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Lake Tahoe Unified

Below Average2024–25 data7 schools · avg 38.7/100

Lake Tahoe Unified has 7 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 38.7/100 — 5.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet at 60/100, where 36.6% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,413 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 30.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
38.7
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
42.6
17.3 – 59.9
Avg Exceeded %
15.9%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
30.6%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
7
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
43.9/100
421.0%19.5%
MiddleDeveloping
31.6/100
114.7%35.7%
HighDeveloping
31.8/100
26.4%50.2%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Lake Tahoe Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
43.9
avg score · 4 schools
Bijou Community
Developing
43/100
Sierra House Elementary
Developing
40/100
+1 more elementary schools
Middle
31.6
avg score · 1 school
South Tahoe Middle
Developing
32/100
High
31.8
avg score · 2 schools
South Tahoe High
Developing
46/100
Mt. Tallac High
Needs Support
17/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: Lake Tahoe Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 43.9.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -6.6pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.

Consistency: Score range of 42.6 points — showing significant variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 30.6%, 12.5pp below the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 4.7%, below the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet leads the district at 60 with 36.6% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in Lake Tahoe Unified

1 Solid Base1 Culture First5 Building Momentum

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

Student demographics

Hispanic
48.5%
White
41.5%
Asian
1.3%
Black
0.5%
Other
8.2%
Free/Reduced Lunch
58%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Lake Tahoe Unified spends $13,413 per student in current expenditures — $1,402 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$13,413
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
3,725
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 16%
$11,567 → $13,413
Spending Efficiency
2.88
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 62%Support 36%Other 2%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

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

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$60,469–$128,797
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
203
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (4)

Lake Tahoe Unified has 4 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 43.9 — 0.1 points near the state average of 43.8.

Growth averages -6.6pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet with a Scope Score of 60 and 36.6% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet
Lake Tahoe Unified Solid Base
36.6%Solid
60/100
2Bijou Community
Lake Tahoe Unified Culture First
13.6%Developing
43/100
3Sierra House Elementary
Lake Tahoe Unified Building Momentum
21.7%Developing
40/100
4Tahoe Valley Elementary
Lake Tahoe Unified Building Momentum
12.1%Developing
32/100

Middle Schools (1)

Lake Tahoe Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.6 — 8.8 points below the state average of 40.5.

Growth averages -7.8pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring middle school is South Tahoe Middle with a Scope Score of 32 and 14.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1South Tahoe Middle
Lake Tahoe Unified Building Momentum
14.7%Developing
32/100

High Schools (2)

Lake Tahoe Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.8 — 15.7 points below the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is South Tahoe High with a Scope Score of 46 and 12.7% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1South Tahoe High
Lake Tahoe Unified Building Momentum
12.7%Developing
46/100
2Mt. Tallac High
Lake Tahoe Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
17/100

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 Lake Tahoe 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 Lake Tahoe Unified a good school district?
Lake Tahoe Unified has 7 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.7/100, which is 5.1 points below the California state average of 43.8. 15.9% 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 Lake Tahoe Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Lake Tahoe Unified is Lake Tahoe Environmental Science Magnet with a Scope Score of 60/100 and 36.6% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Lake Tahoe Unified spend per student?
Lake Tahoe Unified spends $13,413 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 is the teacher salary range in Lake Tahoe Unified?
Teacher salaries in Lake Tahoe Unified range from $60,469–$128,797 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
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.