Tuolumne County Schools & Education
Tuolumne County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
49/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
84.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,703
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
49/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#42
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Tuolumne County
Measured School Summary
Tuolumne County has midrange measured school signals (score: 49/100) with a graduation rate of 84.8%, which warrants review in official state and district records.
Funding Context
Tuolumne County spends $8,703 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 11% below the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Tuolumne 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
30 public schools and 13 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
49/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #42 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
84.8%
2.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,703
$59 below the state average
School coverage
30
13 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
Tuolumne County has 30 public schools across 13 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 Tuolumne 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.
Mixed school landscape
Tuolumne County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#42
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 6 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 83% 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.
Sonora Union High
High school only in this slice
1,087 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Sonora Elementary
Elementary school only in this slice
724 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Summerville Union High
High school only in this slice
667 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Soulsbyville Elementary
Elementary school only in this slice
484 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Summerville Union High is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Tuolumne County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Tuolumne County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Tuolumne 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.
Education in the Sierra Foothills
Tuolumne County supports 5,832 students across 30 public schools in 13 different districts. The county features 10 elementary schools and 11 high schools, with several specialized 'other' schools filling the gaps. This distribution ensures that students in remote foothill communities still have access to consistent education.
Sonora Union High Takes the Lead
Sonora Union High is the county's largest district by enrollment, serving 1,087 students across three schools. Charter schools are rare in the region, making up only 6.7% of the total school count with just two active campuses. Summerville Union High also serves as a key district for the northern part of the county with 667 students.
Town-Centered and Rural Learning
Every school in Tuolumne County is located in either a rural setting or a designated town, with no urban or suburban campuses. The average school size is 233 students, though Sonora High acts as a larger hub with 919 students. This small-scale environment creates a personal feel for most students attending primary and secondary schools.
School Overview
Total Schools
30
in Tuolumne County
Reported Enrollment
5,832
25 schools reporting
School Districts
13
districts
Charter Schools
2
7% of total
School Level Breakdown
13 School Districts in Tuolumne County
Sonora Union High
Sonora Elementary
Summerville Union High
Soulsbyville Elementary
Curtis Creek Elementary
Columbia Union
Gold Rush Charter District
Summerville Elementary
Jamestown Elementary
Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified
30 Public Schools in Tuolumne County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 30 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora High | Record | Sonora Union High | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 919 |
| Sonora Elementary | Record | Sonora Elementary | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 724 |
| Soulsbyville Elementary | Record | Soulsbyville Elementary | Soulsbyville, 95372Town: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 484 |
| Summerville High | Record | Summerville Union High | Tuolumne, 95379Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 457 |
| Curtis Creek Elementary | Record | Curtis Creek Elementary | Sonora, 95370Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 440 |
| Columbia Elementary | Record | Columbia Union | Columbia, 95310Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 437 |
| Gold Rush Home Study Charter | Record | Gold Rush Charter District | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 416 |
| Summerville Elementary | Record | Summerville Elementary | Tuolumne, 95379Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 416 |
| Jamestown Elementary | Record | Jamestown Elementary | Jamestown, 95327Town: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 350 |
| Twain Harte | Record | Twain Harte | Twain Harte, 95383Town: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 254 |
| Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy | Record | Summerville Union High | Tuolumne, 95379Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | Charter | 194 |
| Tenaya Elementary | Record | Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified | Groveland, 95321Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 179 |
| Belleview Elementary | Record | Belleview Elementary | Sonora, 95370Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Primary | 173 |
| Theodore Bird High | Record | Sonora Union High | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | 9–12 | Alternative | 104 |
| Dario Cassina High | Record | Sonora Union High | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | 10–12 | Alternative | 64 |
| Don Pedro High | Record | Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified | La Grange, 95329Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 50 |
| Tioga High | Record | Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified | Groveland, 95321Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 47 |
| Tuolumne County Special Education | Record | Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | KG–12 | Special Education | 45 |
| Chinese Camp Elementary | Record | Jamestown Elementary | Jamestown, 95327Rural: Distant | 3–6 | Primary | 30 |
| Tuolumne County Community/ISP | Record | Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools | Sonora, 95370Town: Distant | KG–12 | Alternative | 23 |
Soulsbyville Elementary
Soulsbyville Elementary
Soulsbyville, 95372 / Town: Distant
Curtis Creek Elementary
Curtis Creek Elementary
Sonora, 95370 / Rural: Fringe
Gold Rush Home Study Charter
Gold Rush Charter District
Sonora, 95370 / Town: Distant
Summerville Elementary
Summerville Elementary
Tuolumne, 95379 / Rural: Fringe
Jamestown Elementary
Jamestown Elementary
Jamestown, 95327 / Town: Distant
Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy
Summerville Union High
Tuolumne, 95379 / Rural: Fringe
Tenaya Elementary
Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified
Groveland, 95321 / Rural: Distant
Don Pedro High
Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified
La Grange, 95329 / Rural: Distant
Tuolumne County Special Education
Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools
Sonora, 95370 / Town: Distant
Chinese Camp Elementary
Jamestown Elementary
Jamestown, 95327 / Rural: Distant
Tuolumne County Community/ISP
Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools
Sonora, 95370 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,703
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Tuolumne County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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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 Tuolumne County?
What is the graduation rate in Tuolumne County?
How much does Tuolumne County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Tuolumne County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Tuolumne County, California?
Tuolumne County supports 5,832 students across 30 public schools in 13 different districts. The county features 10 elementary schools and 11 high schools, with several specialized 'other' schools filling the gaps. This distribution ensures that students in remote foothill communities still have access to consistent education.
What are the major school districts in Tuolumne County, California?
Sonora Union High is the county's largest district by enrollment, serving 1,087 students across three schools. Charter schools are rare in the region, making up only 6.7% of the total school count with just two active campuses. Summerville Union High also serves as a key district for the northern part of the county with 667 students.
What is the school experience like in Tuolumne County?
Every school in Tuolumne County is located in either a rural setting or a designated town, with no urban or suburban campuses. The average school size is 233 students, though Sonora High acts as a larger hub with 919 students. This small-scale environment creates a personal feel for most students attending primary and secondary schools.
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.