Original Research by School Decision on Cache Creek High (continuation)
Cache Creek High is a continuation high school in the rural unincorporated community of Yolo, about five miles northwest of Woodland, the county seat. It serves students in grades 11 and 12 almost exclusively, with no students currently in grades 9 or 10. The school is part of Woodland Joint Unified.
The enrollment is small, concentrated heavily in grade 12, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. A small number of white students and a very small number of students from other backgrounds round out the population.
State proficiency results reported for 2024-25 show that students at Cache Creek are performing well below grade-level expectations. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was in the single digits; in mathematics, it fell below that; and in science, no students achieved proficiency. These results reflect what continuation schools often encounter: they serve students who have struggled in traditional settings or who are behind in credits, and their academic profiles tend to be substantially lower than those of comprehensive high schools. Comparison data for graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, or overall proficiency index against other districts in Yolo County is not available for this school.
As a continuation school, Cache Creek functions differently from a traditional high school. Students who attend are typically those who have fallen behind, dropped out, or need a more flexible pathway to graduation. The school's structure and curriculum are designed around that population. Its small enrollment and grade concentration suggest it serves as a recovery or re-engagement option within the district rather than as a first choice for most families.
The Yolo community itself is very small and rural, sitting in the Sacramento Valley agricultural landscape. Most civic and school life for the area is anchored in Woodland, where the main district schools are located. Housing values in the Yolo 95697 zip code are moderate for the region. The local economy is rooted in agriculture, and the area is surrounded by farms and orchards.
Families considering Cache Creek would do so because their student is already in the continuation-school pathway. For parents exploring it in advance, a conversation with school counselors about the specific curriculum, credit-recovery approach, and graduation timeline would be important, as continuation schools operate under different schedules and requirements than comprehensive high schools. The state testing results indicate students here arrive with significant academic gaps; parents may want to ask the school directly about its academic support services, how it addresses those gaps, and what the typical trajectory looks like for students entering in grade 11 or 12.
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