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Margaret G. Scotten Elementary

Q: Is Margaret G. Scotten Elementary a good school?

Margaret G. Scotten Elementary ranks 3658 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-4

3658^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 38% of California elementary schools

Summary

Margaret G. Scotten Elementary is a public elementary school in Grass Valley, California, serving 346 students in grades K-4 as part of the Grass Valley Elementary School District. While the district is ranked 612 out of 1,565 in California, the school has consistently underperformed compared to the district and state averages in academic assessments, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics below 40%.

The school's performance has declined over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 2,221 out of 5,789 schools in 2018-2019 to 3,658 out of 5,857 schools in 2024-2025. Subgroup performance also varies, with female students, Hispanic students, and students with low socioeconomic status performing significantly worse than their peers. Additionally, the school has experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, reaching 35.9% in 2022-2023, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

Interestingly, nearby schools within the same district, such as Bell Hill Academy and Grass Valley Charter, have consistently outperformed Margaret G. Scotten Elementary in academic assessments, with proficiency rates often exceeding 50% in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. Understanding the practices and strategies employed by these higher-performing schools could provide valuable insights for the school's improvement efforts.

357

Students ?

19.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,211

Per pupil spending ?

74.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10821 Squirrel Creek Rd.
Grass Valley, CA 95945-5414

(530) 273-6472

District: Grass Valley Elementary

Students who attend Margaret G. Scotten Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Lyman Gilmore Middle
High:	Nevada Union High

Racial breakdown:

White:

72.0%

Hispanic:

16.8%

Two or more races:

5.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Margaret G. Scotten Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 26th percentile in 2021 → 38th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 38th (2025) from a 26th-percentile low (2021)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (35% vs 43% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (30% vs 19% California)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg39%

California avg43%

3,658^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 38%▼ down 9 pts since 2015

From bottom 46% (2015) to bottom 38% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Elementary Schools in the Grass Valley Elementary

598^th of 1,543Grass Valley Elementary 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.8	3658 of 5857	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.2	3427 of 5869	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.5	4116 of 5859	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.6	4282 of 5883	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.0	1055 of 1417	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.7	2221 of 5789	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.7	2925 of 5662	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	38.1	3234 of 5692	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	45.6	2737 of 5614	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	40.0	3009 of 5611	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	38.5	3423 of 5530	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	31.8	3820 of 5390	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.1	4400 of 5377	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	41.9	3060 of 5314	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	50.2	2473 of 5193	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	44.1	2715 of 5113	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2007	59.4	1857 of 5113	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	60.4	1727 of 4818	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	62.4	1643 of 4822	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	56.4	1857 of 4809	61.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	27.0	1635 of 2227	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.5	1249 of 2585	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	36.9	1142 of 2128	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.7	4030 of 5597	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.0	3340 of 5612	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.4	3463 of 5609	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.5	4164 of 5635	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.8	895 of 1267	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	58.0	2049 of 5492	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.8	2605 of 5413	51.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	24.1	4172 of 5087	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	53.8	1962 of 5084	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.0	2682 of 4963	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.7	3573 of 4830	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	30.1	3978 of 5460	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.1	3207 of 5517	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.3	3793 of 5363	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.9	3758 of 5264	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.9	815 of 1110	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	70.1	1182 of 5173	77.2%	★★★★☆
2018	53.2	2154 of 5084	57.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.3	3170 of 5628	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.0	3278 of 5643	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.4	4670 of 5638	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.7	4072 of 5663	28.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	24.0	963 of 1272	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.1	2248 of 5510	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	38.7	3128 of 5431	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.5	1144 of 2847	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	38.4	1402 of 2635	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.8	1868 of 2420	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	13.2	2327 of 2598	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	15.8	2309 of 2651	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.7	2433 of 2661	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	5.5	2633 of 2726	3.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	33.7	2053 of 2834	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.2	2277 of 2737	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)60th percentile+22 vs school

Male (2025)44th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)28th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)27th percentile-10 vs school

Disabled (2022)27th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2023)18th percentile-12 vs school

White (2025)10th percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics36%~ state avg

English Language Arts/Literacy34%-15 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, November 28, 2010

In my opinion, Scotten is the best school in California. It's teachers really prepare the kids for a healthy, balanced, and moral life. It's 5 stars in every way!! Close Quote

