Encina High

Encina High is a public high school serving grades 9-12 to 766 students in Sacramento, part of the San Juan Unified district, and it faces significant academic challenges that place it among the lowest-performing schools in the state.

The school's academic results are critically low, with only about 7% of students proficient in English and 1% in math, far below state averages, and it has a high dropout rate of 17.5% with chronic absenteeism affecting one-third of students. Compared to nearby schools in the same district, like El Camino Fundamental High and Rio Americano High, which have much higher proficiency and graduation rates, Encina's performance is dramatically lower. This is notable because Encina spends significantly more per student than these higher-performing schools, suggesting resources are not translating into better outcomes.

Performance has been declining in recent years, and the school struggles particularly with specific student groups, such as those in special education. While other area schools with similar high levels of student economic need, like Grant Union High, perform better, Encina's data indicates a school in urgent need of systemic improvement to support student success and engagement.