Education   



Humboldt County's first residents hailed from the Yurok, Karuk, Wiyot, Chilula, Whilkut and Hupa tribes, among others. They settled on the coast and along the banks of the Trinity and Klamath rivers. The county was created in May 1853 and derives its name from Humboldt Bay, which was "discovered" by a sea otter hunting party in 1806 and rediscovered in 1849. Douglas Ottinger and Hans Buhne entered the bay in 1850 and named it in honor of naturalist and explorer Baron Alexander von Humboldt.

Del Norte County has been home to the Yurok and Tolowa peoples for thousands of years. Legendary explorer Jedediah Smith is credited with being the first non-native to enter the region, in 1828. Gold strikes on the Klamath and Smith Rivers in the 1850s led to the settlement of the county, which was created in March 1857. Its name, meaning "the north" is derived from its position in the northwest corner of the state.
  Humboldt and Del Norte counties' educators are frequently recognized on the state or national level for their dedication and innovation. Thirty-six public schools have received a total of 57 California Distinguished School Awards. Six have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. Seven area teachers have received National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. (The application process is a commitment in which teachers spend a year developing a portfolio of their work.)
  Local students have also won competitions like National History Day and the California State Science Fair. Humboldt County schools consistently rank highly in the Academic Performance Index, a state system that ranks schools according to their students' performance on standardized tests.
  Specialized programs in which students focus on particular subjects like arts and history with intense study are also common. Four of the county's high schools have Environmental and Spatial Technology laboratories, a class in which students develop community projects with the help of partnerships and cutting-edge technology.
  Area schools' vocational education classes include a building trades class in which students actually build a house each year and an autoshop class which produces race cars ready for the track.
  Charter schools focusing on everything from performing arts to Waldorf methods have sprung up around the North Coast. And across the region students in all grades devote countless hours to community service.
  The area's adult education programs help thousands accomplish their goals every year, whether it's to earn their GED, learn English as a second language or gain new skills for a career change.
  College of the Redwoods also goes above and beyond to help students achieve their career goals. Whether it's agriculture, truck driving, art or early childhood education, you can study it here. Along with the usual academic subjects, the community college also offers computer classes to help people learn job skills and licensing programs for health occupations.
  Humboldt State University is nationally renowned for its work in the sciences and environmental sustainability. Its Schatz Energy Research Center develops alternative energy technology. The student-run Campus Center for Appropriate Technology has received national attention for its commitment to environmental sustainability.
  Graduates of the university's teacher credential program are sought after by school districts all over the state. Around 2,000 people gathered on campus for the most recent North Coast Education Summit, a conference held at the university each February.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Humboldt County Board of Education
445-7030
Board members: Karen Hunter, Sharon Omey, Gary Roberts, Bill Ruff, Mary Scott, Robert Siekmann and Joan Stewart

Humboldt County Office of Education
445-7000
901 Myrtle Ave.
Eureka, 95501
Superintendent of Schools: Garry Eagles
www.humboldt.k12.ca.us

Community/Court Schools
445-7000
Principal: Mark Adams
The Humboldt County Office of Education operates a number of alternative schools across the county. Enrollment is by referral only. Grades 7-12.

Humboldt-Del Norte Special
Education Services
901 Myrtle Ave.
Eureka 95501
445-7043
Director: Denise Jones

Program for infants and preschoolers in Humboldt and Del Norte counties to help meet children's developmental needs in such areas as gross and fine motor development, social/emotional development, intellectual function, hearing, vision and disabling medical conditions or syndromes.

ARCATA
Arcata School District
822-0351
1435 Buttermilk Lane
Arcata, 95521
Superintendent: Stephen Kelish

Runs a theme-school program defining special emphases for each school. Sunny Brae Middle School, grades 6-8, has an arts and global studies theme. Bloomfield School, grades K-5, has a global studies theme. Sunset School, grades K-5, has an emphasis in dance, music, arts and drama. Operates two charter schools: Coastal Grove Charter School, grades K-2, and Trillium Charter School, grades K-5.

