Summary:
The Washington Unified school district in Fresno, CA, operates three public high schools serving grades 9-12: the comprehensive Washington High, the alternative Elm High, and the specialized Easton Continuation High.
Washington High is the district's largest and highest-performing comprehensive school, with strong graduation rates and academic scores in English that exceed district and state averages. In contrast, Elm High faces significant challenges, including very low proficiency rates, high chronic absenteeism, and the district's highest dropout rate. Easton Continuation High serves a specialized population and shows exceptional results within its mission, achieving a perfect graduation rate with no dropouts.
Key takeaways for parents include notable differences in resources and outcomes. Easton Continuation High has very small classes and high per-student spending, while Elm High has the largest classes and lowest spending. Chronic absenteeism is high across the district, and math proficiency is an area for improvement even at the stronger schools. The performance variation highlights how school type, resources, and support systems can lead to different student experiences within the same Washington Unified district.
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