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Golden Sierra Junior Senior High

Q: Is Golden Sierra Junior Senior High a good school?

Golden Sierra Junior Senior High ranks 865 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

865^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 60% of California high schools

Summary

Golden Sierra Junior Senior High is a public 7-12 school serving 436 students in the rural community of Garden Valley, part of the Black Oak Mine Unified district.

The school has a notable strength in supporting students to graduation, with a rate consistently above 90% that is competitive with or exceeds many nearby schools like El Dorado High and Placer High. It performs exceptionally well for students from low-income families, ranking in the state's top tiers for this group. However, academic proficiency is mixed: while 11th-grade English scores are strong, overall math and science proficiency lags behind the state average and schools in neighboring districts such as Foresthill High.

Key challenges include a chronic absenteeism rate higher than the state average and most comparable schools, which likely impacts test scores. The school also shows a significant need for improvement in serving students with special education needs. With a favorable student-teacher ratio and mid-range per-student spending, Golden Sierra creates an environment where students persist and graduate, but faces the task of translating that success into higher academic achievement across all subjects.

436

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,022

Per pupil spending ?

42.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5101 Garden Valley Rd.
Garden Valley, CA 95633-0175

(530) 333-8330

District: Black Oak Mine Unified

Feeder schools for Golden Sierra Junior Senior High:

Elementary:	Georgetown Elementary
	Northside Elementary
	Otter Creek Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.0%

Hispanic:

14.9%

Two or more races:

6.0%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Golden Sierra Junior Senior High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 71st percentile in 2015 → 60th in 2025

Strengths

✓92% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

✓Above the California median (60th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (32% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (27% vs 19% California)

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school32%

District avg37%

California avg41%

Middle school

1,715^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 38%▲ up 15 pts since 2015

From bottom 22% (2015) to bottom 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

865^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 40%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to top 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

761^st of 1,543Black Oak Mine Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.1	1715 of 2761	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.5	1484 of 2783	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.4	1385 of 2781	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.3	1423 of 2740	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	22.7	705 of 894	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	33.2	1676 of 2715	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.1	1753 of 2480	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	27.9	1736 of 2508	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	31.6	1590 of 2497	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	22.5	1921 of 2477	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	47.2	1232 of 2379	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.4	1782 of 2533	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.4	1703 of 2551	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.6	1316 of 2531	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.9	1173 of 2509	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	17.2	655 of 738	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.8	1403 of 2380	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.1	1669 of 2262	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	54.4	883 of 2395	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	31.4	1599 of 2388	33.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	28.2	1839 of 2542	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	1739 of 2579	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.2	1523 of 2531	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.4	1031 of 2458	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.7	601 of 721	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	1659 of 2369	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.3	1797 of 2230	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.2	1460 of 2534	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	1092 of 2552	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.4	1248 of 2538	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.4	1472 of 2527	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.5	505 of 763	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.0	1637 of 2407	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	28.4	1571 of 2273	30.9%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	843 of 1566	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.7	525 of 1531	65.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	18.0	1276 of 1520	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.3	1155 of 1537	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.2	1195 of 1543	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.6	1302 of 1555	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.7	1431 of 1602	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	1350 of 1496	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.3	865 of 2162	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.6	705 of 2159	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.6	1072 of 2170	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.7	722 of 2123	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.0	434 of 1290	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.9	537 of 2133	74.8%	★★★★☆
2018	67.2	653 of 2017	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	77.0	466 of 2021	76.9%	★★★★☆
2016	65.6	659 of 2039	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	68.5	576 of 1994	71.1%	★★★★☆
2013	84.8	79 of 2426	96.7%	★★★★★
2012	83.6	95 of 2354	96.0%	★★★★★
2011	88.6	44 of 2367	98.1%	★★★★★
2010	88.2	50 of 2281	97.8%	★★★★★
2009	85.7	42 of 2238	98.1%	★★★★★
2008	78.6	143 of 2117	93.2%	★★★★★
2007	76.4	173 of 2063	91.6%	★★★★★
2006	77.3	161 of 1968	91.8%	★★★★★
2005	82.7	67 of 1901	96.5%	★★★★★
2004	76.2	102 of 1653	93.8%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	728 of 1906	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.0	998 of 1915	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	1000 of 1915	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.1	692 of 1858	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.1	377 of 1054	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	70.4	460 of 1833	74.9%	★★★★☆
2018	50.5	887 of 1760	49.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.4	431 of 2013	78.6%	★★★★☆
2024	42.0	1151 of 2026	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.7	1328 of 2030	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.3	782 of 1943	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.0	741 of 1126	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.7	390 of 1937	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	41.6	1147 of 1862	38.4%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.5	852 of 1942	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.0	471 of 1948	75.8%	★★★★☆
2023	45.6	964 of 1963	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.0	683 of 1916	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.6	408 of 1122	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.8	593 of 1880	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.9	417 of 1834	77.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	18.4	1166 of 1197	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.6	806 of 1155	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	33.3	819 of 1173	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	18.1	985 of 1193	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.5	739 of 1204	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.0	695 of 1222	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.8	744 of 1173	36.6%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

Hispanic (2025)63rd percentile+25 vs school

Special Education (2025)46th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)42nd percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)30th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)28th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)16th percentile-22 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile+19 vs school

