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B
Schools in Lake Wildwood · Penn Valley Union Elementary School District, Nevada Joint Union High School District

Lake Wildwood’s public schools outscore 57% of California districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lake Wildwood, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#394of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 90% 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
45%
▼ 2 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
31%
▼ 3 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▼ 0 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.6K
▼ 12% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Nevada Joint Union High
Students per teacher
20.2
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
2,727 students on the public path
In brief

Lake Wildwood’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 575 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lake Wildwood’s, its schools beat 63%, higher than their 57% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 45% of tested students were proficient in reading and 31% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 90% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Penn Valley Union Elementary spends $15,385 per student and Nevada Joint Union High $18,632, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Lake Wildwood’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 57% of California school districts, #394 of 847 California towns. Both inputs trail the California average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 57%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (575)Better than 63%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 884 test results and a graduating class of 600 could put Lake Wildwood anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 90% of Lake Wildwood’s students in the tested grades sat them (888 in math, 878 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–3Williams Ranch Elementaryin Penn ValleyB
4–8Ready Springs Elementaryin Penn ValleyB−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressB to A−

Lake Wildwood runs its own schools through grade 12 (Penn Valley Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Nevada Joint Union High School District, shared with Grass Valley and Nevada City. Its elementary school is in Penn Valley. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Lake Wildwood

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

Penn Valley Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–12 · 3 schools · 535 students · 18.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$15,385CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Nevada Joint Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 5 schools · 2,571 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 20.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$18,632CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Penn Valley Union Elementary School District46%
State average 46.7% · 372 students tested
Math · K–12, Penn Valley Union Elementary School District34%
State average 33.1% · 371 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Nevada Joint Union High School District44%
State average 46.7% · 506 students tested
Math · 9–12, Nevada Joint Union High School District28%
State average 33.1% · 517 students tested

Lake Wildwood vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lake WildwoodBPenn Valley Union Elementary K–12 · Nevada Joint Union High 9–12

Every school in Lake Wildwood

4 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).

Also serving Lake Wildwoodin other towns
Williams Ranch Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–3 · Penn Valley
B
247 students22:1Rate it →
Ready Springs Elementary
Middle · Grades 4–8 · Penn Valley
B−
255 students19:1Rate it →
Nevada Union High
High · Grades 9–12 · Grass Valley
B
1,561 students20:1Rate it →
Bear River High
High · Grades 9–12 · Grass Valley
A−
664 students24:1Rate it →

Questions about Lake Wildwood’s schools

Are Lake Wildwood’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Lake Wildwood children attend outscore 57% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #394 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 63%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lake Wildwood in?

Two districts: Penn Valley Union Elementary School District runs grades K–12, and Nevada Joint Union High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Grass Valley and Nevada City.

Where do Lake Wildwood kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Nevada Union High and Bear River High.

What is Lake Wildwood’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Nevada Joint Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Lake Wildwood spend per student?

$15,385 in Penn Valley Union Elementary School District and $18,632 in Nevada Joint Union High School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lake Wildwood families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake Wildwood → 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.