Jacoby Creek Charter School District/Jacoby Creek Elementary School
822-4896
1617 Old Arcata Road
Bayside, 95524
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Eric Grantz

Pacific Union School District/Pacific Union Elementary School
822-4619
3001 Janes Road
Arcata, 95521
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Charles Lakin

BLUE LAKE
Blue Lake Union School District/Blue Lake Elementary School
668-5674
631 Greenwood Ave.
Blue Lake, 95525
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Doug White

Green Point School District/Green
Point School
668-5921
180 Valkensar Lane
Blue Lake, 95525
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Alan Ward

BRIDGEVILLE
Bridgeville School District/Bridgeville Elementary School
777-3311
P.O. Box 98, Bridgeville, 95526
Grades K-8
Management Team Leaders: Suzanne Smith, Nancy French

CARLOTTA
Cuddeback Union School District/Cuddeback Elementary School
768-3372
P.O. Box 7, Carlotta, 95528
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Thom McMahon

CUTTEN
Cutten School District
441-3900
4182 Walnut Drive
Cutten, 95534
Superintendent: Ron Pontoni

Operates Cutten School, grades 3-6, and Ridgewood School, grades K-3.

EUREKA
Eureka City Schools
441-2400
3200 Walford Ave.
Eureka, 95503
Superintendent: James W. Scott
Elementary schools, grades K-5: Alice Birney, Grant, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln and Washington.
Middle schools, grades 6-8: Winship and Catherine L. Zane.
High school, grades 9-12: Eureka High.

Alternative high schools: Zoe Barnum and Humboldt Bay.
Adult Education:   
Eureka Adult School

Children's Center:
Winzler Children's Center

Garfield School District/
Garfield School
442-5471
2200 Freshwater Road
Eureka, 95503
Grades K-6
Management team: Loretta Eckenrode, Marliese Healy, Barbara McMahon

South Bay Union School District
443-4828
6077 Loma Ave.
Eureka, 95503
Grades K-6
Superintendent: Rick Fauss

Operates two schools for grades K-6: Pine Hill School and South Bay School.

FERNDALE
Ferndale Unified School District
786-5900
1231 Main St.
Ferndale, 95536
Superintendent: Alan Brainerd

Operates Ferndale Elementary School, grades K-8, and Ferndale High School, grades 9-12.

FIELDBROOK
Fieldbrook School District/Fieldbrook Elementary School
839-3201
4070 Fieldbrook Road
McKinleyville, 95519
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Catherine Stone

FORTUNA
Fortuna Union Elementary
School District
725-2293
843 L St.
Fortuna, 95540
Superintendent: David Hochman

Operates Fortuna Elementary, grades 5-8, and South Fortuna Elementary, grades K-4.

Fortuna Union High School District
725-4461
379 12th St.
Fortuna, 95540
Superintendent: David Moss

Operates Fortuna High, grades 9-12, and East High School, an alternative high school. Independent study is offered by the Fortuna Adult School, 725-4482.

FRESHWATER
Freshwater School District
442-2969
75 Greenwood Heights Drive
Eureka, 95503
Superintendent: Elaine Gray

Operates Freshwater Elementary, grades K-6, and Freshwater Charter Middle School, grades 7-8.

HYDESVILLE
Hydesville Elementary School District/Hydesville Elementary School
768-3610
3050 Johnson Road, P.O. Box 551
Hydesville, 95547
Grades K-8.
Superintendent: John Blakely

KLAMATH-TRINITY
Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District
(530) 625-4255
P.O. Box 1308
Hoopa, 95546
Superintendent: Arturo M. Vasquez

Operates five schools for grades K-8: Hoopa Valley, Jack Norton, Orleans, Trinity Valley and Weitchpec. Operates two high schools: Hoopa Valley, grades 9-12, and Capt. John Continuation High.

