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BBV Summer 2019 -33Photo: BigBearCabins · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Big Bear Lake · Bear Valley Unified School District

Big Bear Lake’s public schools outscore 55% of California districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Big Bear Lake, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 28% of students in Big Bear Lake’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#425of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 92% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
43%
▼ 4 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 5 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 1–3 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.5K
▼ 13% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
21.3
CA 21.6
Schools in town
1
2,143 students on the public path
In brief

Big Bear Lake’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 519 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Big Bear Lake’s, its schools beat 64%, higher than their 55% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 43% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 92% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California (the state reports Big Bear Lake’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $18,483 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Big Bear Middle, then Big Bear High. Enrollment is up 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Big Bear Lake’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 55% of California school districts, #425 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 55%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (519)Better than 64%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,096 test results and a graduating class of 185 could put Big Bear Lake anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 92% of Big Bear Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,094 in math, 1,099 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Big Bear Lake, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A
6–8Big Bear MiddleBear Valley Unified School DistrictC+
9–12Big Bear Highin Big Bear CityA−

Big Bear Lake’s public schools are run by Bear Valley Unified School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bear Valley Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 6 schools · 2,176 students, up 10% since 2020–21 · 21.3 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$18,483CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading43%
State average 46.7% · 1099 students tested
Math28%
State average 33.1% · 1094 students tested

Big Bear Lake vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Big Bear Lake’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Big Bear LakeBBear Valley Unified

Every school in Big Bear Lake

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Big Bear Lakeby address
Big Bear Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
489 students21:1Rate it →
Also serving Big Bear Lakein other towns
North Shore Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
B−
517 students23:1Rate it →
Baldwin Lane Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Big Bear City
B−
445 students24:1Rate it →
Fallsvale
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Forest Falls
A
62 students21:1Rate it →
Big Bear High
High · Grades 9–12 · Big Bear City
A−
630 students19:1Rate it →

Questions about Big Bear Lake’s schools

Are Big Bear Lake’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Big Bear Lake children attend outscore 55% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #425 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Big Bear Lake in?

Bear Valley Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 2,176 students in 6 schools (2024–25).

Where do Big Bear Lake kids go to high school?

Big Bear High in Big Bear City, with 630 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Big Bear Lake’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Bear Valley Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Big Bear Lake spend per student?

$18,483 in Bear Valley Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Big Bear Lake families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Big Bear Lake → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.