While “location, location, location” may be the most well-known catch phrase for real estate, one of the truest measures of a property’s value is how good the local schools are.  Any Buyer will tell you that’s a primary concern, whether they have children or not.  Because the strength of a school district is a prime factor in the strength of a community.

In the Tahoe /Truckee area, the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is comprised of 12 schools spanning 723 square miles – and three counties!  We are extremely blessed that despite being a more isolated, “rural” area, when compared to communities at lower elevations, that we have as strong a school district as we do.  Lots of dedication and hard work, not just from those who work in the District, but local businesses who support it in many ways, have paid off over the years for all of us in the Tahoe basin.

School District Chief Learning Officer, Rob Leri, has made a tremendous impact on the District in his five years on the job.  An educator and administrator for over 30 years, Dr. Rob Leri is passionate about providing possibilities for success for all Tahoe Truckee Unified School District students.  He has won near unanimous praise from all who cross his path and has been named Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) 2016 Region 2 Superintendent of the Year, Placer County’s 2016 Superintendent of the Year, and North Tahoe’s 2014 Public Servant of the Year.

Some of the programs and focus of the District in recent years have upped the District’s overall game significantly.  There are now up to 15 AP classes offered at the high schools, as well as Career Technical Education Pathways in culinary arts, fire and public safety, and engineering and biomedical science for those students for whom a traditional college path is not the answer.  All grade levels offer STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) focused courses to prepare our students for the world of the future.  There is a 1:1 technology program for grades five through twelve and Chromebooks are available to all students at no cost in these grades.

Over the past two school years, beginning with a grant supplied by our local Excellence in Education Foundation, innovative educators within the district have been busy researching what the “Classroom of the Future” might look like.  The teachers studied what learning spaces could – and should – look like, as well as what future classroom purchases should entail, including furniture, technology and other elements that can impact the way students learn.  The flexible design of the furniture and ease of integration of technology is leading to greater student collaboration.  The students set up the room the way they need to, based on the learning activity at hand.

One of the most significant outcomes that the incorporation of flexible furniture and technology have created in the classroom is the fact that students and teachers are learning to become continuous problem solvers, understanding that they need to try new things to see what helps them learn best.  Involved teachers say their students have demonstrated an increase in personal goal setting, independent work skills, and an increase in collaborative problem solving. Their eagerness for the material and learning process has also improved year over year.  School district administrators report they are very excited about how the classrooms of the future are coming together and plan to, over time, have all District classrooms outfitted under this model.

Some Tahoe Truckee Unified School District accolades:

  • Glenshire Elementary – A California Distinguished School
  • Tahoe Lake Elementary – A Gold Ribbon School, Title I High Academic Achieving School, and a California Distinguished School
  • Kings Beach Elementary – A Gold Ribbon School and a Title I High Academic Achieving School

Truckee Elementary -A STEM Honor Roll School

  • Alder Creek Middle School –A California School to Watch-Taking Center Stage model middle school.
  • North Tahoe High School – California Gold Ribbon School, Title I High Academic Achieving School, and ranked in top 10% of High Schools by US News & World Report
  • Sierra High School a California Model Continuation High School
  • Truckee High School – Washington Post’s 2015 America’s Most Challenging High Schools

Community Support & Partnerships

  • Tahoe Truckee community – A Pacesetter by the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading for achieving measurable process in summer learning and grade level reading
  • Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation provides over $200,000 in grant funding for teachers each year.
  • Sierra Watershed Education Partnership provides over 10 environmental education programs to connect our students to our community and local environment.
  • Measure A parcel tax guarantees approximately $4 million in funding each year. Measure A funded programs include music, art, physical education, technology, counseling, nursing, science, honors and college preparation and provides for instructional materials, equipment, and supplies.
  • North Tahoe High School, Truckee High School, and Truckee Elementary named to Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) Honor Roll.

We couldn’t be more proud of our District and want to share its values and achievements with you.  You can read more here – or just ask us!