Schools
8
listed public schools. We score four elementary, one middle and one high.
School district · El Dorado County
Lake Tahoe Unified schools
Lake Tahoe Unified’s 4 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 70 to 85. Its middle school has a Scope Score of 73. Its high school has a Scope Score of 73.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Students
3,528
in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.
Spending
$19,056
per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.
The path
What is the path through the district?
Lake Tahoe Unified has four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school that we score.
Elementary · 4 schools
- MeyersScope Score 85
- Bijou CommunityScope Score 78
- Sierra HouseScope Score 72
- Tahoe ValleyScope Score 70
Middle · grades 6–8
South Tahoe Middle
Scope Score 73
Developing · 35th percentile
High · grades 9–12
South Tahoe High
Scope Score 73
Developing · 37th percentile
Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Elementary schools
Which elementary schools in Lake Tahoe Unified score highest?
Meyers Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 85. That is higher than 85 in 100 California elementary schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Meyers Elementary
Grades K–5
393625% below the standard
Scope Score 85Strong · 85th percentile
Rank 2
Bijou Community
Grades K–5 · 422 students
172756% below the standard
Scope Score 78Solid · 64th percentile
Rank 3
Sierra House Elementary
Grades K–5 · 418 students
192358% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 32nd percentile
Rank 4
Tahoe Valley Elementary
Grades K–5 · 395 students
2269% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 16th percentile
The average elementary school in Lake Tahoe Unified had 21 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.
Each score compares a school with the 5,726 California elementary schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
Middle schools
Where does the middle school we score in Lake Tahoe Unified stand?
South Tahoe Middle has a Scope Score of 73. That is higher than 35 in 100 California middle schools we score. It is the only public middle school we score in Lake Tahoe Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
South Tahoe Middle
Grades 6–8 · 716 students
152461% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 35th percentile
Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.
High schools
Where does the high school we score in Lake Tahoe Unified stand?
South Tahoe High has a Scope Score of 73. That is higher than 37 in 100 California high schools we score. It is the only public high school we score in Lake Tahoe Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
South Tahoe High
Grades 9–12 · 1,076 students
132265% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 37th percentile
2 high schools not ranked statewide
Continuation schools enroll students differently from a regular school, so each is compared only with schools of its kind. The others have no statewide percentile this year.
- Mt. Tallac HighContinuation high school
- Elevated Digital Learning Academy
Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025.
Against California
How does the district compare with California?
21 in 100 students at the average elementary school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 17 in 100.
Students who miss a lot of school
Average elementary school, students in 100
Lake Tahoe Unified21 in 100
California17 in 100
Students from low-income families
Qualify for free or reduced-price meals
Lake Tahoe Unified50%
California63%
Spending per student
Day-to-day spending, 2024–25
Lake Tahoe Unified$19,056
Typical district$20,491
English learners who moved up a level
On the state’s English test (ELPAC)
Lake Tahoe Unified46%
California47%
Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 1,773 of 3,527 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 46% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (205 of 450 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.
The district
Where does Lake Tahoe Unified’s money go?
About 62 cents of every Lake Tahoe Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
$19,056
spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.
Every dollar, by what it paid for
62¢12¢9¢9¢7¢
- Instruction62%
- Buildings & maintenance12%
- Instruction support9%
- Student services9%
- Administration7%
- Other1%
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $8.1 million into 18 funded actions in 3 goals. That is 13% of its $63.1 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts. The district reports what it spent in a later plan.
Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.
State records
Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?
3,528 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. The state is giving Lake Tahoe Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
Who goes to the district’s schools
- Hispanic or Latino 46%
- White 45%
- Two or more races 4%
- Other or not reported 5%
Is the state giving the district extra help?
The state is giving Lake Tahoe Unified extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.
State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).2 schools getting state support, 2025–26
- Elevated Digital Learning AcademyExtra targeted support: low-income students and White students
- South Tahoe MiddleTargeted support: English learners
Common questions
What do parents ask about this district?
Are the public schools in Lake Tahoe Unified good?
Lake Tahoe Unified’s 4 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 70 to 85. Of those, 1 is Strong, 1 is Solid, 1 is Developing and 1 is Needs Support. Lake Tahoe Unified has one public middle school we score. South Tahoe Middle has a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 35th percentile. Lake Tahoe Unified has one public high school we score. South Tahoe High has a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 37th percentile. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Lake Tahoe Unified rank highest?
Meyers Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 85. It is Strong, at the 85th percentile. South Tahoe Middle is the only middle school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 35th percentile. South Tahoe High is the only high school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 37th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Lake Tahoe Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in Lake Tahoe Unified had 21 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.
How much does Lake Tahoe Unified spend per student?
Lake Tahoe Unified spent $19,056 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 62 cents of every Lake Tahoe Unified dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in Lake Tahoe Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $8.1 million into 18 funded actions in 3 goals. That is 13% of its $63.1 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $5.1 million, 63% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the Lake Tahoe Unified district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.
Next
Which places nearby can you look at next?
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Lake Tahoe Unified, with the district’s spending and state records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.
State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), springs 2025 and 2026.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.