Where the money came from

$9,946,000 in revenue: 65.4% state, 27.5% local and 7.1% federal. Total spending including $29,000 of capital outlay was $7,514,000, or $16,021 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Ferndale Unified revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $6,502,000; Local $2,734,000; Federal $710,000; total $9,946,000.
  • State$6,502,000 65%
  • Local$2,734,000 27%
  • Federal$710,000 7%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 1,238 districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment rose from 2022-23 to 2024-25

469 students in 2022-23, 482 students in 2023-24, 483 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Ferndale Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 469, 2023-24: 482, 2024-25: 48302004006002022-234692023-244822024-25483
Ferndale Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 469, 2023-24: 482, 2024-25: 48302004006002022-234692023-244822024-25483
Ferndale Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 469, 2023-24: 482, 2024-25: 48302004006002022-234692023-244822024-25483
Ferndale Unified enrollment by school year2022-23: 469, 2023-24: 482, 2024-25: 48302004006002022-234692023-244822024-25483

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-2346930.815.3
2023-2448230.915.6
2024-2548330.216.0

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$2,369,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $5,051 per student

Ferndale Unified booked $2,369,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 31 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $77,041 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 16 in 100 California districts with a figure (state median $99,744, 1,149 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average California teacher salary at $87,275 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$1,958,00082.7%
Special education$154,0006.5%
Vocational$185,0007.8%
Other programs$72,0003.0%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $4,457 in 2018-19, $4,800 in 2019-20, $5,018 in 2020-21, $4,935 in 2021-22, $5,051 in 2022-23.

Ferndale Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,457, 2019-20: $4,800, 2020-21: $5,018, 2021-22: $4,935, 2022-23: $5,05102k4k6k2018-19$4,4572019-20$4,8002020-21$5,0182021-22$4,9352022-23$5,051
Ferndale Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,457, 2019-20: $4,800, 2020-21: $5,018, 2021-22: $4,935, 2022-23: $5,05102k4k6k2018-19$4,4572019-20$4,8002020-21$5,0182021-22$4,9352022-23$5,051
Ferndale Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,457, 2019-20: $4,800, 2020-21: $5,018, 2021-22: $4,935, 2022-23: $5,05102k4k6k2018-19$4,4572019-20$4,8002020-21$5,0182021-22$4,9352022-23$5,051
Ferndale Unified teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,457, 2019-20: $4,800, 2020-21: $5,018, 2021-22: $4,935, 2022-23: $5,05102k4k6k2018-19$4,4572019-20$4,8002020-21$5,0182021-22$4,9352022-23$5,051

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Ferndale Unified scored proficient or above: 39-48% in reading and 33-42% in math, against 45% in reading and 34% in math across California. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within California, not across states. Where a state published results by grade only, the grades tested are combined, weighted by the students tested in each.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtCaliforniaStudents tested
Reading and language arts39-48%45%223
Math33-42%34%224

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

80% or more of the 25 students in Ferndale Unified's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.2% across California. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtCalifornia
Four-year graduation rate80% or more86.2%
Students in the class25495,492

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

1 elementary school, 338 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Ferndale Elementary33819.444.7%Not reported

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 high school, 145 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Ferndale High14511.444.8%Not reported

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Ferndale Unified

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Ferndale Unified

  1. California districts by spending per studentFerndale Unified ranks 805 of 1,238 California districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($15,763).#805 of 1,238
  2. Every school district in CaliforniaFerndale Unified is the number 1,033 by size of 1,991 California districts, with 469 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#1,033 of 1,991
  3. Shoreline UnifiedThe next larger California district: 470 students in fall 2022, $37,445 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$37,445
  4. Dimensions Collaborative SchoolThe next smaller California district: 468 students in fall 2022, $13,288 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$13,288
  5. Compare Ferndale Unified with Shoreline UnifiedEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Ferndale High, its largest high school145 students in 2024-25, 11.4 per teacher.145
  7. Teacher salary spending across CaliforniaFerndale Unified spent $77,041 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $99,744); spending, not a salary.$77,041
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Ferndale Unified

  1. How many schools and students are in Ferndale Unified?
    2 schools were open in 2024-25 (1 elementary, 1 high), enrolling 483 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Ferndale Unified spend per student?
    $15,763 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the California median for districts with fewer than 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $17,666 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $21,751 per student, up 38.0% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Ferndale Unified's money come from?
    $9,946,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 65.4% state, 27.5% local and 7.1% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Ferndale Unified live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 37 of the 408 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 9.1%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Ferndale Unified spend on teacher salaries?
    $2,369,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $5,051 per student. Divided by the 31 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $77,041 per teacher, more than 16 in 100 California districts (state median $99,744). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average California teacher salary at $87,275 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Ferndale Unified do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Ferndale Unified scored proficient or above: 39-48% in reading and 33-42% in math, against 45% in reading and 34% in math across California. California's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Ferndale Unified?
    80% or more of the 25 students in Ferndale Unified's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 86.2% across California. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Ferndale Unified's NCES district ID?
    0600037. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .