Summary:
This analysis covers three public schools in the Plumas Unified district serving grades K-12 in the Portola, CA area (zip code 96122), all of which serve a significant population of economically disadvantaged students.
Parents should be aware of significant academic and attendance challenges across these schools. C. Roy Carmichael Elementary has seen a sharp decline in its statewide ranking, and its students' proficiency in math and science lags well behind state averages, particularly in the upper grades. Portola Junior/Senior High shows volatile performance year-to-year and has a critical weakness in mathematics, with only 14.5% of students proficient, though it maintains a graduation rate slightly above the state average. The small Beckwourth (Jim) High (Continuation) has no recent academic data available and serves a very high-need population.
A major area of concern is chronic absenteeism, which is high at all three schools and severe at the continuation high school. Interestingly, higher spending per student does not correlate with better outcomes here; the continuation school spends the most but has near-universal absenteeism. For families, this indicates a district where students face substantial hurdles in consistent attendance and mathematics achievement, which are important factors to consider when evaluating school options.
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