Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Chico Unified

California · Public School District
22
Schools
12,087
Students
$17,486
Per-Pupil Spend
+22% nat'l
56.4%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
91.9%
Graduation Rate
+5.4pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Chico Unified is a public school district in California serving 12,087 students across 22 schools. It includes 12 elementary, 3 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 91.9% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $17,486 is above average for a US public school district. 56% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 47/100.

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All Schools (22)
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bidwell Junior High06–08990
Chico Junior High06–08928
Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High06–08732
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Academy for Change07–1224
Center for Alternative Learning06–1230
Chico High09–121,905
Fair View High (Continuation)09–12130
Pleasant Valley High09–121,840
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Oak Bridge AcademyKG–12130
OakdaleKG–1281
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$17,486+22% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
51%
36%
State
51.0%
Local (property tax)
35.8%
Federal
13.3%

Funding is shared between state (51%) and local sources (36%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
22
Schools
12,087
Students
56%
Free Lunch
$17K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate91.9%
Opportunity Score47/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
91.9% graduation rate — 5.4 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $17,486 per pupil — 22% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 22 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Chico Unified?
Chico Unified has 22 public schools, serving a total of 12,087 students.
What is the graduation rate for Chico Unified?
The graduation rate is 91.9%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Chico Unified spend per student?
Chico Unified spends $17,486 per pupil — 22% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Chico Unified?
56% of students in Chico Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Chico Unified?
No, Chico Unified does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Chico Unified serve?
Chico Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Chico Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in Chico Unified is 47/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.