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River Valley High · Yuba City

River Valley High: 36% of kids clear the bar — ahead of the state's 36%. But suspensions run the state rate.

River Valley posts 36% meeting the standard, against 36% across the state. The number below is the one to ask about on a visit.

801 El Margarita Road, 95993 (opens in new tab)·Yuba City Unified·Yuba City·Grades 9-12·1,695 students·69% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(530) 822-2500·Website
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope3944
% Exceeded14%16%
% Met+36%36%
Grad rate82.7%87.6%
College readiness21.3%35.4%
Absence17.7%30.2%
Suspension8.5%3.6%
Scope Score
39
🌱 Building Momentum · Developing
ranked #1,393 statewide · #2 of 5 in Yuba City Unified

River Valley High scores 39 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 36th percentile of 2,160 California high 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 “36% proficient” and call it done. River Valley deserves a closer read. The school sits in Yuba City, where two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

River Valley's low-income kids hit 52.1% proficiency in ELA — a number the same group reaches at 38.2% statewide. If you're trying to read past zip-code-driven test scores, that's the signal worth weighing.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,160 high schools statewide

Has stayed near the 36th percentile since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathOrange(Declined Significantly)

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 36% meet the standard today, versus 46% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1161%52%59%50%55%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1131%20%23%15%16%

The story this school is actually telling

The floor · met or exceeded
35.8%

of students met or exceeded the standard, versus 35.7% statewide.

↑ what most “best schools” lists are measuring
The catch · suspensions
8.5%

of students were suspended, versus 3.6% statewide — the data can't say why.

↓ the part no ranking site shows you
Proficient by 11th grade
36%
State 36%
Graduate
83%
State 88%
Pass an AP exam
21%
State 35%

Of 100 students here: 36 are proficient by 11th grade → 83 graduate → 21 pass an AP exam. The gaps between those bars are the questions to ask.

52.1%
Low-income · ELA · met standard

River Valley's most underrated number

52.1% 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.

River Valley low-income: 52.1%State low-income: 38.2%

The 7 things our score weighs

Graduation rate
82.7%
State 87.6%
4.9pp below state avg
Exceeded standard
14.3%
State 15.8%
1.5pp below state avg
College readiness
21.3%
State 35.4%
AP exam pass rate below state avg
Met or exceeded
35.8%
State 35.7%
0.1pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
17.7%
State 30.2%
12.5pp below state avg
Suspension rate
8.5%
State 3.6%
4.9pp above state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
25.4%
State 18.0%
7.4pp 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.

  • Ask what typically leads to a suspension, and what happens before it gets there.
  • Ask whether extra support — tutoring, counseling, small groups — reaches kids across income lines, not just the students already ahead.
  • Ask what share of students complete the full college-prep course sequence, and who gets steered into it.
  • 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.

How every group of students does here

At River Valley High in Yuba City, 52.1% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 33.2% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. River Valley High outperforms its district average for low-income students by 18.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (13.3% Math proficient); Hispanic students (47.1% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 45.5 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 242 students tested.

All students at this school: 36% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 36%, district —, state 36%36%
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 32%, district 27%, state 32%32% · −3 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 39%, district 33%, state 44%39% · +3 vs school
MaleMale: this school 32%, district 30%, state 42%32% · −3 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 27%, district 24%, state 32%27% · −9 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 43%, district 42%, state 72%43% · +8 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 42%, district 36%, state 56%42% · +7 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 5%, district 7%, state 11%5% · −31 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 7%, district 8%, state 15%7% · −29 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: this school 48%, district 34%, state 56%48% · +12 vs school

5 of 15 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 17.7%, district 20.1%, state 30.2%17.7% · −12.5pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 8.5%, district —, state 3.6%8.5% · +4.9pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 9–1217.1%

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 21:1, district 21:121:1
Teaching staff87 teachers
Avg. experience14.3 years
Fully credentialed88%
Intern / emergency permit2.3%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$56,443 – $126,004
Principal salary$168,541 – $168,118
Superintendent salary$254,458

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

Course Breadth
AP courses offered3
AP exam qualifiers36 students
CTE pathway completers102 students

