Summary:
The East Side Union High district in San Jose consists of 16 high schools serving grades 9-12, presenting a wide spectrum of academic performance and student experiences for families in the area.
When comparing schools, Evergreen Valley High and Piedmont Hills High stand out as top performers, consistently ranking in the top 10% of California schools with strong test scores and graduation rates. On the other end, Foothill High and Phoenix High face significant academic challenges, with very low proficiency rates in core subjects. The district also includes several smaller, specialized schools like Calero High and Apollo High, which show very high graduation rates but struggle with standardized test scores.
Key takeaways for parents include notable performance gaps across the district, with mathematics being a particular area of weakness for most schools. Interestingly, higher per-student spending does not automatically correlate with better academic outcomes. Attendance is also a critical factor, as schools with lower chronic absenteeism, like Evergreen Valley High, tend to perform much better than schools with high absentee rates. Overall, the district offers both high-achieving options and schools that require substantial support, making individual school research essential for families.
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