El Dorado County Schools & Education
El Dorado County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,327
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
63/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#16
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: El Dorado County
Measured School Summary
El Dorado County performs at an average level with a school score of 63/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.3%.
Funding Context
At $7,327 per pupil, El Dorado County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 14% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read El Dorado County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
68 public schools and 24 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
63/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #16 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
93.3%
5.8 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,327
$1,435 below the state average
School coverage
68
24 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
El Dorado County has 68 public schools across 24 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What El Dorado County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Choice-program county
El Dorado County has a visible charter, magnet, or virtual-school layer in NCES records. The practical question is eligibility, lottery timing, and transportation, not just whether a school appears nearby.
State position
#16
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
El Dorado Union High
High school only in this slice
6,680 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Buckeye Union Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
4,259 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Lake Tahoe Unified
Elementary to high school visible
3,648 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Rescue Union Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
3,515 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Buckeye Union Elementary is the largest listed district slice, with 9 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in El Dorado County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different El Dorado County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in El Dorado County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Mountainous Education Infrastructure
El Dorado County supports 33,316 students across a network of 68 public schools and 24 individual districts. The landscape includes 34 elementary schools and 11 high schools, providing a comprehensive pipeline from kindergarten through graduation. Over 19% of these institutions are charter schools, offering diverse educational pathways for local families.
Leading Districts and Charter Options
Buckeye Union Elementary is the largest district, serving 4,259 students across nine different schools. Large-scale charter schools like Cottonwood and Sky Mountain Charter each enroll over 2,000 students, representing a significant portion of the county's specialized educational landscape. El Dorado Union High also manages major campuses like Oak Ridge High, which serves 2,516 students.
Rural Roots and Mid-Sized Classrooms
The educational experience here is primarily rural, with 33 schools situated in rural settings and another 19 in towns. Schools average 505 students each, ranging from massive campuses like Cottonwood to much smaller localized facilities. This mix ensures that families can find both large comprehensive high schools and intimate rural learning environments.
School Overview
Total Schools
68
in El Dorado County
Reported Enrollment
33,316
68 schools reporting
School Districts
24
districts
Charter Schools
13
19% of total
School Level Breakdown
24 School Districts in El Dorado County
El Dorado Union High
GuideBuckeye Union Elementary
GuideLake Tahoe Unified
GuideRescue Union Elementary
GuideCottonwood District
Sky Mountain Charter District
Clarksville Charter District
Black Oak Mine Unified
John Adams Academy - El Dorado Hills District
Placerville Union Elementary
68 Public Schools in El Dorado County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 9 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 68 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood | Profile | Cottonwood District | El Dorado Hills, 95762Suburb: Large | KG–12 | Charter | 2,798 |
| Oak Ridge High | Profile | El Dorado Union High | El Dorado Hills, 95762Suburb: Large | 8–12 | High | 2,516 |
| Sky Mountain Charter | Profile | Sky Mountain Charter District | Placerville, 95667Town: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 2,138 |
| Clarksville Charter | Profile | Clarksville Charter District | Orangevile, 95662Suburb: Large | KG–12 | Charter | 1,937 |
| Ponderosa High | Profile | El Dorado Union High | Shingle Springs, 95682Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,648 |
| El Dorado High | Profile | El Dorado Union High | Placerville, 95667Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,224 |
| John Adams Academy - El Dorado Hills | Profile | John Adams Academy - El Dorado Hills District | Roseville, 95678Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 1,217 |
| South Tahoe High | Profile | Lake Tahoe Unified | South Lake Tahoe, 96150Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,141 |
