Summary:
Westminster, California is served by 18 public schools across three districts—Westminster, Garden Grove Unified, and Ocean View—educating around 11,500 students from elementary through high school, with most schools facing high levels of economic need.
Academic performance varies significantly between and within districts. Standout schools include La Quinta High and Sarah McGarvin Intermediate, which are top-ranked statewide, along with Star View Elementary. In contrast, schools like Schmitt Elementary and Finley Elementary consistently rank much lower. Overall, schools in the Garden Grove Unified district tend to perform stronger academically than those in the Westminster district.
Key findings show that higher spending per student does not guarantee better results, and schools with lower chronic absenteeism, like Star View, generally perform better. Both high schools have excellent graduation rates, but math and science scores, especially in later grades, are an area of challenge. The data suggests parents should look closely at individual school performance, as outcomes can differ greatly even between schools in the same area with similar student demographics.
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