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Alta Sierra Elementary

Q: Is Alta Sierra Elementary a good school?

Alta Sierra Elementary ranks 1402 nd of 5817 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

1402^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,817 California Elementary Schools

Better than 76% of California elementary schools

Summary

Alta Sierra Elementary is a K–5 school serving 338 students in Grass Valley, California. Its 2025–2026 proficiency rates were above California and its district in English language arts (ELA), math and science. The clearest standout is math: 58% of students were proficient, the highest result among 10 nearby schools with reported scores.

Math is where Alta Sierra stands out most locally and against the state and district: its 58% proficiency rate was 16 points above the Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary district and 20 points above California. It was also 15 points above the nearby-school average of 43%. ELA proficiency was 53%, third highest among 10 nearby schools with results, compared with their 48% average. Science was 55%, second highest among seven nearby schools with results; that was 19 points above the state and 3 points above the district. A relative soft spot is third-grade ELA: at 44%, it was essentially level with the state and district, rather than showing the larger advantage seen in the school’s overall results.

Math and ELA have improved overall since 2022–2023, rising 4 and 5 points, respectively; science has fallen 15 points from its unusually high 70% result, though it rebounded from a 39% low in 2024–2025. SchoolDigger places Alta Sierra at the 76th statewide percentile with four stars, up 5 percentile points from the prior year; nearby Clear Creek is slightly higher, at the 78th percentile. The school’s 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 24.1, the second highest among 10 nearby schools with ratios. It reported that 34% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible in 2024–2025, compared with a 47% nearby average; statewide, all students receive free school meals. SchoolDigger’s group rankings also show differences: White Students ranked at the 46th percentile in 2025–2026, compared with the school’s overall 76th percentile, and Multi-racial Students ranked at the 27th percentile in 2022–2023, compared with the overall 73rd percentile that year.

338

Students ?

24.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,904

Per pupil spending ?

34.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

96%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

16607 Annie Dr.
Grass Valley, CA 95949-7147

(530) 272-2319

District: Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary

Students who attend Alta Sierra Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Magnolia Intermediate
High:	Bear River High

Racial breakdown:

White:

70.4%

Hispanic:

16.6%

Two or more races:

11.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Alta Sierra Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 71st percentile in 2016 → 76th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (56% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 24% of California elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school56%

District avg47%

California avg42%

1,402^nd of 5,817

California public elementary schools ?

Top 24%▲ up 4 pts since 2016

From top 29% (2016) to top 24% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2Elementary Schools in the Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary

504^th of 1,530Pleasant Ridge Union 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
2026	74.1	1402 of 5817	75.9%	★★★★☆
2025	67.6	1708 of 5857	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	68.8	1648 of 5869	71.9%	★★★★☆
2023	69.6	1592 of 5859	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	69.0	1647 of 5883	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	75.2	327 of 1417	76.9%	★★★★☆
2019	67.8	1705 of 5789	70.5%	★★★★☆
2018	68.3	1658 of 5662	70.7%	★★★★☆
2017	60.7	1979 of 5692	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	68.3	1601 of 5614	71.5%	★★★★☆
2015	81.9	1041 of 5611	81.4%	★★★★☆
2013	81.3	990 of 5530	82.1%	★★★★☆
2012	79.1	1075 of 5390	80.1%	★★★★☆
2011	79.1	1060 of 5377	80.3%	★★★★☆
2010	77.0	1129 of 5314	78.8%	★★★★☆
2009	81.1	950 of 5193	81.7%	★★★★☆
2008	85.1	748 of 5113	85.4%	★★★★☆
2007	89.1	560 of 5113	89.0%	★★★★☆
2006	89.4	511 of 4818	89.4%	★★★★☆
2005	93.1	320 of 4822	93.4%	★★★★★
2004	90.2	503 of 4809	89.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	66.8	474 of 2227	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	57.5	87 of 293	70.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	69.2	1534 of 5581	72.5%	★★★★☆
2025	69.7	1514 of 5597	72.9%	★★★★☆
2024	67.3	1603 of 5612	71.4%	★★★★☆
2023	69.8	1501 of 5609	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	75.1	1318 of 5635	76.6%	★★★★☆
2021	74.7	292 of 1267	77.0%	★★★★☆
2019	67.6	1623 of 5492	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	66.1	1708 of 5413	68.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	67.5	1335 of 5094	73.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	66.2	1533 of 5423	71.7%	★★★★☆
2025	69.1	1320 of 5460	75.8%	★★★★☆
2024	70.2	1260 of 5517	77.2%	★★★★☆
2023	70.3	1215 of 5363	77.3%	★★★★☆
2022	72.9	1037 of 5264	80.3%	★★★★☆
2021	54.0	427 of 1110	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.8	982 of 5173	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	61.6	1652 of 5084	67.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	76.1	1223 of 5603	78.2%	★★★★☆
2025	63.9	1795 of 5628	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.7	1674 of 5643	70.3%	★★★★☆
2023	67.1	1638 of 5638	70.9%	★★★★☆
2022	59.9	1962 of 5663	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	72.8	316 of 1272	75.2%	★★★★☆
2019	65.0	1722 of 5510	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.5	1640 of 5431	69.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	33.5	490 of 669	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.0	479 of 610	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	85.7	222 of 2420	90.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	50.4	1383 of 2536	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.6	1673 of 2598	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.3	1700 of 2651	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.5	1529 of 2661	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.0	1848 of 2726	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.0	2045 of 2834	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	34.2	1978 of 2737	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆

