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School Profile · Nevada City

Nevada City School of the Arts: Low-income kids here outscore the state by 17 points. But suspensions run the state rate.

Nevada City School of the Arts posts numbers for its most vulnerable students that most schools don't reach overall. The trend line is the part worth a closer look.

Charter school — publicly funded, independently operated, open enrollment via lottery. Learn more
Scope Score
49
🌱 Building Momentum · Developing
ranked #1,801 statewide · #1 of 4 in Nevada County Office of Education

Nevada City School of the Arts scores 49 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 69th percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

Most rating sites would stop at “53% proficient” and call it done. Nevada City School of the Arts deserves a closer read. The school sits in Nevada City, where two in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

The headline number: 55.7% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide.

As a charter, Nevada City School of the Arts enrolls by application, not address — the score reads the same, the enrollment path doesn't.

The story this school is actually telling

The equalizer · low-income proficiency
55.7%

of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide.

↑ the number zip-code rankings hide
The catch · suspensions
3.9%

of students were suspended, versus 1.6% statewide — a school visit will tell you more than this number.

↓ the part no ranking site shows you

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.

26%
26%
48%
Grade 3 · 52% proficient
24%
40%
36%
Grade 4 · 64% proficient
31%
29%
40%
Grade 5 · 60% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding rises 4.6pp across grades; the floor rises 7.2pp. The state average rises 4.5pp over the same span. Kids here gain ground the longer they stay — the pattern you want to see. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

55.7%
Low-income · ELA · met standard

Nevada City School of the Arts's most underrated number

55.7% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide. That's the strongest kind of signal a school can post: it holds across income lines.

Nevada City School of the Arts low-income: 55.7%State low-income: 38.2%

The 5 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
26.3%
State 21.3%
5.0pp above state avg
Met or exceeded
52.8%
State 42.7%
10.1pp above state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
-8.3pp
State -2.9pp
Scores decline across grades
Chronic absenteeism
12.2%
State 17.9%
5.7pp below state avg
Suspension rate
3.9%
State 1.6%
2.2pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask about the discipline philosophy and what a typical suspension is for. Numbers can't tell you whether a campus feels strict or chaotic — a visit can.

Where the path goes

The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.

Estimated K-12 Path
Elementary
Nevada City School of the…
49
This school

Estimated K-12 path based on district and proximity. Actual attendance zones may differ. Contact your school district for official feeder information.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.

The community around it

Community Profile
Context — not part of the Scope Score

Student demographics

Hispanic12.6%
White75.3%
Asian0.6%
Black0.2%
Other11.3%
GenderFemale 56.0%Male 43.8%Non-binary 0.2%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 43.0% (21pp below CA avg)
Resources & Access
Enrollment
477
143 below CA avg (~620)
Transitional Kindergarten
TK status unconfirmed
No TK enrollment is on file with the state for this school — that isn't the same as “no TK.” Confirm directly with the district.
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
2 fewer students per teacher than CA avg
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,834
CA avg: $14,815 · District avg · NCES F-33
Teacher Salary Range
$62,223 – $111,385
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
At Nevada City School of the Arts in Nevada City, 55.7% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 30.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Nevada City School of the Arts outperforms its district average for low-income students by 24.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (35.7% Math proficient); White students (64.8% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 18.8 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 140 students tested.
Equity Gaps
ELA · Disabilities−18.8pp
43.8% vs 62.5% overall · n=16
3 more gaps by subject
ELA Exceeded · Disabilities−12.6pp
12.5% vs 25.1% overall · n=16
Math · Disabilities−18.7pp
25.0% vs 43.7% overall · n=16
Math Exceeded · Disabilities−17.0pp
6.3% vs 23.3% overall · n=16

Subgroups with fewer than 15 students are excluded for privacy. Gaps of less than 3 percentage points are not shown.

Subgroup Proficiency
Low-Income140 tested
ELA 55.7%·Math 35.7%· +24.9pp vs district
White233 tested
ELA 64.8%·Math 44.2%· +23.2pp vs district
Disabilities28 tested
ELA 39.3%·Math 17.9%· +19.0pp vs district

Weighted average across tested grades. Subgroups with fewer than 15 students excluded. Data: CDE CAASPP 2024-25.

