Trinidad Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Trinidad Union Elementary

Trinidad Union Elementary is a small district serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Humboldt County, with enrollment of under two hundred students spread across nine grades. The district operates a single school, Trinidad Union, located in the coastal area around Trinidad and McKinleyville.

Academically, the district shows a split picture across its grade levels. In the upper middle grades, proficiency runs stronger. Seventh-grade math proficiency reaches the high range, and eighth-grade math performs similarly well. Eighth-grade English language arts also sits in the mid-to-high range. In the lower elementary grades, the picture weakens considerably. Third-grade math and English language arts both hover around or just below half proficiency. Fourth-grade math drops sharply, and fifth-grade math falls further still, reaching a low point before recovering in the seventh grade. Science proficiency in the tested grades (fifth and eighth) sits in the low-to-mid range. A social studies assessment from an older state test showed stronger performance, though that data is now more than a decade old and comes from a different assessment system. Overall, across all tested grades and subjects, the district's average proficiency sits in the middle range, positioning it in the top quartile among Humboldt County's districts on a composite proficiency index.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller representation from Hispanic, multiracial, American Indian and Alaska Native, and other backgrounds. The district does not report rates for free-or-reduced-price lunch, special education, or English learners, so a parent cannot determine from the available data what share of students qualify for these services. Chronic absenteeism runs slightly above the county median, at a level typical for the region.

The housing market in the district's area shows substantial value, with a weighted median home price well above the state benchmark. Rents in the McKinleyville zip code are modest and stable. The affordability picture is tight on the purchase side; the price-to-income ratio exceeds the national benchmark considerably. Mortgage payments would run substantially higher than rent for comparable housing.

In June 2026, voters approved a general obligation bond to fund infrastructure repairs and upgrades at the single school campus. The bond addresses long-standing facility issues including water leaks in classrooms, failing windows, the kindergarten fence, and aging bathrooms, along with security and modernization improvements. The bond will carry an ongoing property tax obligation for voters through the early 2060s, directly affecting homeowners in the district.

The district's small size means students remain in one building from kindergarten through eighth grade. This continuity differs from the typical K-5 and 6-8 or 6-12 split found in larger districts. A parent may want to discuss with the school directly how the mixed-grade environment shapes instruction, peer relationships, and transition planning, and whether the district has plans or capacity to address the significant dip in math proficiency that appears in grades four and five.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

168

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 14%

Black 1%

White 65%

Asian 1%

Two+ 11%

Am. Indian / AK Native 7%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

48%

—

Gr 8

45%

—

Math

Gr ALL

50%

—

Gr 8

55%

—

Science

Gr 8

36%

—

Gr HS

30%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

Trinidad Union

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

59%

Grade 3

39%

Grade 4

19%

Grade 5

23%

Grade 6

69%

Grade 7

72%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

50%

Grade 3

46%

Grade 4

50%

Grade 5

46%

Grade 6

53%

Grade 7

56%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

44%

Grade 5

39%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

76%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$549,942

Year-over-year change-6.1%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$451K to $591K

vs. state typical0.71x

vs. national typical1.49x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95570	Trinidad	$591K	-6.7%	62.8%
95519	McKinleyville	$483K	-5.1%	34.7%
95525	Blue Lake	$451K	-3.9%	2.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,611/mo

Year-over-year change-0.2%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95519	McKinleyville	$1,611	-0.2%	34.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,775/mo

Home price / national median income6.6x

Annual rent / national median income23.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,164/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.