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#7149 of 9,539 schools in CA

Alta Sierra Elementary

Elementary School · Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary · Grass Valley, CA

A Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 5th.

16607 Annie Dr., Grass Valley, CA 95949

  • Math 50% vs CA 39% (2024)
  • Reading 53% vs CA 45% (2024)
  • 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.3Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.96 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.4Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency50% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency53.8% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+4.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)54% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-2.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile61th
Resources & Environment3.5Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.1:1
District spending per student$13,572
Chronic Absenteeism36%

Students at Alta Sierra Elementary score 52% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency50%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
39%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency53%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
45%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 23 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 51% recently.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
57%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
54%
ELA
49%
2024
Math
50%
ELA
53%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 61% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 34 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

36.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Alta Sierra Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 3Car-Dependent
  • Bike 5Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,743/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Grass Valley), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$90,309

Median home value

$551,700

Median rent

$1,827/mo

College educated

32.3%

Homeownership

86.2%

Poverty rate

9.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95949; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Chicago Park Community CharterCharter · enrollment unverified8.8K–83.9 mi35Compare →
Chicago Park ElementaryEnrollment path unverified6.8K–83.9 mi121Compare →
Colfax ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.7K–84.4 mi334Compare →
Arete Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified7.7K–84.9 mi239Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary

Schools in district
5
Rank in district
#3 of 4
District spending per student
$13,572NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
10.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Alta Sierra Elementary is listed in Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Alta Sierra Elementary

Alta Sierra Elementary is a public elementary school in Grass Valley, CA, part of Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary, serving approximately 331 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #7,149 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Alta Sierra Elementary

What grades does Alta Sierra Elementary serve?

Alta Sierra Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Alta Sierra Elementary?

Alta Sierra Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 331 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Alta Sierra Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Alta Sierra Elementary is 22.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Alta Sierra Elementary rank in CA?

Alta Sierra Elementary ranks #7,149 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Alta Sierra Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Alta Sierra Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Alta Sierra Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Alta Sierra Elementary has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Alta Sierra Elementary a charter school?

No, Alta Sierra Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Alta Sierra Elementary a Title I school?

No, Alta Sierra Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Alta Sierra Elementary?

36.3% of students at Alta Sierra Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
331
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
15
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Nevada County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
36.0%
Area population (ZIP 95949)
20,709
Area average commute
28.9 min
Area median age
54.4
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 95949; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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