Valley High

Valley High is a large public high school serving grades 9-12 to approximately 1,900 students in the Santa Ana Unified district, showing notable academic improvement in recent years despite serving a community with significant economic need.

The school is on a positive trajectory, having improved its statewide ranking from the 23rd to the 39th percentile in just one year, which is the most significant growth among comparable local high schools. This improvement is particularly impressive as it has occurred alongside an increase in the number of students facing economic challenges. While academic proficiency scores in English and math are still developing, the school excels at helping students graduate, with a 91.2% graduation rate that exceeds the state average. However, a key area for continued focus is chronic absenteeism, as 27% of students miss too much school, a rate higher than at nearby schools like Hector G. Godinez (11.9%) and Segerstrom High (15.6%).

Valley High demonstrates particular strengths in supporting specific student groups, such as homeless students and English Language Learners, who perform well above average. The school's story is one of a turnaround in progress, achieving its gains with mid-level per-student spending compared to other schools in the area. While it still trails higher-performing schools in the region like Los Amigos High in the Garden Grove Unified district, its consistent improvement suggests effective strategies are in place to help students succeed and graduate.