| Union Mine High | Profile | El Dorado Union High | El Dorado, 95623Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,066 |
| Rolling Hills Middle | Record | Buckeye Union Elementary | El Dorado Hills, 95762Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 817 |
| South Tahoe Middle | Record | Lake Tahoe Unified | South Lake Tahoe, 96150Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 798 |
| Marina Village Middle | Record | Rescue Union Elementary | El Dorado Hills, 95762Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 736 |
| Charter Montessori Valley View Campus | Record | Buckeye Union Elementary | El Dorado Hills, 95762Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Charter | 694 |
| Lakeview Elementary | Record | Rescue Union Elementary | El Dorado Hills, 95762Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 545 |
| California Montessori Project-Shingle Springs Campus | Record | CA Montessori Project-Shingle Springs Campus District | Carmichael, 95608Suburb: Large | KG–8 | Charter | 515 |
| Rescue Elementary | Record | Rescue Union Elementary | Rescue, 95672Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 497 |
| Oak Meadow Elementary | Record | Buckeye Union Elementary | El Dorado Hills, 95762Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 496 |
| Golden Sierra Junior Senior High | Record | Black Oak Mine Unified | Garden Valley, 95633Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 488 |
| Blue Oak Elementary | Record | Buckeye Union Elementary | Cameron Park, 95682Suburb: Large | KG–5 | Primary | 485 |
| Camerado Springs Middle | Record | Buckeye Union Elementary | Cameron Park, 95682Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 479 |
Cottonwood
Cottonwood District
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Suburb: Large
Oak Ridge High
El Dorado Union High
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Suburb: Large
Sky Mountain Charter
Sky Mountain Charter District
Placerville, 95667 / Town: Fringe
Clarksville Charter
Clarksville Charter District
Orangevile, 95662 / Suburb: Large
Ponderosa High
El Dorado Union High
Shingle Springs, 95682 / Suburb: Large
El Dorado High
El Dorado Union High
Placerville, 95667 / Town: Fringe
John Adams Academy - El Dorado Hills
John Adams Academy - El Dorado Hills District
Roseville, 95678 / Rural: Fringe
South Tahoe High
Lake Tahoe Unified
South Lake Tahoe, 96150 / Rural: Fringe
Union Mine High
El Dorado Union High
El Dorado, 95623 / Town: Fringe
Rolling Hills Middle
Buckeye Union Elementary
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Suburb: Large
South Tahoe Middle
Lake Tahoe Unified
South Lake Tahoe, 96150 / Town: Distant
Marina Village Middle
Rescue Union Elementary
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Suburb: Large
Charter Montessori Valley View Campus
Buckeye Union Elementary
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Rural: Fringe
Lakeview Elementary
Rescue Union Elementary
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Suburb: Large
California Montessori Project-Shingle Springs Campus
CA Montessori Project-Shingle Springs Campus District
Carmichael, 95608 / Suburb: Large
Oak Meadow Elementary
Buckeye Union Elementary
El Dorado Hills, 95762 / Rural: Fringe
Golden Sierra Junior Senior High
Black Oak Mine Unified
Garden Valley, 95633 / Rural: Distant
Blue Oak Elementary
Buckeye Union Elementary
Cameron Park, 95682 / Suburb: Large
Camerado Springs Middle
Buckeye Union Elementary
Cameron Park, 95682 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,327
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review El Dorado County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in El Dorado County?
What is the graduation rate in El Dorado County?
How much does El Dorado County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in El Dorado County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in El Dorado County, California?
El Dorado County supports 33,316 students across a network of 68 public schools and 24 individual districts. The landscape includes 34 elementary schools and 11 high schools, providing a comprehensive pipeline from kindergarten through graduation. Over 19% of these institutions are charter schools, offering diverse educational pathways for local families.
What are the major school districts in El Dorado County, California?
Buckeye Union Elementary is the largest district, serving 4,259 students across nine different schools. Large-scale charter schools like Cottonwood and Sky Mountain Charter each enroll over 2,000 students, representing a significant portion of the county's specialized educational landscape. El Dorado Union High also manages major campuses like Oak Ridge High, which serves 2,516 students.
What is the school experience like in El Dorado County?
The educational experience here is primarily rural, with 33 schools situated in rural settings and another 19 in towns. Schools average 505 students each, ranging from massive campuses like Cottonwood to much smaller localized facilities. This mix ensures that families can find both large comprehensive high schools and intimate rural learning environments.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.