Pomolita Middle, Ukiah CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Pomolita Middle

Pomolita Middle serves grades six through eight in Ukiah, a small city in Mendocino County that functions as the county seat and commercial center. The school enrolls a substantial number of students, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across the three grade levels. A large share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial white population and smaller numbers of American Indian, Alaska Native, and multiracial students.

The school's state test results show meaningful challenges. In English language arts across all grades, proficiency rates range from low to modest, with seventh grade performing better than sixth or eighth. Mathematics proficiency is notably lower, clustering in the low range across grades six through eight. Science proficiency in grade eight is also low. These results place Pomolita above the midpoint among school districts in Mendocino County on an overall proficiency index, but the absolute proficiency levels indicate that a majority of students are not yet meeting state standards in core subjects. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports and interventions are in place, particularly in mathematics.

No current data on chronic absenteeism, student discipline, or staffing is available. The school does not serve high school grades, so graduation rates do not apply. Special education enrollment and English learner enrollment counts were not reported in the data received.

Ukiah itself is a walkable, compact city with a revitalized downtown centered on State Street and School Street, featuring historic brick buildings, local shops, galleries, and a year-round farmers market. The city follows New Urbanism principles and has adopted Complete Streets standards, with bike lanes and multi-use trail infrastructure expanding. Major employers include Mendocino County government, the local hospital, Mendocino College, and the school district itself, alongside agriculture and wine production. Civic anchors include Todd Grove Park, the Mendocino County Library branch, and transit service through Mendocino Transit Authority. Housing values are moderate for California, with rents rising in the past year. The city is pursuing infill housing and "missing middle" development, including accessory dwelling units and smaller multifamily homes, and has been awarded a Prohousing designation from the state.

Ukiah Unified, Pomolita's parent district, is in the middle of a multi-year facilities modernization funded by a voter-approved school bond that passed in 2020. Bond money is paying for roof replacements, electrical and HVAC upgrades, and classroom modernizations including career and technical education spaces. These projects are ongoing and affect campus conditions families encounter. The district serves students from preschool through high school across six elementary schools, two middle schools, and a comprehensive high school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 614%

School 14% · District 15% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 719%

School 19% · District 20% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 17% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 628%

School 28% · District 29% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 736%

School 36% · District 35% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 28% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Science

Grade 822%

School 22% · District 21% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · even with county median

Social studies

Grade 839%

School 39% · District 39%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

This schoolUkiah Unified, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income24%Higher-income55%31 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income33%Higher-income56%23 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income21%Higher-income52%30 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income10%Higher-income48%39 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income15%Higher-income40%25 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income13%Higher-income35%22 pp gap