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South Lake Tahoe SkylinePhoto: Mark Miller · CC BY-SA 3.0
B
Schools in South Lake Tahoe · Lake Tahoe Unified School District

South Lake Tahoe’s public schools outscore 57% of California districts

The grade covers the public school district serving South Lake Tahoe, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 28% of students in South Lake Tahoe’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.

#396of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
44%
▼ 3 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 5 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▲ 3 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.4K
▼ 18% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
20.8
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
2,609 students on the public path
In brief

South Lake Tahoe’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 561 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of South Lake Tahoe’s, its schools beat 66%, higher than their 57% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 44% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,395 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is South Tahoe Middle, then South Tahoe High. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Elevated Digital Learning Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

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 South Lake Tahoe’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B: better than 57% of California school districts, #396 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 57%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (561)Better than 66%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,794 test results and a graduating class of 326 could put South Lake Tahoe anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of South Lake Tahoe’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,799 in math, 1,790 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8South Tahoe MiddleLake Tahoe Unified School DistrictNo scores
9–12South Tahoe HighLake Tahoe Unified School DistrictNo scores

South Lake Tahoe’s public schools are run by Lake Tahoe 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.

Lake Tahoe Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 8 schools · 3,527 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 20.8 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$17,395CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading44%
State average 46.7% · 1790 students tested
Math28%
State average 33.1% · 1799 students tested

South Lake Tahoe vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
South Lake TahoeBLake Tahoe Unified

Every school in South Lake Tahoe

6 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 South Lake Tahoeby address
Bijou Community
Elementary · Grades K–5
422 students23:1Rate it →
Tahoe Valley Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
395 students22:1Rate it →
South Tahoe Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
716 students19:1Rate it →
South Tahoe High
High · Grades 9–12
1,076 students20:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Mt. Tallac High
High · Grades 9–12
Alternative Education
50 students17:1Rate it →
Online schools based in South Lake Tahoenot counted as local schools
Elevated Digital Learning Academy
Grades K–12
OnlineAlternative Education
116 students23:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Blue Ridge).

Questions about South Lake Tahoe’s schools

Are South Lake Tahoe’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools South Lake Tahoe children attend outscore 57% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #396 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 66%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is South Lake Tahoe in?

Lake Tahoe Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 3,527 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do South Lake Tahoe kids go to high school?

South Tahoe High, with 1,076 students.

What is South Lake Tahoe’s graduation rate?

89% of the class of 2023 in Lake Tahoe Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does South Lake Tahoe spend per student?

$17,395 in Lake Tahoe Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What South Lake Tahoe families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near South Lake Tahoe → 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.