Best High Schools in Zip Code 89448

ZIP code 89448 is home to just one high school: George Whittell High School in Zephyr Cove, Nevada, a small lakeside community near Lake Tahoe. The school serves grades 6–12 with 139 students and belongs to the Douglas County School District. Because it is the only school in the area, it is the sole option for local families, and its combined middle- and high-school grades mean its "all grades" results blend both levels.

George Whittell performs well above its benchmarks. It ranked 28th of 105 Nevada high schools in 2025–2026, placing in the 73rd percentile with 4 stars — a ranking it has held consistently in every reported year. The district itself ranks 3rd of 12 in the state. The graduation rate was 91.6%, higher than both the district's 85.9% and the state's 85.4%. In 2025–2026, the school beat district and state proficiency in every reported all-grade subject: math at 42.4%, reading at 57.5%, and science at 48.0%. Science is the standout, running roughly 21 points above the district and 22 points above the state, with End of Course science at 53.5% — about double the state's figure. Seventh-grade reading (65.0%) and eighth-grade math (44.0%) also stand out. The one reported subject below district is 11th-grade ACT English at 52.1%, though it still exceeds the state's 50.8%.

Two things are worth watching. Chronic absenteeism was 29.8%, meaning nearly three in ten students were chronically absent — above both the district (19.2%) and state (25.5%). Proficiency also fell from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026 in math, reading, and science, while district and state figures stayed steadier; with roughly 20 students per grade, such swings are expected. Many grade-level results are suppressed by the state to protect privacy, so the picture is incomplete. Staffing is a strength, with a 5.6:1 student-teacher ratio and $28,390 per-student spending.