El Dorado Union High

The El Dorado Union High district consists of six schools serving grades 9-12, with one also including 8th grade, and is an above-average performing district in California. Overall, the district excels at graduating students, with a 96.4% average rate, and outperforms state averages in English, math, and science, though performance varies significantly between schools.

Oak Ridge High stands out as the top performer, achieving the highest test scores and a 97.6% graduation rate. Ponderosa High, El Dorado High, and Union Mine High are the other comprehensive high schools with solid graduation rates but more varied academic results, particularly in mathematics. The smaller Pacific Crest Academy shows excellent attendance and strong English scores, while Independence Continuation serves as an alternative school focused on supporting at-risk students to graduation.

Key takeaways for parents include the district's strength in keeping students on track to graduate, but also a noticeable performance gap in math across most schools. Attendance is generally good, though it varies, and smaller schools like Pacific Crest Academy can offer a different environment. The data shows that higher per-student funding, as seen at Independence Continuation and Pacific Crest, does not automatically translate to higher test scores, suggesting factors beyond simple spending influence student outcomes.