The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 27% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Douglass Middle
Douglass Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades seven and eight in Woodland, the Yolo County seat, sitting in a community shaped by agriculture, warehousing, retail, and healthcare. The school enrolls a population that is substantially Hispanic, with a large share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic composition of the broader Woodland area. A substantial share of the enrollment speaks English as a second language or is learning English; specific data on that population was not available, though the district serves a region where that need is widespread.
Academically, Douglass shows uneven results. In English language arts across both grades tested, proficiency sits around the midpoint. Seventh grade reads at roughly half proficient, and eighth grade slightly lower. In math, performance is substantially weaker: seventh graders sit around a third proficient, and eighth graders decline further to roughly a quarter. Science proficiency in eighth grade is similarly low. These results place the school in the top quartile when measured against other districts across Yolo County on an overall proficiency index, a positioning that reflects the broader academic context in the county rather than strong absolute performance. A parent may want to look into further what academic supports or interventions the school offers in math and science, where students are struggling most.
Science data on eighth grade was available; seventh grade science results were not reported, likely because that grade is not tested in science under California's assessment schedule.
The school is part of Woodland Joint Unified, a district of about twenty-six schools serving a mixed-income area. Two recent developments shape the district context. Voters approved Measure Y, a facilities bond, in November 2020, which has funded repairs, technology upgrades, and expanded vocational facilities including automotive and construction trades across the district's schools. By contrast, voters rejected Measure P in November 2024, a proposed bond for further modernization and improvements, meaning the district will work with existing resources for facility needs going forward. Additionally, Woodland Joint Unified has required Ethnic Studies for high school graduation since 2022-23, ahead of the statewide mandate, as an interdisciplinary curriculum centered on race, ethnicity, and indigeneity. This curriculum requirement applies district-wide and is a graduation pathway families should be aware of.
Woodland itself is a classic Central Valley town organized around a historic downtown of Victorian and early-20th-century brick buildings, with a walkable Main Street anchored by the Opera House, restaurants, and cultural events like a monthly First Friday arts festival. The town is experiencing growth, particularly through the Spring Lake Specific Plan on its southern edge, a master-planned development of hundreds of homes, parks, and schools with transit access. The area includes affordable housing developments for agricultural workers, including the award-winning Mutual Housing at Spring Lake. Public transit via Yolobus connects Woodland to Davis, West Sacramento, Sacramento, and the airport. The housing market in the Woodland zip code sits in the mid-range for the state, with typical home values and rental costs reflecting moderate affordability stress relative to income. For families considering this area, the town offers both established neighborhoods and newer planned communities, a compact historic downtown, and proximity to Sacramento and UC Davis.
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