Subgroup Growth by Grade
Change in proficiency from lowest tested grade. Shows which groups are gaining ground.

Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 9.5pp from grade 3 to grade 5 at this school. District average: +15.9pp.

Subgroups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Funding Breakdown
Instruction 54%Support 46%Other 0%

Source: NCES F-33 (2019–2020) · Full district breakdown →

Neighborhood Context
Median Income
$87K
$2K above CA median
Median Home Value
$627K
$32K below CA median
Bachelor's+
47%
12pp above CA avg
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level
Whole Child
Teacher experience, college/career readiness, and more. Context only — never part of the Scope Score.
Teacher Experience
11.9 years avg experience
30 teachers · 3% first-year · 7% second-year
Teacher Credentials
77% fully credentialed

Source: CDE SARC, 2024-25

Community Profile provides context about who attends this school and the resources available. These factors are never part of the Scope Score. Learn why →
For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Exceeded standard · 43%
26.3%
↑ vs CA 21.3% · 55th pctile
Met or exceeded · 22%
52.8%
↑ vs CA 42.7% · 58th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 15%
-8.3pp
↓ vs CA -2.9pp · 53th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 10%
12.2%
↑ vs CA 17.9% · 59th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
3.9%
↓ vs CA 1.6% · 31th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34226%26%31%17%52%+9
Grade 44524%40%16%20%64%+20
Grade 55231%29%17%23%60%+12
Grade 65812%45%28%16%57%+10
Grade 76028%40%17%15%68%+21
Grade 85229%44%17%10%73%+27
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34236%29%29%7%64%+19
Grade 44516%20%38%27%36%−6
Grade 55225%15%23%37%40%+5
Grade 65814%19%38%29%33%−2
Grade 76027%13%38%22%40%+6
Grade 85223%27%33%17%50%+18
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/1110422%36%39%3%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged14055.7%+25+17
White23364.8%+23+3
Students with Disabilities2839.3%+19+22
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Nevada City School of the Arts ←4926.3%52.8%−8.33.9%
California average4321.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Scope Score history
48%49%'19'22'23'24'25
2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · no testing 2020–21 (COVID) · rank #1914 → #1293 → #2428 → #2984 → #1801
What we can't show
  • — Scored here as an elementary school — other grade spans appear in the data appendix.
Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary schools · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

Frequently asked questions

Is Nevada City School of the Arts a good elementary school?
Nevada City School of the Arts has a Scope Score of 49 out of 100, placing it in the 69th percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #1,801 statewide. 26.3% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 5.0 percentage points above the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights six dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (43%), met or exceeded (22%), grade 3-to-5 growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%), and suspension rate (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What are Nevada City School of the Arts's CAASPP test scores?
On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 52.8% of students at Nevada City School of the Arts met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 26.3% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 26.5% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 26.3% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 278 student-subject combinations were assessed.
How does Nevada City School of the Arts rank in California?
Nevada City School of the Arts ranks #1,801 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 69th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.
Is Nevada City School of the Arts getting better or worse?
Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Nevada City School of the Arts decreases by 8.3 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 growth. This downward pattern doesn't necessarily mean the school is failing — it can reflect cohort differences, demographic shifts, or curriculum changes. A campus visit and conversation with teachers can reveal what the numbers can't. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the elementary Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.
What is the attendance and school culture like at Nevada City School of the Arts?
12.2% of students at Nevada City School of the Arts are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 3.9%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.
How does Nevada City School of the Arts compare to other schools in Nevada City?
Nevada City School of the Arts scores 49/100 (69th percentile) among California elementary schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 477 students. Use the schools in Nevada City page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.
How does Nevada City School of the Arts serve low-income and underrepresented students?
At Nevada City School of the Arts in Nevada City, 55.7% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 30.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Nevada City School of the Arts outperforms its district average for low-income students by 24.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (35.7% Math proficient); White students (64.8% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 18.8 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 140 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.