Summary:
The Downey Unified School District serves approximately 8,000 high school students across four schools, including two large comprehensive high schools, one alternative school, and a very small specialized academy, all located in a community with high economic need.
Among the district's high schools, Warren (Earl) High stands out as the top academic performer with the highest statewide ranking and strongest English proficiency, while Downey High shows impressive improvement and boasts the district's highest graduation rate. Both comprehensive schools achieve graduation rates well above the state average despite serving many students from low-income families. In contrast, Columbus (Christopher) High faces significant challenges with much lower test scores and very high chronic absenteeism, and the tiny Woodruff Academy shows similar attendance struggles.
Overall, the Downey Unified district maintains strong graduation success, but parents should note the wide variation in academic performance and chronic absenteeism between schools. The district's notable strength in English language arts, particularly at Warren High, is balanced by concerns about lower math proficiency and a sharp decline in science scores by 12th grade at the comprehensive high schools.
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