Loleta Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Loleta Union Elementary

Loleta Union Elementary is a small K-8 district serving a rural area of Humboldt County. The district operates a single school and enrolls a modest number of students, with a student body that is roughly evenly divided among Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, white, and multiracial students.

State assessment data for the district shows substantial academic challenges. In the most recent year, the overall proficiency rate across tested subjects and grades stood well below the state midpoint. When looking at eighth grade results alone, where the district reports data more fully, math proficiency was low and English language arts proficiency was lower still. Science proficiency at grade eight was at zero. The district's aggregate proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among Humboldt County's districts. State testing data for grades three through seven was suppressed, typically because enrollment in those grades is too small for California to report the figures publicly.

The district sits below most of its county peers on academic measures, though it does outperform on one metric: chronic absenteeism in the district is far lower than the county median, suggesting strong day-to-day attendance and engagement. Per-pupil spending is notably above the median for the county, reflecting the fiscal reality that a small district spreads its budget across very few students.

Recent budget pressures have reshaped the support landscape. Due to enrollment decline over the past two years, the district reduced its school counselor position for the 2025-2026 school year, a loss of direct capacity for student services. The district then partially restored counselor hours using one-time state funding, though the position remains below prior levels. For a single-school district, counseling capacity directly affects the support families can access. The district is also implementing a cell-phone storage policy during the school day, consistent with California's 2024 Phone-Free Schools Act and supported by parent and student surveys, reflecting a shift in how the school manages student device use.

Enrollment has declined notably, from a higher baseline in 2023 to the current small size. This contraction is the underlying driver of budget adjustments and shapes the stability of staffing and programming families can anticipate going forward. The size of the school creates both intimacy and constraint: close-knit community with limited curricular breadth and personnel flexibility.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 39%

White 20%

Two+ 13%

Am. Indian / AK Native 28%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

—

Math

Gr ALL

—

Science

Gr HS

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

Loleta Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

18%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

Grade 8

Science

1 grade reported

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

33%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$443,028

Year-over-year change-2.7%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$424K to $443K

vs. state typical0.57x

vs. national typical1.20x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95551	Eureka	$443K	-2.7%	99.5%
95540	Fortuna	$424K	-2.2%	0.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,236/mo

Home price / national median income5.3x

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.