Limited Profile
Not enough data to generate a rating
Cold Stream Alternative
School · Tahoe-Truckee Unified
11661 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
Enrollment
13
Student-Teacher
3.2:1
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
13
Student-Teacher
3.2:1
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
About Cold Stream Alternative
Cold Stream Alternative is a public school in Truckee, CA, part of the Tahoe-Truckee Unified. The school serves approximately 13 students in grades Kindergarten – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 3.2:1. Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $128,535, where 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a distant town setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 13 students, Cold Stream Alternative is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 3.2:1, Cold Stream Alternative offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
School Profile
Limited Data- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 13 students
- Type
- Public
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 3.2:1
- Address
- 11661 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
- Phone
- (530) 582-2640
- Data Year
- SY 2022-23
Why doesn't this school have a score?
We don't have enough verified data to rate this school fairly. This can happen when a school is very new, very small, or has limited test score reporting to the state.
Our rating model requires at least 2 of 4 data components (academics, student progress, college readiness, and resources) to generate a meaningful score. Schools below this threshold receive a Limited Profile to avoid misleading ratings.
Test Scores
Test score data not yet available for this school.
Funding & Resources
Location
11661 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Cold Stream Alternative may also want to explore other schools in the area. Alder Creek Middle (rated 8.4/10, 2.4 miles away). Another option is Kings Beach Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 11.4 miles away, in nearby King Beach). Additionally, Truckee Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.4 miles away). For more schools in Truckee, see our Truckee schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 13.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra High (Continuation) Truckee | 0.0 mi | 7.7 |
| Sierra Expeditionary Learning Truckee | 0.2 mi | 4.2 |
| Tahoe Truckee High Truckee | 0.2 mi | 7.5 |
| Truckee Elementary Truckee | 0.4 mi | 7.9 |
| Wild River - Coldstream Campus Truckee | 0.8 mi | — |
| Alder Creek Middle Truckee | 2.4 mi | 8.4 |
| Tahoe Expedition Academy Truckee | 2.9 mi | — |
| TAHOE EXPEDITION ACADEMY Truckee | 3.1 mi | 5.9 |
| Wild River - Haskatasun Truckee | 5.4 mi | — |
| Lake Tahoe Preparatory School Olympic Valley | 8.2 mi | — |
| LAKE TAHOE PREPATORY SCHOOL Olympic Valley | 8.2 mi | 7.8 |
| Glenshire Elementary Truckee | 6.6 mi | 7.5 |
| SUGAR BOWL ACADEMY Norden | 6.7 mi | 6.9 |
| Creekside Charter Olympic Valley | 8.8 mi | 7.1 |
| North Tahoe High Tahoe City | 10.2 mi | 6.8 |
| North Tahoe Middle Tahoe City | 10.2 mi | 7.7 |
| Tahoe Lake Elementary Tahoe City | 11.0 mi | 4.3 |
| ISchool Kings Beach | 10.5 mi | — |
| Kings Beach Elementary King Beach | 11.4 mi | 8.2 |
| Donner Trail Elementary Soda Springs | 13.0 mi | 7.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 96161 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$128,535
Median Home Value
$922,000
Median Rent
$2,104/mo
Population
19,231
College Educated
60.4%
Homeownership
78.6%
Avg Commute
21.9 min
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Median Age
43.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Cold Stream Alternative has a median household income of $128,535. It is a well-educated community where 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $922,000, with a median rent of $2,104/month. The local poverty rate of 6.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ACTON ACADEMY VENICE BEACH Venice, CA | — |
| ALBA San Diego, CA | — |
| Amador County Special Education Jackson, CA | — |
| BASES Learning Center Oroville, CA | — |
| BEREAN CHRISTIAN Angelus Oaks, CA | — |
| BETHANY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Wasco, CA | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cold Stream Alternative
What grades does Cold Stream Alternative serve?
Cold Stream Alternative serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Cold Stream Alternative?
Cold Stream Alternative has an enrollment of approximately 13 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cold Stream Alternative?
The student-teacher ratio at Cold Stream Alternative is 3.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
Is Cold Stream Alternative a charter school?
No, Cold Stream Alternative is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cold Stream Alternative a Title I school?
No, Cold Stream Alternative is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cold Stream Alternative?
46.2% of students at Cold Stream Alternative qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Elevated (1,045/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Truckee). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 13
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 3.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 4
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 46.2%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Nevada County
- Phone
- (530) 582-2640
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Tahoe-Truckee Unified- District Enrollment
- 3,920
- Schools in District
- 11
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $22,692
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated 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
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.