Best Public Schools in Zip Code 95685

In the Sutter Creek, California area (zip code 95685), five schools serve about 1,105 students across grades K-12, operating under the Amador County Unified district and the Amador County Office of Education.

The traditional public schools, Amador High and Sutter Creek Elementary, are consistent performers. Amador High stands out with an exceptional 99.3% graduation rate and strong English scores, while Sutter Creek Elementary maintains low chronic absenteeism and solid math proficiency. In contrast, Independence High (Continuation) faces significant challenges with very high absenteeism and low academic proficiency, despite higher per-student spending.

The area's alternative schools show mixed results: North Star Academy achieves a perfect 100% graduation rate, whereas County Community has severe absenteeism. A key takeaway is that chronic absenteeism is a strong indicator of academic struggle across all schools, and higher spending does not automatically lead to better outcomes, especially in schools serving students with greater needs.