Lake Tahoe Unified School District
School District · South Lake Tahoe, California
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,879
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.2:1
Avg Rating
5.6
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 1 mid, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,879
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.2:1
Evaluating Lake Tahoe Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Lake Tahoe Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Sierra House Elementary
South Lake Tahoe · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Bijou Community
South Lake Tahoe · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
South Tahoe High
South Lake Tahoe · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#509 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$16,879
$768 vs California median
District size
3,604 students
Typical than California median
The short answer
Lake Tahoe Unified ranks #509 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Lake Tahoe Unified's schools with real test data average 5.6/10 across 8 schools. Its top-rated schools are Sierra House Elementary (7.1/10), Bijou Community (6.8/10), and South Tahoe High (6.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
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 Lake Tahoe Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +8.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lake Tahoe Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lake Tahoe Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating 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 all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Lake Tahoe Unified
Lake Tahoe Unified is a South Lake Tahoe, California school district serving 8 schools. The district educates 3,604 students with a student-teacher ratio of 20.2:1. The district invests $16,879 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.6/10, Lake Tahoe Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Sierra House Elementary, which has a composite score of 7.1/10.
In standardized testing, Lake Tahoe Unified students show an average math proficiency of 39.2% and ELA proficiency of 47.0%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools , 1 middle school , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Lake Tahoe Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Lake Tahoe Unified with test data.
Schools in Lake Tahoe Unified
8 schools Elementary Schools 4
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 2
Other Schools 1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- South Lake Tahoe
- Total Enrollment
- 3,604
- Teachers (FTE)
- 178
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lake Tahoe Unified?
Lake Tahoe Unified has 8 schools in total — 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Lake Tahoe Unified?
The average composite rating for Lake Tahoe Unified is 5.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Lake Tahoe Unified?
Lake Tahoe Unified spends $16,879 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lake Tahoe Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Lake Tahoe Unified is 20.2:1.
What is the top-rated school in Lake Tahoe Unified?
Sierra House Elementary is the highest-rated school in Lake Tahoe Unified with a composite score of 7.1/10.
What are the test scores in Lake Tahoe Unified?
Across schools in Lake Tahoe Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 39.2% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Lake Tahoe Unified compare to other districts in California?
Lake Tahoe Unified has an average school rating of 5.6/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 39.2%
- ELA Proficiency
- 47.0%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Lake Tahoe Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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