Schools and Districts

How Many Districts Are in California?

There were 1,078 active districts in California as of September 2024

How Many Total Schools Are in California?

There were 12,732 active schools in California as of September 2024

School Ownership Code Type

Count

Elementary Schools (Public)

5,654

Preschool

2,279

High Schools (Public)

1,292

Intermediate/Middle Schools (Public)

1,253

Continuation High Schools

430

K-12 Schools (Public)

374

Alternative Schools of Choice

348

Adult Education Centers

301

Elemen Schools In 1 School Dist. (Public)

218

District Community Day Schools

166

Special Education Schools (Public)

148

County Community

74

Regional Occupational Center/Program

61

Junior High Schools (Public)

53

Juvenile Court Schools

51

Opportunity Schools

20

High Schools In 1 School Dist. (Public)

7

State Special Schools

3

Total

12,732

How Many Schools Have Closed?

5,113 schools have closed in California over the course of California’s tracking of school closures.

Suspension and Expulsion Exploration

How Many Total Expulsions and Suspensions Were There Over Time?

  • The number of suspensions dwarfs the number of expulsions. The 2011-12 school year had the highest number of expulsions, at 454. In comparison, there were 48,566 suspensions in that same year.

  • The number of suspensions has been steadily and dramatically decreasing since academic year 2011-12. There were 48,566 suspensions in 2011-12. By 2022-23, that number dropped to 19,176. That is a 61% reduction in suspensions in the span of 11 years. The decline in expulsions has not been quite as extensive.

  • Data for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school year may have been impacted by COVID-19 and should not be used. The California Department of Education notes that data in the 2020-21 year were impacted by COVID-19. However, there was also an anomalous decline in suspensions in the 2019-20 school year for suspensions and expulsions, indicating reporting may have also been impacted by COVID-19.

  • There must have been a change in the policy landscape in the 2013-14 school year, because that year saw the greatest decline in suspensions (outside of the reporting anomaly observed during the COVID-19 pandemic).

How Have Suspensions Resulting From Particular Infractions Changed Over Time?

  • The two largest infraction types resulting in suspensions are defiance and violent incidents without injury.

    • The number of suspensions resulting from defiance has declined precipitously since 2011-12. In 2011-12, the total number of suspensions resulting from defiance was 104,116. That number dropped to 5,473 by 2022-23. That is a 95% reduction in the number of suspensions based upon defiance.

How Have Expulsions Resulting From Particular Infractions Changed Over Time?

  • The main infraction types resulting in expulsions are drug-related incidents and violent incidents without injury.

    • Expulsions related to defiance spiked in 2012-13, but then essentially disappeared after 2012-13. It is likely that this was due to a change in the policy environment.

























What Are the Suspension and Expulsion Rates by All Race/Ethnicity Categories?

  • African Americans and American Indian or Alaska Native individuals have the highest rates of suspensions

  • 2011-12 and 2012-13 had the highest suspension rates for Black students.



















Suspension Rates By All Race/Ethnicity Categories and Infraction Types

African American

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Filipino

Hispanic or Latino

Not Reported

Pacific Islander

Two or More Races

White