Summary:
In the Magalia, California area (zip code 95954), two public elementary schools, Cedarwood Elementary and Pine Ridge, serve students from kindergarten through 6th grade within the Paradise Unified school district.
Both schools face significant academic challenges, performing well below state averages in English and math, and they serve student populations with high economic need. However, they have different strengths: Cedarwood has shown stronger results in mathematics, particularly in the early grades, while Pine Ridge excels in science, outperforming both district and state averages. Pine Ridge also operates with notably smaller class sizes and higher per-student spending compared to Cedarwood.
Parents should be aware that chronic student absenteeism is a major concern at both schools, with rates far exceeding the state average, which likely impacts overall learning. While the schools rank similarly in the bottom 20% of California schools, their differing resource allocation and subject-specific performance offer distinct considerations for families in the area.
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