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North Tahoe Middle · Tahoe City

North Tahoe Middle: This school runs ahead of the state average. The bar itself is the harder conversation.

North Tahoe posts 48% meeting the standard against 39% statewide — ahead of most, with real headroom above the bar.

2945 Polaris Road, 96145 (opens in new tab)·Tahoe-Truckee Unified·Tahoe City·Grades 6-8·301 students·41% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(530) 581-7050
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope4543
% Exceeded25%17%
% Met+48%39%
Growth-0.1+1.5
Absence17.8%18.5%
Suspension6.7%3.7%
Scope Score
45
🌱 Building Momentum · Developing
ranked #907 statewide · #3 of 3 in Tahoe-Truckee Unified

North Tahoe Middle scores 45 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 59th percentile of 2,238 California middle schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

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

🌱 Building Momentum — This label means the data doesn't clearly sort the school one way or the other — ask what the school is proud of, and what it's working on.

Most rating sites would stop at “48% proficient” and call it done. North Tahoe deserves a closer read. The school sits in Tahoe City, where two in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,238 middle schools statewide

Has stayed near the 59th percentile since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAOrange(Declined Significantly)MathOrange(Declined Significantly)

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 48% meet the standard today, versus 55% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 668%67%59%54%50%
Grade 759%50%63%57%59%
Grade 857%57%50%59%47%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 647%57%47%51%43%
Grade 750%34%48%38%44%
Grade 847%49%38%53%46%

The story this school is actually telling

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

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

23%
27%
50%
Grade 6 · 50% proficient
26%
33%
41%
Grade 7 · 59% proficient
17%
31%
52%
Grade 8 · 48% proficient

The honest read: the share exceeding falls 6.5pp across grades; the floor slips 3.1pp. The state average falls 0.5pp over the same span. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.

The 6 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
24.7%
State 16.8%
7.9pp above state avg
Growth (G6→G8)
-0.1pp
State +1.5pp
Scores decline across grades
Met or exceeded
48.3%
State 39.3%
9.0pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
17.8%
State 18.5%
0.7pp below state avg
Suspension rate
6.7%
State 3.7%
3.1pp above state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
24.0%
State 18.0%
6.0pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask how the school challenges kids who clear the standard early. The gap between meeting and exceeding is where pacing shows.

  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At North Tahoe Middle in Tahoe City, 31.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 38.1% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. North Tahoe Middle trails its district average for low-income students by 6.3 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (25.4% Math proficient); White students (73.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 52.3 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 129 students tested.

All students at this school: 48% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 48%, district —, state 39%48%
FemaleFemale: this school 52%, district 57%, state 44%52% · +4 vs school
MaleMale: this school 45%, district 56%, state 42%45% · −4 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 68%, district 72%, state 56%68% · +20 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 26%, district 29%, state 32%26% · −22 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 29%, district 33%, state 32%29% · −20 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 4%, district 6%, state 11%4% · −45 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 4%, district 17%, state 15%4% · −44 vs school

6 of 14 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group
Subgroup growth by grade

Change in proficiency from the lowest tested grade — which groups gain ground the longer they stay. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Low-income student ELA proficiency falls by 14.2pp from grade 6 to grade 8 at this school. District average: -7.7pp.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 17.8%, district 16.4%, state 18.5%17.8% · −0.7pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 6.7%, district —, state 3.7%6.7% · +3.1pp vs state

Grades 7–8 students miss school at roughly twice the rate of Grades 4–6 students (22.7% vs 9.2%). Chronic absence here concentrates in the upper grades.

Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–69.2%
Grades 7–822.7%

Where the path goes

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

K-12 Feeder Path

Feeder patterns derived from NCES attendance boundary data. Boundaries are approximate and may have changed — verify with your school district for current assignments.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 15:1, district 20:115:1
Teaching staff22 teachers
Avg. experience15.3 years
Fully credentialed90%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$66,810 – $138,430
Principal salary$174,263 – $194,871
Superintendent salary$252,326

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $27,440, CA average $14,815$27,440 · spent at this school
Federal share$249 per student

$249 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$27,067 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction56%
Instruction support12%
Student services13%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance11%
Other2%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$18,885 per pupil
2019$18,129 per pupil
2018$18,822 per pupil
2017$16,401 per pupil
2016$15,681 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White48.5%
District 57.6% · CA 19.9%
Hispanic45.9%
District 35.4% · CA 56.1%
Other4.7%
District 6.3% · CA 9.0%
Asian1.0%
District 0.6% · CA 10.2%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 41.2% (23pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$113K · CA $85K
Median home value$963K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+58% · CA 35%
ZIP population3,441
Median age41 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

At 301 students, this school is much smaller than the typical California middle school (≈860).

On the state's science test (CAST), 42% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is North Tahoe Middle a good middle school?

North Tahoe Middle has a Scope Score of 45 out of 100, placing it in the 59th percentile of California middle schools and ranked #907 statewide. 24.7% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 7.9 percentage points above the California average of 16.8%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for middle schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 6-to-8 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are North Tahoe Middle's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 48.3% of students at North Tahoe Middle met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 24.7% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 23.6% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 24.7% 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. 575 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does North Tahoe Middle rank in California?

North Tahoe Middle ranks #907 among California middle schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 59th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 6 to grade 8 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 North Tahoe Middle getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at North Tahoe Middle decreases by 0.1 percentage points from Grade 6 to grade 8 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 middle 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 North Tahoe Middle?

17.8% of students at North Tahoe Middle are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 18.5%. The suspension rate is 6.7%. 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 North Tahoe Middle compare to other schools in Tahoe City?

North Tahoe Middle scores 45/100 (59th percentile) among California middle 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 301 students. Use the schools in Tahoe City page or the map view to compare all middle schools nearby.

How does North Tahoe Middle serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At North Tahoe Middle in Tahoe City, 31.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 38.1% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. North Tahoe Middle trails its district average for low-income students by 6.3 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (25.4% Math proficient); White students (73.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 52.3 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 129 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.

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.


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 · 38%
24.7%
↑ vs CA 16.8% · 59th pctile
Growth (G6→G8) · 27%
-0.1pp
↓ vs CA +1.5pp · 39th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
48.3%
↑ vs CA 39.3% · 57th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
17.8%
↑ vs CA 18.5% · 51th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
6.7%
↓ vs CA 3.7% · 38th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
24.0%
↑ vs CA 18.0% · 54th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 610323%27%19%30%50%+4
Grade 78826%33%16%25%59%+11
Grade 89517%31%33%20%47%+1
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 610533%10%30%27%43%+8
Grade 78823%22%30%26%44%+10
Grade 89626%20%25%29%46%+14
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/119516%26%51%7%

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 Disadvantaged12931.8%−6−6
White13773.7%−3+12
Hispanic/Latino13327.8%−7−11
03Peer comparison · nearest middle schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
North Tahoe Middle ←4524.7%48.3%−0.16.7%
California average4316.8%39.3%+1.53.7%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20194259#82222.3%54.5%12.7%3.8%-5.2pp
20224468#69023.8%52.5%27.2%8.2%-9.0pp
20234662#82722.1%50.8%25.8%9.2%-9.0pp
20245380#44827.6%52.0%14.8%5.3%+3.3pp
20254559#90724.7%48.3%17.8%6.7%-0.1pp
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female12.2%14.1%+1.9pp
Male13.2%21.6%+8.4pp
Hispanic/Latino14.9%13.5%-1.4pp
Students with Disabilities25.8%21.1%-4.7pp
English Learners18.5%17.5%-1.0pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged16.2%15.9%-0.3pp
All Students12.7%17.8%+5.1pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,238 middle schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction