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Amador County Unified

Below Average2024–25 data10 schools · avg 35.0/100

Amador County Unified has 10 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 35.0/100 — 8.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Argonaut High at 57/100, where 12.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,146 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 27.2%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
35.0
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
37.2
19.4 – 56.7
Avg Exceeded %
10.5%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
27.2%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
10
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
32.0/100
612.0%20.1%
MiddleNeeds Support
19.4/100
15.0%29.4%
HighDeveloping
46.0/100
39.5%40.8%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Amador County Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
32.0
avg score · 6 schools
Sutter Creek Elementary
Developing
43/100
Jackson Elementary
Developing
36/100
+3 more elementary schools
Middle
19.4
avg score · 1 school
Ione Junior High
Needs Support
19/100
High
46.0
avg score · 3 schools
Argonaut High
Solid
57/100
Amador High
Solid
57/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Amador County Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 46.0.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -3.7pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 37.2 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 27.2%, 9.1pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 6.8%, below the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Argonaut High leads the district at 57 with 12.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Amador County Unified

3 On the Rise7 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 3 schools in Amador County Unified are classified as On the Rise (3) — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
26.2%
White
60.7%
Asian
0.5%
Black
0.8%
Other
11.8%
Free/Reduced Lunch
43%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Amador County Unified spends $11,146 per student in current expenditures — $3,669 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$11,146
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
3,889
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 21.8%
$9,154 → $11,146
Spending Efficiency
3.14
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 57%Support 40%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Elementary Schools (6)

Amador County Unified has 6 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.0 — 11.7 points below the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -3.7pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Sutter Creek Elementary with a Scope Score of 43 and 21.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Sutter Creek Elementary
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
21.2%Developing
43/100
2Pioneer Magnet School for the Visual and Performin
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
17.8%Developing
37/100
3Jackson Elementary
Amador County Unified On the Rise
9.0%Developing
36/100
4Ione Elementary
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
5.4%Needs Support
27/100
5Pine Grove Elementary STEM Magnet
Amador County Unified On the Rise
7.9%Needs Support
25/100
6Plymouth Elementary
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
10.7%Needs Support
24/100

Middle Schools (1)

Amador County Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 19.4 — 21.0 points below the state average of 40.5.

District-wide growth averages +10.8pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring middle school is Ione Junior High with a Scope Score of 19 and 5.0% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Ione Junior High
Amador County Unified On the Rise
5.0%Needs Support
19/100

High Schools (3)

Amador County Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 46.0 — 1.4 points near the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Argonaut High with a Scope Score of 57 and 12.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Argonaut High
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
12.6%Solid
57/100
2Amador High
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
15.7%Solid
57/100
3Independence High (Continuation)
Amador County Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
25/100

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Amador County Unified

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How resources are distributed across schools within the district

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Amador County Unified a good school district?
Amador County Unified has 10 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 35.0/100, which is 8.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. 10.5% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Amador County Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Amador County Unified is Argonaut High with a Scope Score of 57/100 and 12.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Amador County Unified spend per student?
Amador County Unified spends $11,146 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.