West Contra Costa Unified

Richmond, California — 52 schools

25,737
Total Enrollment
52
Schools
$20,722
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Contra Costa Unified operates 52 public schools serving 25,737 students, placing it among the larger districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 37 elementary, 8 high, 6 middle, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 25,133 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Contra Costa County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,722 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 42.1% local, 46.9% state, and 11.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $81,639 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 59/100, ranked #518 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 7 of 52 schools offering Advanced Placement (59 AP courses district-wide), a 277.7:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 48.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 55.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.2% African American across the district's schools.

West Contra Costa Unified school enrollment varies 7.3× across entities

West Contra Costa Unified school enrollment ranges from 200 students (lowest) to 1,460 students (highest), a spread of 1,260 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

West Contra Costa Unified student-counselor ratio is 278:1 — 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 West Contra Costa Unified is typically wider than the West Contra Costa Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

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

West Contra Costa Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 48.6% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

11.0%
Federal
46.9%
State
42.1%
Local

Funding Equity

59
Equity Score
518 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Contra Costa County county, where this district is located.

$2,142
Studio/mo
$2,385
1 BR/mo
$2,912
2 BR/mo
$3,724
3 BR/mo
$4,413
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$81,639
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 52 schools in West Contra Costa Unified.

White 9.6%
Hispanic or Latino 55.9%
African American 11.2%
Asian 15.3%
Multiracial 7.1%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

7 / 52
Schools with AP
59 AP courses total
277.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
48.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Contra Costa Unified

School Enrollment
El Cerrito High
1,460
Richmond High
1,280
Pinole Valley High
1,245
De Anza High
1,047
Hercules High
767
John F. Kennedy High
740
Fred T. Korematsu Middle
708
Hercules Middle
596
Helms Middle
558
Grant Elementary
551
Peres Elementary
538
Fairmont Elementary
537
West County Mandarin
528
Mira Vista Elementary
510
Ohlone Elementary
482
Harding Elementary
481
Montalvin Manor Elementary
474
Kensington Elementary
473
Murphy Elementary
460
Dover Elementary
458
Madera Elementary
457
Michelle Obama Elementary
431
Hanna Ranch Elementary
421
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy
420
Nystrom Elementary
415
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary
408
Edward M. Downer Elementary
388
Lupine Hills Elementary
387
Washington Elementary
385
Pinole Middle
381
Lovonya Dejean Middle
381
Stewart Elementary
379
Highland Elementary
377
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
375
Betty Reid Soskin Middle
372
Ford Elementary
371
Shannon Elementary
355
Lake Elementary
350
Riverside Elementary
343
Verde Elementary
341
Lincoln Elementary
339
Bayview Elementary
335
Ellerhorst Elementary
319
Olinda Elementary
318
Sheldon Elementary
318
Tara Hills Elementary
317
Collins Elementary
311
Coronado Elementary
307
Middle College High
294
Stege Elementary
225
Valley View Elementary
220
Greenwood Academy
200

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 · $25,877/pupil
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San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
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Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
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Compare West Contra Costa Unified

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in West Contra Costa Unified?

West Contra Costa Unified has 52 schools, including 8 high, 6 middle, 37 elementary, 1 other. Total enrollment is 25,737 students.

How much does West Contra Costa Unified spend per student?

West Contra Costa Unified spends $20,722 per student. The district has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #518 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in West Contra Costa Unified?

The average teacher salary in West Contra Costa Unified is $81,639 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near West Contra Costa Unified?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Contra Costa County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of West Contra Costa Unified?

West Contra Costa Unified students are 55.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 11.2% African American, 9.6% White, averaged across 52 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Contra Costa Unified?

West Contra Costa Unified has an equity score of 59/100, ranking #518 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
Industry baseline

Composite score weighing source authority, update freshness, and methodological transparency. 1.0 = full federal-source coverage with documented methodology and recent update.