Female (2025)62nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)56th percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)30th percentile-30 vs school

Special Education (2023)3rd percentile-48 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy45%-4 vs state

Science24%-9 vs state

Mathematics23%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near Golden Sierra Junior Senior High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Golden Sierra Junior Senior High	Public	7-12	5101 Garden Valley Rd.	Garden Valley	95633	El Dorado County	Black Oak Mine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 333-8330	436	28	15.5	42.9%	327 (75.0%)	1 (0.2%)	65 (14.9%)	6 (1.4%)	10 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (6.0%)	58.3	865^th of 2162 public high schools	60.0%		62.6	705^th of 2159 public high schools	67.3%	160	23.5	27.1		24.0	43.1	26.1	69.5	45.2	13.8	33.3	20.3	23.1	$23,022	$22,892	$130
Divide High	Public	9-12	6540 Wentworth Springs Rd.	Georgetown	95634	El Dorado County	Black Oak Mine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 333-8315	9	1	17.3	77.8%	7 (77.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (11.1%)								(n/a)													$21,043	$19,526	$1,517
El Dorado High	Public	9-12	561 Canal St.	Placerville	95667	El Dorado County	El Dorado Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 622-3634	1,135	55	20.7	38.0%	708 (62.4%)	3 (0.3%)	306 (27.0%)	18 (1.6%)	12 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	80 (7.0%)	75.4	490^th of 2162 public high schools	77.3%		74.2	493^rd of 2159 public high schools	77.2%	3		47.6		46.5			64.6	64.6			31.5	31.5	$26,583	$25,754	$829
Central Sierra Regional Occupational Program	Public	10-12	6767 Green Valley Rd.	Placerville	95667	El Dorado County	Central Sierra Regional Occupational Program	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(530) 622-7130	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Independence Continuation	Public	9-12	385 Pleasant Valley Rd.	Diamond Springs	95619	El Dorado County	El Dorado Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 622-7090	104	6	17.6	63.5%	63 (60.6%)	3 (2.9%)	24 (23.1%)	1 (1.0%)	2 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (9.6%)	13	1881^st of 2162 public high schools	13.0%		13	1893^rd of 2159 public high schools	12.3%	12			5.0	5.0			16.0	16.0			2.0	2.0	$34,076	$33,522	$554
Foresthill High	Public	9-12	23319 Foresthill Rd.	Foresthill	95631	Placer County	Placer Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 367-5244	190	11	17.2	36.8%	138 (72.6%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (18.4%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.9%)	69.3	614^th of 2162 public high schools	71.6%		76.7	464^th of 2159 public high schools	78.5%	150		40.5		40.5			72.1	72.1			23.3	23.3	$38,019	$36,612	$1,407
Confluence Continuation High	Public	10-12	332 Finley St.	Auburn	95603	Placer County	Placer Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 885-8401	103	5	20.1	58.3%	60 (58.3%)	2 (1.9%)	26 (25.2%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (10.7%)	9.8	2028^th of 2162 public high schools	6.2%		12.2	1930^th of 2159 public high schools	10.6%	98		3.3		10.0			6.7	6.7			3.9	3.9	$21,034	$17,968	$3,066
Maidu Virtual Charter Academy	Public, Virtual, Charter	9-12	332 Finley St.	Auburn	95603	Placer County	Maidu Virtual Charter Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(530) 745-5763	114	8	14.8	43.9%	78 (68.4%)	1 (0.9%)	19 (16.7%)	2 (1.8%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (9.6%)								(n/a)													$30,658	$30,372	$286
Placer High	Public	9-12	275 Orange St.	Auburn	95603	Placer County	Placer Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 885-4581	1,265	57	22.2	29.9%	719 (56.8%)	12 (0.9%)	366 (28.9%)	27 (2.1%)	13 (1.0%)	5 (0.4%)	115 (9.1%)	76.9	463^rd of 2162 public high schools	78.6%		72.2	538^th of 2159 public high schools	75.1%	75		43.3		42.3			70.2	70.2			33.7	33.7	$23,666	$22,466	$1,200
Union Mine High	Public	9-12	6530 Koki Ln.	El Dorado	95623	El Dorado County	El Dorado Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 621-4003	1,033	49	21.1	37.3%	681 (65.9%)	8 (0.8%)	256 (24.8%)	10 (1.0%)	14 (1.4%)	2 (0.2%)	62 (6.0%)	62	764^th of 2162 public high schools	64.7%		72.6	530^th of 2159 public high schools	75.5%	234		33.3		32.6			60.5	60.5			26.0	26.0	$25,234	$24,038	$1,196

Frequently Asked Questions about Golden Sierra Junior Senior High

How many students attend Golden Sierra Junior Senior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 436 students attended Golden Sierra Junior Senior High.

What is the racial makeup of Golden Sierra Junior Senior High?

Students at Golden Sierra Junior Senior High are 75% White, 15% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 1% Asian.

What district is Golden Sierra Junior Senior High in?

Black Oak Mine Unified

What schools feed into Golden Sierra Junior Senior High?

Golden Sierra Junior Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Georgetown Elementary
Elementary : Northside Elementary
Elementary : Otter Creek Elementary

Is Golden Sierra Junior Senior High a good school?

Golden Sierra Junior Senior High ranks 865^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Golden Sierra Junior Senior High!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.