schoolsbycounty

Tulare County Schools & Education

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,603

National avg $13,239

State avg $8,762

School Score

65/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 55/100

State Score Position

#10

of 58 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Tulare County

Measured School Summary

Tulare County performs at an average level with a school score of 65/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.9%.

Funding Context

Tulare County spends $8,603 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 18% above the California average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Tulare 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

194 public schools and 50 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

65/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #10 of 58 California counties with school score data.

Completion

90.9%

3.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,603

$159 below the state average

School coverage

194

50 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

Tulare County has 194 public schools across 50 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.

Parent decision brief

What Tulare 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.

Large multi-district county

Tulare County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#10

of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 10 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% 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.

Visalia Unified

Elementary to high school visible

28,827 students

Elementary 28Middle 5High 8Other 0

41 listed schools in this county slice.

Porterville Unified

Elementary to high school visible

14,208 students

Elementary 10Middle 3High 8Other 1

22 listed schools in this county slice.

Tulare City

Elementary and middle visible

9,169 students

Elementary 12Middle 6High 0Other 0

18 listed schools in this county slice.

Dinuba Unified

Elementary to high school visible

6,471 students

Elementary 6Middle 1High 2Other 1

10 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Visalia Unified is the largest listed district slice, with 41 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 Tulare County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Tulare 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 Tulare 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 Massive Central Valley System

Tulare County hosts a sprawling network of 194 public schools serving 102,514 students. These schools are organized across 50 districts, providing a mix of 111 elementary and 43 high schools. This infrastructure makes it one of the largest and most complex educational systems in the California interior.

Visalia Unified Leads a Diverse Mix

Visalia Unified is the regional powerhouse with 28,827 students enrolled across 41 schools. Charter schools represent 10.3% of the county's total, including the massive Summit Charter Academy which serves 2,378 students. Large high schools are common here, with Redwood High in Visalia leading the way with 2,483 students.

Suburban and Rural Diversity

The county features a balanced mix of 68 suburban schools and 49 rural campuses, catering to both town dwellers and farming communities. The average school size is 540 students, though many city-based high schools exceed 2,000 students. This variety allows families to choose between bustling urban high schools and quieter rural elementary settings.

School Overview

Total Schools

194

in Tulare County

Reported Enrollment

102,514

193 schools reporting

School Districts

50

districts

Charter Schools

20

10% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary111
Middle27
High43
Other13

194 Public Schools in Tulare County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 18 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 194 matching schools

Redwood High

Visalia Unified

Visalia, 93291 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,483 students

Summit Charter Academy

Burton Elementary

Porterville, 93257 / Suburb: Small

ProfileKG–12Charter2,378 students

Porterville High

Porterville Unified

Porterville, 93257 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High2,178 students

Dinuba High

Dinuba Unified

Dinuba, 93618 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High2,119 students

Monache High

Porterville Unified

Porterville, 93257 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High2,049 students

Golden West High

Visalia Unified

Visalia, 93292 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High2,008 students

El Diamante High

Visalia Unified

Visalia, 93277 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,987 students

Tulare Western High

Tulare Joint Union High

Tulare, 93274 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,933 students

Tulare Union High

Tulare Joint Union High

Tulare, 93274 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,699 students

Mission Oak High

Tulare Joint Union High

Tulare, 93274 / Suburb: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,686 students

Mt. Whitney High

Visalia Unified

Visalia, 93277 / City: Midsize

Profile9–12High1,639 students

Granite Hills High

Porterville Unified

Porterville, 93257 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,242 students

Lindsay Senior High

Lindsay Unified

Lindsay, 93247 / Town: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,131 students

Monarch River Academy

Monarch River Academy District

Porterville, 93257 / Suburb: Small

ProfileKG–12Charter1,125 students

Special Education

Tulare County Office of Education

Visalia, 93278 / City: Midsize

ProfileKG–12Special Education1,077 students

Orosi High

Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified

Orosi, 93647 / Town: Distant

Profile9–12High1,049 students

Washington Intermediate

Dinuba Unified

Dinuba, 93618 / Town: Distant

Profile7–8Middle1,010 students

Valley Oak Middle

Visalia Unified

Visalia, 93292 / City: Midsize

Profile7–8Middle946 students

El Monte Middle

Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified

Orosi, 93647 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle923 students

Exeter Union High

Exeter Unified

Exeter, 93221 / Suburb: Midsize

Record9–12High894 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,603

State avg $8,762

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Tulare County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
Sierra County (95.0%), El Dorado County (93.3%), and Colusa County (92.5%) currently lead California among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
Across California counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $8,762. The highest current county values are Alpine County ($23,219), Mono County ($10,800), and Marin County ($10,425). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Tulare County?
Tulare County has a school score of 65/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Tulare County?
The high school graduation rate in Tulare County is 90.9%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Tulare County spend per student?
Tulare County spends $8,603 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Tulare County, California — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Tulare County, California?

Tulare County hosts a sprawling network of 194 public schools serving 102,514 students. These schools are organized across 50 districts, providing a mix of 111 elementary and 43 high schools. This infrastructure makes it one of the largest and most complex educational systems in the California interior.

What are the major school districts in Tulare County, California?

Visalia Unified is the regional powerhouse with 28,827 students enrolled across 41 schools. Charter schools represent 10.3% of the county's total, including the massive Summit Charter Academy which serves 2,378 students. Large high schools are common here, with Redwood High in Visalia leading the way with 2,483 students.

What is the school experience like in Tulare County?

The county features a balanced mix of 68 suburban schools and 49 rural campuses, catering to both town dwellers and farming communities. The average school size is 540 students, though many city-based high schools exceed 2,000 students. This variety allows families to choose between bustling urban high schools and quieter rural elementary settings.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.