Public schools in Nevada City, CA
9 open public schools with an address in Nevada City, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,568
8 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
20.1:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of Nevada City public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Nevada City, CA: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. The 8 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,568 students, an average of 321 per school. The largest campus is Forest Charter (845 students), and the largest elementary school is Nevada City School of the Arts (477).
Nevada County Office of Education operates the most schools here (3), and 3 regular districts have at least one Nevada City campus, plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 20.1:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 44% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Nevada City
Nevada County Office of Education
Public school district
3 schools in Nevada City · 5 total
Nevada City Elementary
Public school district
2 schools in Nevada City
Twin Ridges Elementary
Public school district
2 schools in Nevada City
Nevada City School of the Arts District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Nevada City
Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Nevada City
Elementary schools in Nevada City
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Creek Elementary Nevada City Elementary | KG–03 | 259 | 21.8:1 | |
| Grizzly Hill Twin Ridges Elementary | KG–08 | 105 | 21:1 | |
| Nevada City School of the Arts Nevada City School of the Arts District · Charter | KG–08 | 477 | 18.5:1 | |
| Nevada County Special Education Nevada County Office of Education · Special Education School | KG–08 | 51 | 7.2:1 | |
| Twin Ridges Home Study Charter Nevada County Office of Education · Charter | KG–08 | 208 | 19.2:1 |
Middle schools in Nevada City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Hills Intermediate Nevada City Elementary | 04–08 | 432 | 21:1 |
High schools in Nevada City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning District · Charter | 09–12 | 191 | 13.3:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Nevada City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Charter Nevada County Office of Education · Charter | KG–12 | 845 | 21:1 | |
| Twin Ridges Special Education Preschool Twin Ridges Elementary | Not reported | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White77.2%
- Hispanic11.2%
- Black0.5%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.9%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial8.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 8 Nevada City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,568 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Nevada City
How many public schools are in Nevada City, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Nevada City: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 2,568 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Nevada City?
Schools with an address in Nevada City belong to 5 education agencies, led by Nevada County Office of Education (3 schools), Nevada City Elementary (2 schools), Twin Ridges Elementary (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Nevada City?
Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning reported the largest high-school enrollment in Nevada City, with 191 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Nevada City?
Yes. 4 of the 9 public schools in Nevada City are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Forest Charter, Nevada City School of the Arts, Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Nevada City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Nevada City public schools is 20.1:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Nevada City guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities