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Placer County Pathways Charter

Q: Is Placer County Pathways Charter a good school?

Placer County Pathways Charter ranks 766 th of 5857 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

766^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Alternative Schools

Better than 87% of California alternative schools

Summary

Placer County Pathways Charter is a public K-12 charter school in Auburn, California, serving 293 students with a personalized, small-class environment under the Placer County Office of Education.

Academically, this school stands out for its strength in core subjects, consistently outperforming both district and state averages in English, Math, and Science; for example, its 61% English proficiency is notably higher than nearby alternative schools like New Pacific Charter - Roseville (42%) and American River Charter (38%). This strong performance is achieved with a moderate per-student budget and a favorable student-teacher ratio of about 15-to-1, suggesting effective use of resources.

However, parents should be aware of a significant challenge: the school's graduation rate, while improving, is 66%, which is below the state average, and its dropout rate is high at 24%. This creates a paradox where students who stay are academically successful, but keeping them engaged through graduation is a key focus. Compared to peers, its chronic absenteeism rate is better than some, like Sierra Vista, but higher than others. The school appears to be a solid, cost-effective choice for families seeking an alternative setting with strong academics, though supporting student persistence through high school is an area of ongoing work.

293

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,947

Per pupil spending ?

50.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

360 Nevada St.
Auburn, CA 95603-3720

(530) 745-1440

District: Placer County Office of Education

Racial breakdown:

White:

61.8%

Hispanic:

29.0%

Two or more races:

6.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Placer County Pathways Charter to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 68th percentile in 2021 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (56% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of California alternative schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2021

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the California average (66% vs 88%)

!Dropout rate above the California average (24% vs 8%)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school56%

District avg52%

California avg41%

Elementary school

766^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 21 pts since 2015

From top 34% (2015) to top 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

620^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 48 pts since 2015

From bottom 30% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.1	766 of 5857	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	82.7	1048 of 5869	82.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.3	1261 of 5859	78.5%	★★★★☆
2022	68.4	1668 of 5883	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	67.5	420 of 1417	70.4%	★★★★☆
2019	49.8	2605 of 5789	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.4	1380 of 5662	75.6%	★★★★☆
2017	67.0	1699 of 5692	70.2%	★★★★☆
2016	75.4	1295 of 5614	76.9%	★★★★☆
2015	60.3	1921 of 5611	65.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.9	812 of 5597	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	81.3	1040 of 5612	81.5%	★★★★☆
2019	41.1	3042 of 5492	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	77.8	935 of 5517	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.8	864 of 5363	83.9%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	82.5	964 of 5628	82.9%	★★★★☆
2024	70.6	1475 of 5643	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	65.7	1694 of 5638	70.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.5	1707 of 5663	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.3	429 of 1272	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.8	1918 of 5510	65.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.3	973 of 2598	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.2	1187 of 2651	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.8	1596 of 2661	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.8	1909 of 2726	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.7	2232 of 2834	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.5	1506 of 2737	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.2	620 of 2761	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	88.7	305 of 2783	89.0%	★★★★☆
2023	74.1	596 of 2781	78.6%	★★★★☆
2022	50.8	1151 of 2740	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	63.8	284 of 894	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.7	737 of 2715	72.9%	★★★★☆
2018	75.2	538 of 2480	78.3%	★★★★☆
2017	66.0	754 of 2508	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	60.9	851 of 2497	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	27.4	1735 of 2477	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	76.8	507 of 2533	80.0%	★★★★☆
2024	82.6	396 of 2551	84.5%	★★★★☆
2023	86.9	301 of 2531	88.1%	★★★★☆
2018	57.6	856 of 2262	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	19.3	2170 of 2542	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	92.7	141 of 2579	94.5%	★★★★★
2023	28.8	1795 of 2531	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	49.5	1029 of 2458	58.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	65.9	709 of 2534	72.0%	★★★★☆
2024	90.5	239 of 2552	90.6%	★★★★★
2023	59.4	832 of 2538	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.7	1072 of 2527	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.1	239 of 763	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.9	544 of 2407	77.4%	★★★★☆
2018	80.4	404 of 2273	82.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	46.8	643 of 1566	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	90.9	80 of 1531	94.8%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.9	633 of 1520	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.9	371 of 1537	75.9%	★★★★☆
2023	49.2	757 of 1543	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	39.9	914 of 1555	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.1	717 of 1602	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.6	529 of 1496	64.6%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2021	12.3	1121 of 1290	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.9	1738 of 2133	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.9	1559 of 2017	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	19.1	1523 of 2021	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	9.8	1883 of 2039	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	11.7	1712 of 1994	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	18.5	1467 of 1880	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Female (2025)85th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)83rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)83rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)63rd percentile-24 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)80th percentile~ school

Male (2025)72nd percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2025)59th percentile-19 vs school

White (2025)58th percentile-19 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)15th percentile-63 vs school

High school

Male (2019)22nd percentile+3 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy61%+12 vs state

Science54%+21 vs state

Mathematics52%+15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Placer County Pathways Charter

