Nevada County Schools & Education
Nevada County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,898
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
57/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#25
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Nevada County
Measured School Summary
Nevada County performs at an average level with a school score of 57/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.3%.
Funding Context
Nevada County spends $8,898 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 3% above the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Nevada 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
46 public schools and 16 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
57/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #25 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
87.3%
0.2 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,898
$136 above the state average
School coverage
46
16 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
Nevada County has 46 public schools across 16 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 Nevada 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
Nevada 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
#25
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 89% 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.
Nevada Joint Union High
High school only in this slice
2,481 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Tahoe-Truckee Unified
Elementary to high school visible
2,479 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Grass Valley Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
1,601 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary
Elementary and middle visible
1,401 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Tahoe-Truckee Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Nevada County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Nevada 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?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Nevada 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 Diverse School Landscape in Nevada County
Nevada County operates 46 public schools across 16 districts, serving a total of 13,148 students. The system includes 22 elementary schools and 11 high schools, plus a significant number of alternative and other programs.
A Hub for Charter School Innovation
Nevada County is a standout for choice, with 13 charter schools making up over 28% of all campuses. Tahoe-Truckee Unified is the largest traditional district, serving nearly 4,000 students across 11 schools.
Small Town Feel Across the Foothills
The educational experience is defined by town and rural settings, with 33 schools located in town locales and an average size of 321 students. Nevada Union High is the largest campus at 1,458 students, though many schools are significantly smaller.
School Overview
Total Schools
46
in Nevada County
Reported Enrollment
13,148
41 schools reporting
School Districts
16
districts
Charter Schools
13
28% of total
School Level Breakdown
16 School Districts in Nevada County
Tahoe-Truckee Unified
GuideNevada Joint Union High
Grass Valley Elementary
Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary
Nevada County Office of Education
Nevada City Elementary
Union Hill Elementary
Penn Valley Union Elementary
John Muir Charter District
Nevada City School of the Arts District
46 Public Schools in Nevada County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 46 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada Union High | Profile | Nevada Joint Union High | Grass Valley, 95945Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,458 |
| Tahoe Truckee High | Record | Tahoe-Truckee Unified | Truckee, 96161Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 890 |
| Forest Charter | Record | Nevada County Office of Education | Nevada City, 95959Town: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 774 |
| John Muir Charter | Record | John Muir Charter District | Nevada City, 95959Town: Distant | 9–12 | Charter | 558 |
| Union Hill Elementary | Record | Union Hill Elementary | Grass Valley, 95945Town: Distant | KG–6 | Charter | 541 |
| Alder Creek Middle | Record | Tahoe-Truckee Unified | Truckee, 96161Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 538 |
| Bear River High | Record | Nevada Joint Union High | Grass Valley, 95949Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 538 |
| Grass Valley Charter | Record | Grass Valley Elementary | Grass Valley, 95945Town: Distant | KG–8 | Charter | 535 |
| Glenshire Elementary | Record | Tahoe-Truckee Unified | Truckee, 96161Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 500 |
| Lyman Gilmore Middle | Record | Grass Valley Elementary | Grass Valley, 95945Town: Distant | 5–8 | Middle | 461 |
| Cottage Hill Elementary | Record | Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary | Grass Valley, 95949Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 455 |
| Truckee Elementary | Record | Tahoe-Truckee Unified | Truckee, 96161Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 451 |
| Nevada City School of the Arts | Record | Nevada City School of the Arts District | Nevada City, 95959Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Charter | 431 |
| Seven Hills Intermediate | Record | Nevada City Elementary | Nevada City, 95959Town: Distant | 4–8 | Middle | 399 |
| Margaret G. Scotten Elementary | Record | Grass Valley Elementary | Grass Valley, 95945Town: Distant | KG–4 | Primary | 383 |
| Magnolia Intermediate | Record | Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary | Grass Valley, 95949Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 379 |
| Ready Springs Elementary | Record | Penn Valley Union Elementary | Penn Valley, 95946Town: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 371 |
| Alta Sierra Elementary | Record | Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary | Grass Valley, 95949Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 319 |
| Yuba River Charter | Record | Yuba River Charter District | Grass Valley, 95945Town: Distant | KG–8 | Charter | 315 |
| Deer Creek Elementary | Record | Nevada City Elementary | Nevada City, 95959Town: Distant | KG–3 | Primary | 285 |
Nevada Union High
Nevada Joint Union High
Grass Valley, 95945 / Town: Distant
Forest Charter
Nevada County Office of Education
Nevada City, 95959 / Town: Distant
John Muir Charter
John Muir Charter District
Nevada City, 95959 / Town: Distant
Union Hill Elementary
Union Hill Elementary
Grass Valley, 95945 / Town: Distant
Grass Valley Charter
Grass Valley Elementary
Grass Valley, 95945 / Town: Distant
Glenshire Elementary
Tahoe-Truckee Unified
Truckee, 96161 / Town: Distant
Lyman Gilmore Middle
Grass Valley Elementary
Grass Valley, 95945 / Town: Distant
Cottage Hill Elementary
Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary
Grass Valley, 95949 / Rural: Fringe
Nevada City School of the Arts
Nevada City School of the Arts District
Nevada City, 95959 / Rural: Fringe
Seven Hills Intermediate
Nevada City Elementary
Nevada City, 95959 / Town: Distant
Margaret G. Scotten Elementary
Grass Valley Elementary
Grass Valley, 95945 / Town: Distant
Magnolia Intermediate
Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary
Grass Valley, 95949 / Rural: Fringe
Ready Springs Elementary
Penn Valley Union Elementary
Penn Valley, 95946 / Town: Distant
Alta Sierra Elementary
Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary
Grass Valley, 95949 / Town: Distant
Yuba River Charter
Yuba River Charter District
Grass Valley, 95945 / Town: Distant
Deer Creek Elementary
Nevada City Elementary
Nevada City, 95959 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,898
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Nevada 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 Nevada County?
What is the graduation rate in Nevada County?
How much does Nevada County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Nevada County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Nevada County, California?
Nevada County operates 46 public schools across 16 districts, serving a total of 13,148 students. The system includes 22 elementary schools and 11 high schools, plus a significant number of alternative and other programs.
What are the major school districts in Nevada County, California?
Nevada County is a standout for choice, with 13 charter schools making up over 28% of all campuses. Tahoe-Truckee Unified is the largest traditional district, serving nearly 4,000 students across 11 schools.
What is the school experience like in Nevada County?
The educational experience is defined by town and rural settings, with 33 schools located in town locales and an average size of 321 students. Nevada Union High is the largest campus at 1,458 students, though many schools are significantly smaller.
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.