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Email BoardPacific Union Elementary
3001 Janes Road, Arcata, CA 95521-4701
Summary
Pacific Union Elementary is underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 68th percentile among comparable California schools.
Only 48.6% of students met California's reading standard, but it is holding steady.
Math is weaker: 42.5% of students met California's math standard, but it is slowly trending up.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 48.6% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 42.5% |
| Reading State Rank | 661/1,734 (62nd percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 467/1,735 (73rd percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 16:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 534 |
| Low-Income Students | 295 (55.2%) |
| English Learners | 32 (6.0%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading fell 0.5 points from last year and was unchanged over the full period. Math rose 3.3 points from last year and rose 3.3 points over the full period.
Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Black or African American and White students have the strongest results.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the reading standard ranges from 25.0% to 66.7% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank in the top 39% among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 19.8-point reading income gap is slightly wider than the 16.5-point gap at a typical California K–8 school. It narrowed slightly over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
7.1% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 50.8% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results rose and English-only results fell.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
White students have the strongest math results at about 47% proficiency. The other reported groups range from about 19% to 45%.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
The share meeting the math standard ranges from 30.6% to 50.0% across the grades shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank in the top 27% among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 10.8-point math income gap is narrower than the 15.5-point gap at a typical California K–8 school. It narrowed over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
7.1% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 44.9% of English-only students. The gap widened as English-learner results rose and English-only results rose.
•Progress as students move up
2023–2026
How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 802 schools for reading and 801 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California K–8 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does Pacific Union Elementary rank in California?
Pacific Union Elementary ranks No. 661 of 1,734 in reading and No. 467 of 1,735 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How does Pacific Union Elementary compare with other schools in Arcata?
Pacific Union Elementary is No. 1 in both reading and math proficiency among the 2 K–8 schools in Arcata with 2026 results.
Explore schools in ArcataHow does Pacific Union Elementary compare with other schools in Humboldt County?
Pacific Union Elementary is No. 10 in reading and No. 7 in math proficiency among the 21 K–8 schools in Humboldt County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Humboldt CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving K–8 in the same district or city.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Union ElementaryThis school | 42.5% | 48.6% |
| Coastal Grove Charter | 37.7% | 46.1% |
