Gold Trail Union Elementary

The Gold Trail Union Elementary district in Placerville, California, consists of two 3-star schools, Sutters Mill Elementary and Gold Trail Middle, serving grades K-8 for 475 total students, with the district ranking in the 61st percentile statewide.

Comparing the two schools, Sutters Mill Elementary stands out for stronger academic performance, exceeding both district and state averages in English and Math, and has a notably lower rate of chronic student absenteeism at 10%. Gold Trail Middle School, while receiving more funding per student, shows a significant decline in test scores as students advance grades, particularly in Mathematics, and has a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 16%.

The key takeaway for the district is the pronounced performance drop in middle school grades, despite strong elementary results. While both schools outperform state averages in core subjects, the middle school's recent ranking volatility and lower proficiency in upper grades suggest a need to examine curriculum and student support during this transition. The district's overall absenteeism is lower than the state average, which is a positive indicator for student engagement.