The Pierce Joint Unified School District is a rural school district encompassing some 435 square miles in the southern one third of Colusa County and extending six miles further south into Yolo County. The District is comprised of two TK-5 elementary schools, one 6-8 junior high school, one 9-12 senior high school and one continuation high school which serves the educational needs of the communities of Arbuckle, College City, Dunnigan, Grimes, and the surrounding areas. The district’s student demographics include the following ethnicity: 76% Hispanic, 21.% White and 1% African American. 71% of the students are on the free and reduced lunch program.
The flat land of the district slopes gently upward to the rolling foothills of the Coastal Mountains and reaches to the winding path of the Sacramento River. Seasonal changes provide a view of rippling grass in the fall, icicles hanging in crystal stalactites from bare orchard branches in the winter, acres of snowy almond blossoms in the spring and golden browns and yellows of maturing grain and rice in the summer.
Agriculture is the basis for the economy in the area. Local farmers do careful pre-planning, ground preparation, and coordination of the scheduling of man power and equipment. There is an unending need to be watching as the crop matures to determine nutrients and water needs as well as to be vigilant against weeds or pests hindering growth. The district’s process of educating students is analogous to farming. We plant seeds of knowledge, cultivate, nurture and celebrate the unfolding of each blossom. We continually plan, monitor, and model best behaviors and practices known. We believe the quality of the lives of our families and neighbors depends on the success of each harvest.