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th 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
Placer County Court	Public, Alternative	K-12	360 Nevada St.	Auburn	95603	Placer County	Placer County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 745-1440	14	2	5.9	78.6%	7 (50.0%)	1 (7.1%)	5 (35.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																													$117,866	$70,746	$47,120
Placer County Pathways Charter	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	360 Nevada St.	Auburn	95603	Placer County	Placer County Office of Education	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(530) 745-1440	293	19	15.4	50.5%	181 (61.8%)	4 (1.4%)	85 (29.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)								(n/a)	58.3	50.0				53.6	69.6	77.3	70.8	73.9	50.0	46.9		61.3	69.6	68.2	45.8	65.2	45.8	40.6		52.3							$19,947	$3,647	$16,300
Placer County Special Education	Public, Alternative	K-12	360 Nevada St.	Auburn	95603	Placer County	Placer County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 745-1440	85	13	6.7	58.8%	39 (45.9%)	7 (8.2%)	21 (24.7%)	4 (4.7%)	1 (1.2%)	3 (3.5%)	10 (11.8%)								(n/a)
Rocklin Alternative Education Center	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	3250 Victory Dr.	Rocklin	95765	Placer County	Rocklin Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(916) 632-3195	42	3	14.2	40.5%	31 (73.8%)	1 (2.4%)	5 (11.9%)	1 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.1%)								(n/a)				25.0	45.5	34.4							66.7	53.9							16.7	23.1							$17,959	$291	$17,668
Horizon Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	873 First St.	Lincoln	95648	Placer County	Horizon Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 408-5200	1,757	67	26.3	55.5%	915 (52.1%)	105 (6.0%)	405 (23.1%)	82 (4.7%)	4 (0.2%)	13 (0.7%)	228 (13.0%)								(n/a)	41.2	39.5		40.7	46.2	40.6	57.1	50.0	49.0	54.6	47.6	47.2	64.4	53.5	53.3	44.1	46.9	34.6	43.7	38.3	39.3	42.4	30.3	31.7	38.7	30.3	40.1	31.7	$11,551	$253	$11,298
ATLAS Learning Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	870 J St.	Lincoln	95648	Placer County	Western Placer Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 409-2404	80	2	35.5	27.5%	56 (70.0%)	4 (5.0%)	13 (16.3%)	1 (1.3%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.3%)								(n/a)				35.7		40.9							77.8	75.0							33.3	35.7							$11,295	$555	$10,740
John Adams Academy - Lincoln	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1797 Bella Breeze Dr.	Lincoln	95648	Placer County	John Adams Academy - Lincoln District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 209-5540	1,392	64	21.8	23.6%	861 (61.9%)	17 (1.2%)	336 (24.1%)	84 (6.0%)	2 (0.1%)	11 (0.8%)	81 (5.8%)								(n/a)	49.2	27.5	65.6	50.0		42.2	39.5	44.1	56.6	51.2	61.0	54.6	81.0	52.2	48.7	35.6	41.5	43.2	43.9	25.8	38.1	39.7	93.1	94.2	97.1	93.6	93.6	94.8	$15,440	$392	$15,048
Sierra Vista	Public, Alternative	3-12	5280 Stirling St.	Granite Bay	95746	Placer County	Placer County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 277-8799	16	2	8.0	75.0%	11 (68.8%)	2 (12.5%)	1 (6.3%)	1 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (6.3%)								(n/a)														27.3								0.0							$243,465	$3,578	$239,887
American River Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	6620 Wentworth Springs Rd.	Georgetown	95634	El Dorado County	Black Oak Mine Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(530) 333-8340	263	9	29.5	38.0%	204 (77.6%)	2 (0.8%)	22 (8.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.5%)	30 (11.4%)								(n/a)	47.1	35.3		38.1		39.0	26.9	38.5	37.5	24.0	46.7	35.3	61.9	37.6	23.1	15.4	29.4	12.0	20.0	35.3	19.1	21.6	22.9	37.1	57.1	28.6	34.3	34.3	$13,583	$282	$13,301
John Adams Academy - Roseville	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	One Sierra Gate Plaza	Roseville	95678	Placer County	John Adams Academy - Roseville District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 780-6800	1,668	80	20.8	33.9%	1,124 (67.4%)	18 (1.1%)	297 (17.8%)	109 (6.5%)	5 (0.3%)	8 (0.5%)	107 (6.4%)								(n/a)	33.8	36.5		52.7		38.8	40.3	45.9	42.4	55.0	52.4	52.5	76.7	50.7	58.4	54.1	24.0	41.3	39.5	36.9	48.7	42.5	90.9	94.1	94.1	92.5	92.5	93.1	$15,500	$636	$14,864

Frequently Asked Questions about Placer County Pathways Charter

How many students attend Placer County Pathways Charter?

In the 2024-25 school year, 293 students attended Placer County Pathways Charter.

What is the racial makeup of Placer County Pathways Charter?

Students at Placer County Pathways Charter are 62% White, 29% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% American Indian.

Is Placer County Pathways Charter a good school?

Placer County Pathways Charter ranks 766^th of 5857 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Placer County Pathways Charter in?

Placer County Office of Education

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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.