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Plumas Unified: Plumas Unified schools score within 1.6 points of the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 6.6 points.

Near Average2024–25 data7 schools · avg 42.1/100

Plumas Unified has 7 ranked schools across elementary and high levels with an average Scope Score of 42.1/100 — within 1.6 points of the state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Chester Junior/Senior High at 56/100, where 8.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $16,243 per student (above the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 28.7%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
42.1
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
34.3
22.1 – 56.4
Avg Exceeded %
11.5%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
28.7%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
7
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
32.9/100
412.8%25.1%
HighSolid
54.5/100
39.7%33.4%

Plumas Unified's high schools average 54.5/100 — 7.0 points above the state average.

K–12 pipeline

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

Elementary
32.9
avg score · 4 schools
Chester Elementary
Developing
47/100
Greenville Elementary
Developing
35/100
Quincy Elementary
Needs Support
27/100
+1 more elementary schools
High
54.5
avg score · 3 schools

District Analysis

Plumas Unified has 7 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 42.1/100 — within 1.6 points of the state average of 43.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Plumas Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 54.5.

District-wide elementary growth averages -6.6pp (state avg: -3.0pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 34.3 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 28.7%, 10.6pp above the state average of 18.1%.

District suspension rate averages 5.6%, above the state average of 1.7%.

Chester Junior/Senior High leads the district at 56 with 8.5% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

Student demographics

Hispanic
18.6%
White
66.3%
Asian
0.6%
Black
0.4%
Other
14.1%
Free/Reduced Lunch
53%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Plumas Unified spends $16,243 per student in current expenditures — $1,428 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$16,243
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
1,661
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 41.1%
$11,508 → $16,243
Spending Efficiency
2.59
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 48%Support 46%Other 6%
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
$47,167–$105,455
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
117
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Plumas Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (4)

Plumas Unified has 4 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 32.9 — 10.9 points below the state average of 43.8.

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

The highest-scoring elementary school is Chester Elementary with a Scope Score of 47 and 17.1% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Chester Elementary
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
17.1%Developing
47/100
2Greenville Elementary
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
11.9%Developing
35/100
3Quincy Elementary
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
11.1%Needs Support
27/100
4C. Roy Carmichael Elementary
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
11.1%Needs Support
22/100

High Schools (3)

Plumas Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 54.5 — 7.0 points above the state average of 47.5.

The highest-scoring high school is Chester Junior/Senior High with a Scope Score of 56 and 8.5% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Chester Junior/Senior High
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
8.5%Solid
56/100
2Portola Junior/Senior High
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
8.8%Solid
54/100
3Quincy Junior/Senior High
Plumas Unified Building Momentum
11.8%Solid
53/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 7 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

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 Plumas Unified

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Plumas Unified a good school district?
Plumas Unified has 7 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 42.1/100, which is within 1.6 points of the state average. 11.5% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Plumas Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Plumas Unified is Chester Junior/Senior High with a Scope Score of 56/100 and 8.5% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Plumas Unified spend per student?
Plumas Unified spends $16,243 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 Plumas Unified?
Teacher salaries in Plumas Unified range from $47,167–$105,455 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 seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.