Opportunities for Learning - William S. Hart District

This analysis covers the single school, Opportunities for Learning - William S. Hart, a grades 7-12 high school in Valencia, operating within its own Opportunities for Learning - William S. Hart District.

Opportunities for Learning - William S. Hart presents a complex picture with significant strengths and challenges. The school shows notable academic strengths in its upper grades, with 11th graders outperforming the state average in English and 12th graders doing so in Science. Furthermore, its statewide ranking has improved consistently over the past three years. However, these positives are contrasted by severe difficulties in student retention, with a graduation rate of 43.2% and a dropout rate of 35.7%, both far worse than state averages. Chronic absenteeism, at 32.1%, is also a major concern that impacts learning.

The most striking finding is the combination of extremely high per-student spending—over $40,000 per pupil—alongside these low graduation and high dropout rates. This suggests the school may serve a highly at-risk population within a specialized or alternative education framework, where traditional outcome metrics may not fully capture its mission. Performance also varies dramatically by grade, with middle school students struggling significantly in core subjects like math, indicating a need for targeted early interventions to support students through to graduation.