Summary:
The five schools in Jefferson Union High serve grades 9–12 and enroll 3,650 students. Their results vary widely: in 2025–26, four schools had substantially higher proficiency than Thornton High, whose scores were 10% in English language arts (ELA), 10% in math, and 7% in science. The other four schools averaged 59% in ELA, 36% in math, and 44% in science. Thornton also had a 71% graduation rate and 61% chronic absenteeism, compared with 95% graduation and 19% chronic absenteeism districtwide. Thornton’s results are the most important difference for families to understand when comparing these schools.
Oceana High stands out for ELA, attendance, and graduation: 64% were proficient in ELA, chronic absenteeism was 7%, and graduation was 98%. Terra Nova High led math at 44%, while Westmoor High led science at 50%. Across all five schools, average math proficiency was 31%, below the state’s 38%; average ELA was about level with the state at 49%, and science was slightly higher at 37% versus 36%. The leading school differed by subject, so no single school topped every academic measure.
From 2024–25 to 2025–26, the five-school average fell 2 points in ELA, was essentially unchanged in math, and rose 4 points in science; science improved at four of the five schools. SchoolDigger’s rankings also diverged: Jefferson High improved from rank 1,231 to 970, while Thornton High moved from 1,704 to 1,757. SchoolDigger gives four stars to Westmoor, Terra Nova, and Oceana, three to Jefferson, and one to Thornton. As context, 2024–25 free/reduced lunch eligible shares ranged from 15% at Terra Nova to 53% at Thornton; Westmoor and Jefferson were similar at 41%, despite different test results. Thornton also had the lowest student-teacher ratio, 11.5, so a smaller school or lower ratio did not correspond to stronger results here.
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