Best Schools in South Lake Tahoe, California
8 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in South Lake Tahoe?
Use this page to compare every school in South Lake Tahoe by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Sierra House Elementary
Elementary · Lake Tahoe Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Bijou Community
Elementary · Lake Tahoe Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
South Tahoe High
High · Lake Tahoe Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in South Lake Tahoe for 2026 are Sierra House Elementary (7.1/10), Bijou Community (6.8/10), and South Tahoe High (6.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
8
in this city
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$649,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
8
in this city
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$649,100
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 7.1/10 despite 62% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among South Lake Tahoe schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among South Lake Tahoe schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in South Lake Tahoe
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra House Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Bijou Community | 6.8 / 10 |
| 3 | South Tahoe High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Meyers Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | South Tahoe Middle | 5.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Mt. Tallac High | 5.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Tahoe Valley Elementary | 4.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Elevated Digital Learning Academy | 3.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $83,738
- Median home value
- $649,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 39%
- Avg commute
- 18 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
13% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How South Lake Tahoe compares
California rank
#465 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$84k
84% of California median
Schools in this city
8
About Schools in South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe, California is home to 8 schools, including 8 public schools. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.6 out of 10, schools in South Lake Tahoe show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in South Lake Tahoe is Sierra House Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
South Lake Tahoe is served by 1 school district: Lake Tahoe Unified. These districts collectively serve 3,604 students.
South Lake Tahoe's community shows 39% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $83,738. The poverty rate in the area is 10.4%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 412 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 425 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 352 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 402 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.3 |
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 765 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,108 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 2 | 64 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 76 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.7 |
Schools in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe, California · 8 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$83,738
Median Home Value
$649,100
Median Rent
$1,497/mo
Population
29,527
College Educated
39%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
18 min
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Community Profile
South Lake Tahoe has a median household income of $83,738. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $649,100, with a median rent of $1,497/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.4%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in South Lake Tahoe, California
How many schools are in South Lake Tahoe, California?
South Lake Tahoe has 8 schools, including 8 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in South Lake Tahoe is 5.6 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The top-ranked school in South Lake Tahoe on MySchoolScout is Sierra House Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in South Lake Tahoe on MySchoolScout is Sierra House Elementary with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What is the best middle school in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The top-ranked middle school in South Lake Tahoe on MySchoolScout is South Tahoe Middle with a composite score of 5.4/10.
What is the best high school in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The top-ranked high school in South Lake Tahoe on MySchoolScout is South Tahoe High with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve South Lake Tahoe, California?
South Lake Tahoe is served by 1 school district: Lake Tahoe Unified.
What is the education level in South Lake Tahoe, California?
According to Census data, 39% of adults in South Lake Tahoe have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The median household income in South Lake Tahoe is approximately $83,738 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in South Lake Tahoe, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in South Lake Tahoe is 20.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in South Lake Tahoe, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.