- Enrollment
- 566
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Arcata, CA
Arcata High
Federal NCES profile for Arcata High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060303000238
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Arcata High earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Arcata · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.7:1
- students per teacher
- 38.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Arcata High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Arcata High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Arcata, CA.
School address
District: Northern Humboldt Union High · California
NCES ID 060303000238 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-41 students YoY
Arcata High held near 1,011 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-41 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 51.0 → 52.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-41 students YoY 060303000238 · Arcata, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,007 enr · 19.7:1 · 38.0% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Mckinleyville High (566 students)
Arcata High held near 1,011 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-41 headcount). Teacher FTE added 51.0 → 52.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Arcata High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Arcata High
1,007 students
- Mckinleyville
Mckinleyville High
566 students
- Six Rivers Cha 109
Six Rivers Charter High
109 students
- Mad River High 28
Mad River High (Continuation)
28 students
- Pacific Coast 24
Pacific Coast High (Continuation)
24 students
What this shows Arcata High reports 1,007 students on the CCD universe file.
How Arcata High compares
Arcata High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.7:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.0% | ▼ 32% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,007 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,007
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in California - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
27.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,026
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.9 FTE
Per 347 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 62.7%
Hispanic or Latino 18.3%
Two or More 10.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.4%
Asian 3.1%
African American 1.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 62.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.9, Arcata High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
District finance for Northern Humboldt Union High reports $17,026 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Arcata High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mckinleyville High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Six Rivers Charter High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mad River High (Continuation) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pacific Coast High (Continuation) | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Arcata High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 109
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 28
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 24
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar high schools in Arcata
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,007 students)
Frequently asked questions about Arcata High
How many students attend Arcata High?
Arcata High has 1,007 students enrolled. It is a high school in Arcata, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,052 (2022-23) → 1,011 (2023-24), nearly flat (-41).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Arcata High?
The student-teacher ratio at Arcata High is 19.7:1, which is 8% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Arcata High?
38.0% of students at Arcata High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Arcata High?
The largest demographic group at Arcata High is White at 62.7% of enrollment, in Arcata, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Arcata High?
Arcata High has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Arcata High rank among high schools in Arcata?
By Resource Investment Index, Arcata High ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Arcata, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Arcata on the city page.
What other schools are in Northern Humboldt Union High?
Besides Arcata High, Northern Humboldt Union High also operates Mckinleyville High (566 students), Six Rivers Charter High (109 students), and Mad River High (Continuation) (28 students). See the Northern Humboldt Union High district page for the complete list.