Del Norte County Unified, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Del Norte County Unified

Del Norte County Unified serves kindergarten through grade twelve across a rural Northern California county, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across its schools. The district includes six elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools, serving a community composed roughly equally of white students and Hispanic students, with a substantial Native American student population and smaller shares of Asian, multiracial, and other groups. The specific count of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and the English learner population were not available in the data.

State assessment results show proficiency below the state midpoint across tested subjects. In English language arts, district proficiency ranges from the low twenties in the earliest tested grades to the upper thirties in middle grades. Math proficiency is lower still, mostly in the low twenties, with one exception at seventh grade where it reaches the low thirties. Science proficiency is similarly modest. These gaps persist across the grade band tested, indicating an established pattern rather than a single weak point. A parent evaluating the district should understand that most students in the tested population are not demonstrating proficiency on state summative assessments.

The chronic absenteeism rate is substantially higher than the median seen among Del Norte County's few districts, placing the district in the bottom quartile on that measure. This is relevant because attendance directly shapes instruction and, in turn, student outcomes. The district's per-pupil current spending sits in the upper half of the county range.

Two major shifts are reshaping the district's operational reality. Beginning around 2023, Del Norte County Unified was awarded a substantial grant through California's Community Schools Partnership Program and has begun embedding mental health services, afterschool programming, family resource centers, and expanded summer learning across most schools. This is a deliberate whole-child, whole-family model designed to address barriers to learning and engagement. The grant also supports extra days of instruction, including a summer program, and has enabled the district to hire wellness staff and coordinate partnerships with local clinics, hospitals, and tribal organizations. This represents a significant change in the scope of support services available to students and families.

Conversely, voters rejected a school facilities bond in November 2024, leaving the district without a dedicated local funding source for modernization. The district faces well-documented facility constraints, including mold-infested portable classrooms, leaky roofs, and outdated infrastructure. Absent the passage of a bond measure, parents should expect these conditions to persist rather than anticipate near-term renovation or replacement of aging buildings.

The district's profile is that of a small, rural system in a low-property-wealth county operating with significant facility challenges but simultaneously investing heavily in wrap-around student and family services. This creates a mixed picture: expanded community partnerships and mental health support sit alongside physical plant limitations. The proficiency gaps are substantial and likely reflect both the economic and social factors endemic to rural, economically stressed areas and the ongoing instructional work the district is pursuing. A family considering the district should weigh the commitment to whole-family services against the facility constraints and the current level of academic proficiency.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,427

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 25%

Black 1%

White 46%

Asian 4%

Two+ 9%

Am. Indian / AK Native 15%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

26%

—

Gr 3

16%

49%

Gr 4

19%

34%

Gr 5

23%

51%

Gr 6

32%

53%

Gr 7

29%

60%

Gr 8

26%

54%

Gr 11

41%

—

Math

Gr ALL

17%

—

Gr 3

18%

55%

Gr 4

16%

34%

Gr 5

12%

32%

Gr 6

16%

29%

Gr 7

23%

43%

Gr 8

15%

34%

Gr 11

18%

—

Science

Gr ALL

16%

—

Gr 5

15%

33%

Gr 8

13%

27%

Gr 11

27%

—

Gr HS

17%

—

Gr UG_SEC

27%

—

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bess Maxwell Elementary

Crescent Elk Middle

Del Norte High

Joe Hamilton Elementary

Margaret Keating Elementary

Mountain Elementary

Pine Grove Elementary

Redwood Elementary

Smith River Elementary

Sunset High

Mary Peacock Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

26%

Grade 3

21%

Grade 4

18%

Grade 5

20%

Grade 6

30%

Grade 7

20%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

23%

Grade 3

24%

Grade 4

31%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 6

39%

Grade 7

34%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

21%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

53%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$378,885

Year-over-year change-0.3%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$362K to $431K

vs. state typical0.49x

vs. national typical1.03x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95531	Crescent City	$362K	-0.2%	42.0%
95567	Smith River	$431K	-0.6%	13.9%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,823/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95531	Crescent City	$1,823	—	42.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,912/mo

Home price / national median income4.5x

Annual rent / national median income26.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$89/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.