Del Norte County Office of Education
About DNCOE
About Del Norte County Office of Education
Del Norte County Office of Education provides countywide leadership, oversight, and specialized services that support education across Del Norte County. As a single-district county, Del Norte has a unique educational structure in which DNCOE and Del Norte Unified School District serve the same geographic area while carrying distinct responsibilities. DNCOE works alongside local education partners, charter schools, county-operated programs, staff, families, and community partners to help students succeed.
DNCOE supports countywide programs, charter school oversight, technology, professional learning, student support, fiscal and administrative services, and public accountability. We also work with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, California Department of Education, Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, and other partners to strengthen systems, clarify roles, and help advance effective practices for single-district counties.
Our History
The roots of the Del Norte County Office of Education date to the earliest years of Del Norte County. Historical records identify H. W. McMillen as likely the county’s first Superintendent of Schools in 1858, responsible for supervising public schools and maintaining educational records. The office’s role expanded significantly following California’s County School Service Act of 1947, which established broader county-level educational services. In 1965, following the unification of Del Norte County’s school districts, the County Superintendent also assumed leadership of the newly formed Del Norte County Unified School District, beginning the single-district county structure that continues today.
Today, DNCOE continues that tradition of countywide leadership by strengthening partnerships, coordinating resources, and supporting educational opportunities that help students throughout Del Norte County succeed in school, career, and life.