High Schools in San Jose Unified

This analysis examines seven high schools within the San Jose Unified School District for the 2024-2025 school year, serving grades 9-12 in a diverse urban area with significant variation in school performance and student demographics.

The district features a clear standout in Leland High, which ranks in the top 2% of California schools with exceptional graduation rates and test scores, while Pioneer High shows impressive recent improvement. In contrast, Broadway High and Liberty Alternative face substantial challenges, including very low proficiency rates and severe chronic absenteeism, despite receiving the highest per-student funding in the district.

Overall, the district performs slightly above state averages in graduation rates and test scores but struggles with a chronic absenteeism rate higher than the state average. There is a notable pattern where schools with greater economic need, like San Jose High and Gunderson High, tend to have lower academic outcomes regardless of higher funding levels, whereas higher-performing schools like Leland and Willow Glen High operate with more moderate per-student spending.