The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Obsidian Middle
Obsidian Middle serves grades seven and eight in Clearlake, a rural small city on the southeast shore of Clear Lake in Lake County, about a middle-sized enrollment for a middle school. The school's academic performance presents a serious challenge that parents need to understand directly.
State testing results show that proficiency in math is around the lowest single-digit range for both seventh and eighth graders. English language arts performance is somewhat higher but still well below proficient: seventh-grade students reach proficient at a rate in the low double digits, while eighth graders do somewhat better at a proficient rate around a quarter. Science proficiency in eighth grade is again in the lowest single-digit range. Across all tested subjects and grades, Obsidian's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile when compared to the other public school districts in Lake County. These are not numbers that suggest the school is meeting grade-level standards for most of its students. A parent considering this school should ask the principal and staff directly what instructional priorities and supports are in place to address this pattern, and what progress, if any, the school has shown in prior years.
The school serves a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of white students and smaller representation from other racial and ethnic groups. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Demographic and special-education data for English learners and students with individualized education plans were not available in the records reviewed.
Clearlake itself is a dispersed, low-density residential place without a traditional downtown, built largely on small lots with scattered infrastructure and a car-dependent layout. The local economy centers on healthcare, notably Adventist Health's hospital and clinic as a major employer, alongside retail and service work. The city is in the early stages of intentional growth, with new affordable housing complexes, a sports complex and recreation center under construction, and commercial development along Highway 53. These civic investments suggest Clearlake is reshaping itself, though the foundation remains modest.
Housing values in the Clearlake zip code where Obsidian is located are below the state benchmark and well below the national one, making the area relatively affordable. This affordability may be drawing families to the region, and the city's development activity indicates growth is underway, though at a measured pace.
Konocti Unified, the district that operates Obsidian, passed a school facilities bond in November 2024, signaling a commitment to campus improvements funded through local property taxes. For a family considering enrollment or a move to the area, this represents a financial commitment and an intention to upgrade school infrastructure.
Obsidian Middle is a regular public school with no specialized program designation. The core question for a parent is whether the instructional and support environment can move students toward proficiency in core academics. The test results indicate that work remains substantial.
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