Schools Near Margaret G. Scotten Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations 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)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	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 All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Margaret G. Scotten Elementary	Public	K-4	10821 Squirrel Creek Rd.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Grass Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 273-6472	357	19	19.2	74.8%	257 (72.0%)	4 (1.1%)	60 (16.8%)	7 (2.0%)	5 (1.4%)	3 (0.8%)	21 (5.9%)	33.8	3658^th of 5857 public elementary schools	37.5%		36.2	3427^th of 5869 public elementary schools	41.6%	231				31.8	36.8					33.8	42.2	26.3					35.7	90.1	96.7		94.5	92.3	95.6	$19,211	$2,888	$16,323
Yuba River Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	10085 Adam Ave.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Yuba River Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 272-6060	323	12	26.3	54.2%	242 (74.9%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (11.8%)	5 (1.5%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	34 (10.5%)	50.2	2575^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.0%		71.4	1530^th of 5869 public elementary schools	73.9%	1045	50.0	50.0	50.0	41.2	48.6	56.3	54.8	89.3	66.7	58.3	29.4	17.1	34.4	35.5	64.3	70.4	40.1	55.4	55.4	57.1	57.1	55.4	57.1	$14,642	$893	$13,749
Bell Hill Academy	Public	K-4	342 South School St.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Grass Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 273-2281	246	11	22.3	59.3%	114 (46.3%)	3 (1.2%)	117 (47.6%)	3 (1.2%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	75	1370^th of 5857 public elementary schools	76.6%		66.4	1757^th of 5869 public elementary schools	70.1%	387				51.1	61.7					56.4	60.4	58.3					59.4	94.1				94.1		$20,091	$1,843	$18,248
Grass Valley Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	225 South Auburn St.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Grass Valley Elementary	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 273-8723	546	23	23.7	33.2%	451 (82.6%)	5 (0.9%)	50 (9.2%)	9 (1.6%)	5 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.6%)	52.8	2445^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.3%		60.9	2034^th of 5869 public elementary schools	65.3%	411	36.1	40.4	38.1	60.7	33.9	40.3	45.1	66.7	55.8	50.2	64.3	32.7	33.9	39.2	43.4	40.4	42.3	91.4	96.6	94.8	96.6	94.8	94.8	$15,248	$688	$14,560
Union Hill Elementary	Public, Charter	K-6	11638 Colfax Hwy.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Union Hill Elementary	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 273-8456	542	27	20.2	45.8%	429 (79.2%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (9.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (11.1%)	45.3	2866^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.1%		54.2	2332^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	60.3%	534	24.1		24.1	46.6	52.1	33.8	39.7			42.8	52.1	45.2	20.0	34.6			37.5	96.2	97.2		97.2		98.1	$15,341	$507	$14,834
Deer Creek Elementary	Public	K-3	805 Lindley Ave.	Nevada City	95959	Nevada County	Nevada City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 265-1870	259	12	21.7	37.5%	203 (78.4%)	2 (0.8%)	28 (10.8%)	6 (2.3%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	17 (6.6%)								(n/a)				44.9						44.9	42.0						42.0	97.1				97.1		$16,860	$1,862	$14,998
Nevada County Special Education	Public	K-8	400 Hoover Ln.	Nevada City	95959	Nevada County	Nevada County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 265-0611	51	7	7.2	58.8%	34 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (19.6%)	2 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (7.8%)								(n/a)										6.3							6.3							$146,953	$1,053	$145,900
Twin Ridges Home Study Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	111 New Mohawk Rd.	Nevada City	95959	Nevada County	Nevada County Office of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 478-1815	208	11	19.2	48.1%	163 (78.4%)	3 (1.4%)	15 (7.2%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (1.9%)	1 (0.5%)	21 (10.1%)	29.5	4000^th of 5857 public elementary schools	31.7%		43.4	2974^th of 5869 public elementary schools	49.3%	1026	40.0		38.5	26.3	38.9	36.7	21.1	61.5		38.0	26.3	38.9	10.0	11.1	30.8		22.4	25.0	50.0	54.2	50.0	50.0	41.7	$12,227	$462	$11,765
Nevada City School of the Arts	Public, Charter	K-8	13032 Bitney Springs Rd. Bldg.	Nevada City	95959	Nevada County	Nevada City School of the Arts District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 273-7736	477	26	18.5	43.0%	358 (75.1%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (12.6%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (10.5%)	67.8	1698^th of 5857 public elementary schools	71.0%		63	1926^th of 5869 public elementary schools	67.2%	228	57.7	57.7	57.7	52.4	64.4	59.6	56.9	68.3	73.1	62.8	64.3	35.6	40.4	32.8	40.0	50.0	43.0	71.9	79.7	78.1	82.8	79.7	84.4	$19,780	$647	$19,133
Clear Creek Elementary	Public	K-8	17700 McCourtney Rd.	Grass Valley	95949	Nevada County	Clear Creek Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 273-3664	173	10	17.3	45.1%	113 (65.3%)	1 (0.6%)	24 (13.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (19.1%)	75.9	1335^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.2%		59.7	2079^th of 5869 public elementary schools	64.6%	744	66.7	52.4	58.3	50.0	40.0	80.0	64.3	73.3	52.4	59.2	55.6	53.3	66.7	50.0	46.7	57.1	55.1							$13,830	$1,044	$12,786

Frequently Asked Questions about Margaret G. Scotten Elementary

Is Margaret G. Scotten Elementary a good school?

Margaret G. Scotten Elementary ranks 3658^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Margaret G. Scotten Elementary?

Students at Margaret G. Scotten Elementary are 72% White, 17% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian, 1% African American.

What district is Margaret G. Scotten Elementary in?

Grass Valley Elementary

What schools do graduates of Margaret G. Scotten Elementary attend?

Students who attend Margaret G. Scotten Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lyman Gilmore Middle
High : Nevada Union High

How many students attend Margaret G. Scotten Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 357 students attended Margaret G. Scotten Elementary.

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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.