Top Rankings
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 403 students in Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the California public school average of 33%), and reading proficiency score of 38% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
5 Schools
10,369 Schools
# Students
403 Students
5,826,838 Students
# Teachers
28 Teachers
268,018 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District, which is ranked #904 of all 1,925 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 80% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#953 out of 1941 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
31%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
25-29%
29%
Graduation Rate
≥80%
87%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.44
0.63
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
n/a
12%
% Hispanic
16%
56%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
73%
20%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,931 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,974. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,881 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,931
$19,974
Spending / Student
$15,881
$18,396
Best Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Downieville Junior-senior High School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
130 School St.
Downieville, CA 95936
(530) 289-3473
Downieville, CA 95936
(530) 289-3473
Grades: 7-12
| 21 students
Rank: #22.
Downieville Elementary School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
130 School St.
Downieville, CA 95936
(530) 289-3473
Downieville, CA 95936
(530) 289-3473
Grades: K-6
| 29 students
Rank: #33.
Loyalton High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
700 Fourth St.
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-4454
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-4454
Grades: 7-12
| 154 students
Rank: #44.
Loyalton Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
111 Beckwith St.
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-4482
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-4482
Grades: K-6
| 194 students
Rank: n/an/a
Sierra Pass (Continuation School)
Alternative School
700 Fourth St.
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-1660
Loyalton, CA 96118
(530) 993-1660
Grades: 9-12
| 5 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District?
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District manages 5 public schools serving 403 students.
What is the rank of Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District?
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District is ranked #904 out of 1,925 school districts in California (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of California school districts for: Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District?
73% of Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District students are White, 16% of students are Hispanic, 8% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, 1% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District?
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District has a student/teacher ratio of 14:1, which is lower than the California state average of 22:1.
What is Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $15,881 is less than the state median of $18,396. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.

Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.