Summary:
The Paradise Unified district serves about 1,733 students across seven schools, including three elementary schools, a junior high, two high schools, and an alternative e-learning academy, in a community with significant economic need where most schools have high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Academic performance varies widely across the district. Paradise Ridge Elementary stands out as the top performer with the highest test scores and a 3-star rating, while Cedarwood Elementary and Pine Ridge face greater challenges. At the high school level, Paradise Senior High shows impressive recent improvement and has the district's highest graduation rate, whereas the alternative Ridgeview High (Continuation) struggles with very low proficiency and extremely high chronic absenteeism despite having the most funding per student.
Key takeaways for parents include noting that chronic absenteeism is a major district-wide concern, science is a relative strength, and there is a sharp decline in math scores between 3rd and 6th grade at the elementary level. The data suggests successful strategies at the higher-performing schools could provide a roadmap for improvement across the Paradise Unified district.
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