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $19,015, CA average $14,815$19,015 · spent at this school
Federal share$584 per student

$584 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$19,585 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
Instruction61%
Instruction support11%
Student services9%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance11%
Other1%

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$12,758 per pupil
2019$12,704 per pupil
2018$13,243 per pupil
2017$11,581 per pupil
2016$10,333 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Hispanic41.3%
District 47.8% · CA 56.1%
Asian32.5%
District 21.2% · CA 10.2%
White16.5%
District 21.0% · CA 19.9%
Other8.1%
District 8.5% · CA 9.0%
Black1.6%
District 1.5% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 68.9% (5pp above CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$94K · CA $85K
Median home value$467K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+24% · CA 35%
ZIP population39,046
Median age39 years

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

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 21% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is River Valley High a good high school?

River Valley High has a Scope Score of 39 out of 100, placing it in the 36th percentile of California high schools and ranked #1,393 statewide. 14.3% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is near the California average of 15.8%. The Scope Score weights 7 dimensions for high schools: graduation rate (25%), exceeded standard (22%), college/career readiness (20%), met or exceeded (proficient) (18%), 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 River Valley High's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 35.8% of students at River Valley High met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 14.3% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 21.5% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 14.3% 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. 715 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does River Valley High rank in California?

River Valley High ranks #1,393 among California high schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 36th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), 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.

What is the attendance and school culture like at River Valley High?

17.7% of students at River Valley High are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 30.2%. The suspension rate is 8.5%. 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 River Valley High compare to other schools in Yuba City?

River Valley High scores 39/100 (36th percentile) among California high 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 1,695 students. Use the schools in Yuba City page or the map view to compare all high schools nearby.

How does River Valley High serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At River Valley High in Yuba City, 52.1% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 33.2% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. River Valley High outperforms its district average for low-income students by 18.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (13.3% Math proficient); Hispanic students (47.1% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 45.5 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 242 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
Graduation rate · 25%
82.7%
↓ vs CA 87.6% · 44th pctile
Exceeded standard · 22%
14.3%
↓ vs CA 15.8% · 48th pctile
College readiness · 20%
21.3%
↓ vs CA 35.4% · 42th pctile
Met or exceeded · 18%
35.8%
↑ vs CA 35.7% · 50th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
17.7%
↑ vs CA 30.2% · 60th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
8.5%
↓ vs CA 3.6% · 28th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
25.4%
↑ vs CA 18.0% · 65th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1135522%33%24%21%55%+8
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 113606%10%20%63%16%−7
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/113913%18%64%15%

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 Disadvantaged24252.1%+19+14
Hispanic/Latino15347.1%+18+8
Asian10163.4%+14−11
03Peer comparison · nearest high schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
River Valley High ←3914.3%35.8%8.5%
Yuba City High2.2 mi4413.9%36.8%7.7%
Albert Powell Continuation2.5 mi232.5%13.8%2.9%
California average4415.8%35.7%3.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Graduation Rate
82.7%
AP Exam Prepared
21.3%
A-G Completion
43.7%
A-G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-Going Rate
68.7%
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20194342#118318.2%46.0%11.9%8.5%
20223836#134215.2%35.9%20.6%10.0%
20233939#130716.9%41.0%22.2%9.9%
20243835#139913.3%32.5%19.2%6.1%
20253936#139314.3%35.8%17.7%8.5%
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
Female11.1%17.0%+5.9pp
Male11.7%17.0%+5.3pp
Asian7.7%9.5%+1.8pp
Black/African American17.9%17.9%+0.0pp
Filipino0.0%12.1%+12.1pp
White16.7%8.3%-8.4pp
Hispanic/Latino12.5%20.0%+7.5pp
Two or More Races19.4%24.7%+5.3pp
Students with Disabilities23.0%29.2%+6.2pp
English Learners16.0%18.0%+2.0pp
Homeless47.6%44.7%-2.9pp
Military-Connected8.0%14.6%+6.6pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged13.3%19.9%+6.6pp
All Students11.4%17.1%+5.7pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,160 high 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