| Index | McKinleyville | California | National |
| Average Test Scores | 39% | 43% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | 27:1 | 20:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | 5 | 8,308 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 3,438 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | n/a | 1,085 | 7,963 |

| Index | McKinleyville | California | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 88.6% | 81.1% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 88.2% | 79.8% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 68.6% | 61.5% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 40.3% | 39.8% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 29.8% | 32.0% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 8.0% | 11.9% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 3.0% | 3.9% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 2.0% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
There are a total of 5 public schools, n/a private schools and n/a post-secondary schools in McKinleyville. Using the proficiency score averages, the average test scores for McKinleyville, CA schools is 39%. The average student to teacher ratio is 27:1. In McKinleyville, CA, an average of 88.6% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 88.2% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Arcata, CA | 18,799 | 55% | 14.3% |
| Trinidad, CA | 359 | 51% | 6.3% |
| Manila, CA | 790 | 50% | 3.1% |
| Blue Lake, CA | 969 | 44% | 9.4% |
| Eureka, CA | 27,853 | 39% | 18.8% |
| McKinleyville, CA | 16,979 | 39% | 19.0% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| El Segundo, CA | 16,972 | 56% | 16.3% |
| Wahiawa, HI | 16,989 | 52% | 7.9% |
| Buda, TX | 16,991 | 50% | 4.5% |
| Artesia, CA | 16,957 | 51% | 6.0% |
| Streetsboro, OH | 16,956 | 66% | 36.7% |
| McKinleyville, CA | 16,979 | 39% | 19.0% |