KNEELAND
Kneeland School District/Kneeland School
442-5472
9313 Kneeland Road
Kneeland, 95549
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Carole Boshears

KORBEL
Maple Creek School District/Maple Creek School
668-5596
15933 Maple Creek Route
Korbel, 95550
Grades K-8
Principal: Lisa Christian

LOLETA
Loleta Union School District
733-5705
P.O. Box 547
Loleta, 95551
Superintendent: James Malloy

Operates Loleta Elementary, grades K-8, and Pacific View Charter School at several sites, grades K-12.

McKINLEYVILLE
McKinleyville Union School District
839-1549
2275 Central Ave.
McKinleyville, 95519
Superintendent: Alan Jorgensen

Operates Dow's Prairie School and Morris School, grades K-5, and McKinleyville Middle School, grades 6-8.

Northern Humboldt Union High School District
839-6470
2755 McKinleyville Ave.
McKinleyville, CA 95519
Superintendent: Kenny Richards

Operates four high schools: Arcata and McKinleyville, grades 9-12; Tsurai and Pacific Coast, alternative high schools. Also operates Northern Humboldt Adult School and Northern Humboldt Community Day School, grades 9-12.

ORICK
Orick School District/
Orick Elementary School
488-2821
P.O. Box 128
Orick, 95555
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Bill Hawkins

PETROLIA
Mattole Unified School District
629-3311
P.O. Box 211
Petrolia, CA 95558
Superintendent: Richard Graey

Operates two elementary schools: Honeydew, grades K-5, and Mattole, grades K-8. Operates Mattole Triple Junction High School, grades 9-12, and Mattole Valley Charter School at several sites, grades K-12.

RIO DELL
Rio Dell School District
764-5694
95 Center St.
Rio Dell, 95562
Superintendent: Mary Varner

Operates Eagle Prairie Elementary, grades K-5, and Monument Middle School,
grades 6-8.

ROHNERVILLE
Rohnerville School District
725-5197
3850 Rohnerville Road
Fortuna, 95540
Superintendent: Dena McCullough

Operates two schools: Norman G. Ambrosini, grades K-3, and Toddy Thomas, grades 4-8.

SAMOA
Peninsula Union School District/Peninsula School
443-2731
909 Vance Ave.
Samoa, 95564
Grades K-8
Management team: Catherine Arnold, Mindi Fisher, Robin Marks

SCOTIA
Scotia Union School District/
Scotia School
764-2212
P.O. Box 217
417 Church St.
Scotia, 95565
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Jaenelle Lampp

SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT
Southern Humboldt Unified School District
923-2787
1333 Redwood Drive, Suite B
Garberville, 95542
Superintendent: Clifton Anderson

Operates five elementary schools: Agnes J. Johnson School for grades K-5; Casterlin School for grades K-8; Ettersburg School for grades K-3; Redway School for grades K-7; and Whitethorn School for grades K-7. Operates South Fork High School, grades 8-12, along with alternative programs in Miranda.

TRINIDAD
Big Lagoon Union School District
677-3688
269 Big Lagoon Park Road
Trinidad, 95570
Superintendent: William Hawkins

Operates Big Lagoon Elementary School, grades K-8, and Big Lagoon Charter School, with campuses in Big Lagoon and Arcata, grades K-12.

Trinidad Union School District/
Trinidad School
677-3631
300 Trinity St.
Trinidad, 95570
Grades K-8
Superintendent: Geoff Proust

HUMBOLDT COUNTY
PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Arcata Children's Center
822-1423
1695 10th St., Arcata

Grades preschool-4; afterschool program, grades K-4. Also operates a preschool program in McKinleyville.

Arcata Christian School
822-5986
1700 Union St., Arcata
Grades preschool-8

Beginnings
923-3617
P.O. Box 1090, Redway
Grades K-6

Humboldt Bay Adventist School
822-1738
70 Stephens Lane, Bayside
Grades K-8

Eureka Nazarene School
442-4625
2039 E St., Eureka
Grades K-8

Fortuna Junior Academy
725-2988
1200 Ross Hill Road, Fortuna
Grades K-10

Mistwood Center for Education
826-1150
1928 Old Arcata Road, Bayside
Grades K-8

Mistwood Montessori School
444-8100
1801 10th St., Eureka
Preschool and kindergarten.

