High Schools in Lake Tahoe Unified

The Lake Tahoe Unified school district operates two high schools serving grades 9-12, presenting a distinct contrast between a large comprehensive school and a much smaller alternative program.

South Tahoe High is the district's main high school, serving over 1,000 students with a strong 93.5% graduation rate that exceeds the state average, though academic proficiency in core subjects is slightly below state benchmarks. In comparison, Mt. Tallac High serves about 50 students and functions as an alternative education program, with significantly lower graduation and proficiency rates alongside an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate of 91.9%.

For parents, this indicates that most students in the district attend the comprehensive South Tahoe High, which successfully graduates the vast majority of its students despite academic performance near state averages. The dramatic performance gap between the two schools highlights the district's different educational approaches, with Mt. Tallac High serving a smaller, at-risk population facing substantial challenges, particularly with attendance.