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 (2023)91st percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2022)79th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2026)78th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)74th percentile~ school

Female (2026)73rd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)72nd percentile-4 vs school

White (2026)45th percentile-30 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)27th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics58%+20 vs state

Science55%+19 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy53%+4 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, August 29, 2013

Besides a wonderful academic atmosphere, Alta Sierra school offers a caring, respectful and family type environs for all of the students. Close Quote

Schools Near Alta Sierra Elementary

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)							Vaccination (2024-25)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Alta Sierra Elementary	Public	K-5	16607 Annie Dr.	Grass Valley	95949	Nevada County	Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 272-2319	338	14	24.1	34.3%	238 (70.4%)	3 (0.9%)	56 (16.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (11.2%)	74.1	1402^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	75.9%		67.6	1708^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.8%	306	55.4		55.4	44.0	56.0	58.5				53.3	53.1	64.0	56.9				57.9	96%	0%	$14,904	$645	$14,259
Chicago Park Elementary	Public	K-8	15725 Mt. Olive Rd.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Chicago Park Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 346-2153	120	8	15.8	44.2%	84 (70.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (20.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.5%)	68.7	1647^th of 5817 public elementary schools	71.7%		65.6	1812^th of 5857 public elementary schools	69.1%	165	72.7		73.3		64.7	100.0	35.7			65.6		47.1	45.5	35.7			42.9	≥ 95%		$16,667	$1,221	$15,446
Chicago Park Community Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	15725 Mount Olive Rd.	Grass Valley	95945	Nevada County	Chicago Park Elementary	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 346-2153	43	3	16.6	41.9%	32 (74.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (23.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.3%)								(n/a)										50.0							57.1			$16,667	$1,221	$15,446
Colfax Elementary	Public	K-8	24825 Ben Taylor Rd.	Colfax	95713	Placer County	Colfax Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 346-2202	345	18	19.4	40.6%	271 (78.6%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (12.5%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.2%)	43.9	2995^th of 5817 public elementary schools	48.5%		25.9	4323^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	26.2%	1328	27.3	32.6	30.4	35.7	64.5	36.4	40.5	55.3	52.2	47.9	35.7	58.1	27.3	24.3	31.6	60.9	40.4	93%	0%	$16,596	$1,334	$15,262
Cottage Hill Elementary	Public	K-5	22600 Kingston Ln.	Grass Valley	95949	Nevada County	Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 268-2808	485	21	23.0	34.8%	332 (68.5%)	1 (0.2%)	84 (17.3%)	1 (0.2%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	60 (12.4%)	49.8	2623^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	54.9%		48.7	2660^th of 5857 public elementary schools	54.6%	37	42.1		42.1	39.7	30.0	57.9				42.3	49.4	31.7	40.8				40.5	93%	0%	$14,505	$668	$13,837
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%)	76.3	1303^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	77.6%		75.9	1335^th of 5857 public elementary schools	77.2%	32	52.9		48.0	60.0	60.0	52.9	53.9			56.6	60.0	73.3	52.9	46.2			53.7	≥ 95%		$13,273	$967	$12,306
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%)	49.3	2650^th of 5817 public elementary schools	54.4%		45.3	2866^th of 5857 public elementary schools	51.1%	216	30.6		30.6	54.7	44.3	56.3	27.5			44.9	65.6	41.8	36.6	20.0			39.8	≥ 98%		$16,301	$530	$15,771
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%)	53.6	2404^th of 5817 public elementary schools	58.7%		52.8	2445^th of 5857 public elementary schools	58.3%	41	38.2	48.0	42.9	47.4	59.7	40.0	41.7	59.6	60.0	51.1	42.1	70.2	29.1	30.0	50.0	38.0	43.2	94%	0%	$22,558	$4,261	$18,297
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%)	47.1	2774^th of 5817 public elementary schools	52.3%		75	1370^th of 5857 public elementary schools	76.6%	1404				48.9	30.2					39.8	60.0	27.9					44.3	93%	0%	$40,193	$9,863	$30,330
Margaret G. Scotten Elementary	Public	K-4	821 Gilmore Way	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%)	26.9	4237^th of 5817 public elementary schools	27.2%		33.8	3658^th of 5857 public elementary schools	37.5%	579				20.3	41.0					30.9	25.0	32.1					28.8	92%	0%	$30,220	$8,164	$22,056

Frequently Asked Questions about Alta Sierra Elementary

What schools do graduates of Alta Sierra Elementary attend?

Students who attend Alta Sierra Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Magnolia Intermediate
High : Bear River High

What district is Alta Sierra Elementary in?

Pleasant Ridge Union Elementary

How many students attend Alta Sierra Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 338 students attended Alta Sierra Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Alta Sierra Elementary?

Students at Alta Sierra Elementary are 70% White, 17% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races.

Is Alta Sierra Elementary a good school?

Alta Sierra Elementary ranks 1402^nd of 5817 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Alta Sierra Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026

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.