Northcoast Community
Christian School
725-5550
2292 Newburg Road, Fortuna
Grades preschool-8

Pacific Dunes High School
444-8532
1611 Peninsula Drive, Arcata
A preparatory school offering partial scholarships to qualified students.  

Seventh-day Adventist School
943-3197
Avenue of the Giants, Miranda
Grades 1-8

St. Bernard's Catholic Schools
443-2735
High School, grades 9-12
222 Dollison St., Eureka
Elementary School, grades K-8
443-2226
115 Henderson St., Eureka

St. Mary's Catholic School
822-3877
1730 Janes Road, Arcata
Grades K-8

Willow Creek Christian School
(916) 629-3332
Christian School Road, Highway 299, Willow Creek
Grades K-12

DEL NORTE COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Del Norte County Unified School District/Office of Education
464-6141
301 W. Washington Blvd.
Crescent City 95531
Superintendent: Frank Lynch
www.delnorte.k12.ca.us

CRESCENT CITY
Elementary schools:
Bess Maxwell, grades K-5, 464-0310.
Joe Hamilton, grades preschool-5,
464-0330.
Mary Peacock, grades K-6, 464-0301.
Pine Grove, grades preschool-6, 464-0350.

Middle school:
Crescent Elk, grades 6-8, 464-0320.

High schools:
Del Norte County High School, grades
9-12, 464-0260.
Sunset Continuation High School, grades 9-12, 464-0380.

Charter school:
Castle Rock, grades K-12, 464-0326

FORT DICK
Redwood School, grades K-8,
464-0360.

GASQUET
Mountain School, grades K-8,
457-3211.

KLAMATH
Margaret Keating School, grades K-8,
464-0340.

SMITH RIVER
Smith River School grades K-8,
 464-0370.

ALTERNATIVE

Bar O Ranch, grades 9-12, 954-5601.

Public school for offenders, adjacent to the juvenile detention facility northeast of Gasquet on U.S. Highway 199. A Del Norte County Office of Education program.

Elk Creek, grades 7-12, 465-0447

A Del Norte County Office of Education program affiliated with the juvenile detention facility.

McCarthy Alternative Education Center, grades 7-12, 464-0399.

A Del Norte County Office of Education program with enrollment by referral from probation department only.

Educational Options, grades 1-12,
464-0750.

Independent study programs: Avalon Elementary School and Paragon High School. Enrollment by referral from teacher or by parents' request.

DEL NORTE COUNTY
PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Fort Dick Bible Academy
464-1431
6725 Lake Earl Drive
Fort Dick, CA 95538
Grades K-12

Foursquare Christian School
464-9501
144 Butte St.
Crescent City 95531
Grades preschool-6

Crescent City Jr. Academy
464-5229
1770 Northcrest Drive
Crescent City 95531
Grades preschool-10

St. Joseph School
464-3477
330 E St.
Crescent City 95531
Grades K-8

St. Joseph Catholic School
464-3477
440 Third St.
Crescent City 95531
Grades K-8

HIGHER EDUCATION
College of the Redwoods
7351 Tompkins Hill Road
Eureka, CA 95501
476-4100
President: Kathleen (Casey) Crabill
www.redwoods.edu

The Redwoods Community College District was formed in 1964 by an election of the people of Humboldt County. It has campuses in Eureka, Crescent City and Fort Bragg and instructional sites in Arcata and Hoopa. Classes are $26  per unit and include academic and transfer programs; community and economic development programs; and professional and technical programs.

Humboldt State University
826-3011
1 Harpst St.
Arcata 95521
President: Rollin Richmond
www.humboldt.edu

Humboldt State University, founded in 1914, is the northernmost campus of the California State University system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs. The campus is annually rated as one of the "Top 100 Best Buys" in Money magazine for higher education.