Summary:
The Duarte Unified school district operates two high schools, Duarte High and Mt. Olive Innovation and Technology High, serving grades 9-12 in a district where a high percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Duarte High is a standout, ranking in the top 30% of all California high schools with strong academic results, a 97% graduation rate, and good student attendance. In contrast, Mt. Olive Innovation and Technology High is a much smaller school that faces significant challenges, with very low state rankings, poor test scores, and a severe chronic absenteeism problem affecting over two-thirds of its students.
This creates a stark performance gap within the same district. Interestingly, the lower-performing Mt. Olive Innovation and Technology High receives substantially more funding per student and has a much lower student-to-teacher ratio, suggesting it may serve as an alternative program for students needing intensive support. For parents, Duarte High represents a high-achieving option, while the district's overall graduation rate indicates challenges at other grade levels.
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