Education

Once you have decided where to live, you can go to Dataquest website to discover enrollment size, pupil to teacher ratio, Achievement Test scores, number of students that graduate, and more for a particular school.

Your zip code determines which school district your child will attend, however, you may apply for an inter-district transfer in order for your child to attend a different school. Beale has an elementary school on the installation which covers grades Kindergarten through 5th Grade, and offers a wide variety of educational and recreational programs. The school is safe and performs well academically. Children off base in several small communities also attend the on base school. The school, located in the main housing area, is within walking distance for most base residents and is also within walking distance of the base Child Development Center and Youth Center.

A State-funded preschool program is offered through the elementary schools as well as an after school program for students who attend on base school. Older children residing on base, grades 6-12, will attend Bear River Middle School (Grades 6-8) or Wheatland High School (Grades 9-12). Both Bear River and Wheatland are located off base in the community of Wheatland and are part of the Wheatland Independent School District.

Once you have decided where to live, you can go to Dataquest website to discover enrollment size, pupil to teacher ratio, Achievement Test scores, number of students that graduate, and more for a particular school or contact the School Liaison Officer located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Your zip code determines which school district your child will attend, however, you may apply for an inter-district transfer in order for your child to attend a different school. (Note: Inter-District Transfers must be approved by both the losing and gaining school districts; granting of the inter-district transfers is also dependent on school space availability.) Beale has an elementary school and a charter school on the installation which covers grades Kindergarten through 5th Grade, and offers a wide variety of educational and recreational programs. The school is safe and performs well academically. Children off base in several small communities also attend the on base school. The school, located in the main housing area, is within walking distance for most base residents and is also within walking distance of the base Youth Center.

A half-day, State-funded preschool program is offered through the elementary schools as well as an after school program for students who attend on base school. Older children residing on base, grades 6-12, will attend Bear River Middle School (Grades 6-8) or Wheatland High School (Grades 9-12). Both Bear River and Wheatland are located off base in the community of Wheatland.

Accreditation -- Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits all public and some private schools in California. Check with the school of interest if they are accredited with this organization.

Bus service -- There are buses that pick-up and return children who live on base and attend Bear River or Wheatland High; a bus schedule can be found on the Wheatland School District's Bus Schedule and Wheatland Union High School websites. Please note that other local school districts may charge a bus transportation fee. Some districts may not have bus services available.

Meals -- Meals are provided by the school for a minimal cost. Note: some children may be eligible to receive free or reduced cost lunch dependent upon total family income. Currently, all children are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch. Check with the school for further information.

Before and after school programs -- Many districts and schools have programs that are both public and private. There are two after school programs on base. The Youth Center offers a Before and After School Program and Lone Tree Elementary offers an After School Program. Check with the school district to which you will be moving to learn more about these programs.

Sports Programs -- Many schools have sports programs at the Middle School and High School levels. Depending on the school district, some Elementary Schools also have a school sports program.

Exceptional children programs focus on making the child part of the regular school programs. Check with your school district in California or Special Needs Program Coordinator at your current base medical treatment facility.

Charter Schools -- Public schools that may provide instruction in any of grades K-12 that are created or organized by a group of teachers, parents, community leaders or a community-based organization. There is one charter school on Beale AFB, Wheatland Charter Academy, which is located on the Lone Tree Elementary Campus.

Please contact the School Liaison Program Manager to discuss any of your child’s educational needs by contacting The Child and Youth Resource Center at 530-634-3539.

There are numerous private schools in the communities surrounding Beale Air Force Base. Many follow the California Education Codes and are accredited because of this. Meals, sports programs, before and after school programs may be included, depending on the size and type of private school. Contact the Beale School Liaison Program Manager at 530-634-3539 for detailed information.

Home schooling is conducted in California through 4 major avenues. Public Schools with independent study programs may allow parents to home school their children as is true with private accredited schools independent studies. Visit the California Home School Network's website for assistance in setting up a home school program or contact the School Liaison Program Manager at 530-634-3539.

California serves more than five million students annually through public adult schools, community colleges, libraries, community and faith-based organizations, and correctional institutions. For more information please see Education: College and Adult Education. Or contact the Education Center at 530-634-2525/2529.

The California Department of Education does not have the authority or resources to collect and/or store transcripts or records for students in California public schools. To obtain a transcript from a California public school, an individual must contact the school directly. If the school is closed, we suggest contacting the local school district or the county office of education for assistance.

Preschool Programs

There are two on-base preschool programs available to Beale personnel. The State of California operates a State funded part-day preschool at Lone Tree Elementary School and the Child Development Center offers an excellent full-day preschool program for military and DoD civilian families. Preschool is open to ages 3 and older. With the State Funded preschool, there are no fees to be paid, provided military members meet financial eligibility requirements (if not, the family may be eligible for a "Private Pay" option). Due to limited space in the program and varying eligibility, you should contact the preschool directly for fees, hours of operation and school schedules. No transportation is provided.

The Child Development Center preschool program is open Monday through Friday year round. Fees are charged based upon total family income.

Unique Opportunities

TK or Kindergarten Enrollment is not required in California. Parents and guardians are currently not required to enroll children in TK or kindergarten (Education Code (EC) Section 48200). The Education Code may be accessed at the Outside Source webpage. If parents/guardians choose to enroll their children, schools must admit children who are of legal age (EC Section 48000[a]). Admission of age-eligible children must occur at the beginning of the school year or whenever the students move into the school district. Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate. Each elementary or unified school district must offer transitional kindergarten classes for all children eligible to attend. A child who completes one year in a transitional kindergarten program, shall continue in a kindergarten program for an additional year. A Kindergarten Continuance Form is not needed for children who are age-eligible for transitional kindergarten. A child is eligible for TK if they have their fifth birthday between September 2, 2024 and June 2, 2025. TK eligibility requirements are due to change in 2025-2026 school year and will include all children who will have their fourth birthday by September 1, 2025.

Common Core State Standards

Educational standards describe what students should know and be able to accomplish in each subject in each grade. The California State Board of Education decides the standards for all students, kindergarten through high school. As of November 2023, 41 states have adopted the same standards for English and Mathematics. These are the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which ensure students are able to obtain a good, quality education, even though they may change schools or move to a different state. Teachers, parents and educational experts designed the standards to prepare students for success in college and the workplace.