Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating and underlying rating to AAA from AA-plus on St. Helena Unified School District, Calif.'s general obligation debt outstanding.
Standard & Poor's also assigned its AAA rating to the district's election of 2012, series A-1 and A-2, GO bonds and election of 2010, series C, GO bonds.
The outlook is stable.
"The raised ratings reflect our view of the district's further entrenchment of 'basic-aid' status and strong operations, as well as the improvement in its reserves to a strong level," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Bryan Moore.
The ratings reflect the district's: low level of funding interdependencies with the federal government; wealthy taxpayer base; significantly entrenchment in "basic-aid" status; and operating flexibility due to its low student-to-teacher ratios and strong assigned and unassigned general fund balances.
