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Whittier City


At a glance
590thof 1,543 California districts▲ 49
Better than 61% of California districts
7211 South Whittier Ave.
Whittier, CA 90602-1123
·(562) 789-3000·All California district rankings →
Statewide performance 2016–2025
2025: better than 61.8% of districts
13
Schools
5,288
Students
Top rankedDaniel Phelan Language Academy1364th of 5,857 California elementary schools
Biggest riser
Longfellow Elementary up 266 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
West Whittier Elementary 19.8 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
4★
3★
2★
2 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The Whittier City School District consists of 12 public K-8 schools, serving 5,488 students in a district ranked in the 62nd percentile statewide, with notable variation in performance between its elementary and middle schools.

Parents will find standout academic performance at Wallen L. Andrews, which leads in English and science, and Daniel Phelan Language Academy, which excels in math and has the district's best attendance; both are 4-star schools. Specialized academies for science, fine arts, and technology generally perform at or above the district average. In contrast, Walter F. Dexter Middle faces significant challenges with the lowest math scores and highest chronic absenteeism, highlighting a district-wide trend where middle schools underperform compared to elementary schools.

The data shows a strong link between attendance and achievement, with schools like Longfellow Elementary having high absenteeism and lower rankings. While per-student spending varies, it doesn't clearly correlate with performance, as seen with the high-cost Whittier Independent Study program. Overall, the district offers pockets of excellence, particularly in specialized elementary programs, but faces consistent challenges at the middle school level that impact overall results.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




Districts nearby

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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