Best Public Schools in Zip Code 96009

The 96009 zip code area is home to two public schools - Big Valley Elementary and Big Valley Junior Senior High, both part of the Big Valley Joint Unified School District. While the high school has shown steady improvement in its academic performance and statewide ranking, the elementary school faces more significant challenges in supporting student learning and achievement.

Big Valley Junior Senior High has made impressive progress, moving from a low statewide ranking in 2022-2023 to a 4-star rating and a much higher ranking in 2024-2025. The school boasts a relatively high 4-year graduation rate and outperforms the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Science proficiency. In contrast, Big Valley Elementary has struggled, with academic performance generally below the district and state averages, despite some improvement in its statewide ranking over the years.

The data also reveals significant differences in resource allocation between the two schools. Big Valley Junior Senior High spends significantly more per student and has a lower student-teacher ratio, suggesting a more favorable learning environment at the high school level. Additionally, both schools face challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, which may be contributing to the academic performance issues.