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Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the California Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

Downtown College Preparatory

Q: Is Downtown College Preparatory a good school?

Downtown College Preparatory ranks 1253 rd of 2162 California schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 9-12

1253^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California Schools

Better than 42% of California schools

Summary

Downtown College Preparatory is a public charter high school serving about 520 students in grades 9-12 in San Jose, operating within its own Downtown College Preparatory District.

The school's standout strength is its exceptional success in getting students to graduation, with a rate over 96% and a very low dropout rate of 2.0%; this significantly outperforms the state average and nearby comprehensive high schools like San Jose High and Andrew P. Hill High. However, the school faces a major challenge with chronic absenteeism, where its rate is nearly double the state average and higher than many local schools, indicating a barrier to consistent daily learning. Academically, overall test scores are below state averages, especially in math, but the school performs exceptionally well for its English Language Learner students, ranking in the top quartile statewide.

This creates a unique profile: DCP is highly effective at supporting its high-need student population through to graduation and shows specific academic strengths for certain groups, yet struggles with daily attendance and core proficiency. Compared to other local schools serving similar communities, such as Apollo High or Alpha Cindy Avitia High, DCP's graduation success is a clear differentiator. In contrast, a higher-performing charter like University Preparatory Academy Charter excels in both proficiency and graduation but serves a less economically disadvantaged population. DCP's model appears strongly focused on persistence and pathway support, with room to grow in addressing absenteeism and foundational academic skills.

520

Students ?

18.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

78.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1402 Monterey Hwy.
San Jose, CA 95110-3617

(408) 271-8120

District: Downtown College Preparatory District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

95.6%

Asian:

2.1%

African American:

1.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Downtown College Preparatory to nearby schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 30th percentile in 2019 → 42nd in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (86%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2019

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (24% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (35% vs 19% California)

!Mathematics scores 23 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school24%

California avg41%

1,253^rd of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 42%▲ up 12 pts since 2019

From bottom 30% (2019) to bottom 42% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

923^rd of 1,543Downtown College Preparatory District among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	40.2	1253 of 2162	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.1	1099 of 2159	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.5	1448 of 2170	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.0	1284 of 2123	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.3	1039 of 1290	19.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.9	1492 of 2133	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	29.7	833 of 1161	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.0	440 of 555	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	56.0	254 of 1085	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	52.5	306 of 1064	71.2%	★★★★☆
2022	43.1	446 of 1044	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	37.5	269 of 467	42.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.5	138 of 941	85.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	29.8	1338 of 1906	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	46.1	991 of 1915	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.5	1304 of 1915	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.2	997 of 1858	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	18.6	886 of 1054	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.5	1422 of 1833	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.7	982 of 1900	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.0	861 of 1902	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.6	1184 of 1917	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.6	995 of 1861	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.1	1249 of 1814	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.9	1010 of 2013	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.6	869 of 2026	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.6	1245 of 2030	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.3	1143 of 1943	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	20.2	907 of 1126	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.3	1382 of 1937	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	43.0	1070 of 1942	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.4	1048 of 1948	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.6	1342 of 1963	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.8	1411 of 1916	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.3	949 of 1122	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.7	1315 of 1880	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.0	715 of 1252	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	70.1	234 of 1216	80.8%	★★★★☆
2023	30.4	835 of 1197	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2024)77th percentile+27 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)50th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)48th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)45th percentile+3 vs school

Special Education (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)30th percentile-12 vs school

Disabled (2022)28th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy39%-10 vs state

Science19%-13 vs state

Mathematics14%-23 vs state

★

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Schools Near Downtown College Preparatory

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)								% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Rocketship Alma Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	198 West Alma Ave.	San Jose	95110	Santa Clara County	Rocketship Alma Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(877) 806-0920	532	17	32.2	80.5%	7 (1.3%)	50 (9.4%)	451 (84.8%)	20 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	30.8	3891^st of 5857 public elementary schools	33.6%		41.2	3105^th of 5869 public elementary schools	47.1%	786	17.6				17.6	28.1	27.3	40.0					31.6	35.4	33.3	33.8					34.2
Washington Elementary	Public	K-5	100 Oak St.	San Jose	95110	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6261	329	17	19.3	83.0%	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	316 (96.0%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	8.7	5699^th of 5857 public elementary schools	2.7%		13.4	5445^th of 5869 public elementary schools	7.2%	254	11.1				11.1	9.8	3.6	19.2					10.7	17.0	16.1	7.4					13.5	96.5					96.5	$28,441	$27,064	$1,377
Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	788 Locust St.	San Jose	95110	Santa Clara County	Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(877) 806-0920	454	17	27.5	79.5%	8 (1.8%)	48 (10.6%)	376 (82.8%)	15 (3.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	45	2882^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	50.8%		49.6	2581^st of 5869 public elementary schools	56.0%	301	20.7				20.7	30.0	51.5	44.8					41.3	35.8	51.5	39.0					41.8	83.2	85.2	94.1	84.2	86.1	84.2
Lowell Elementary	Public	K-5	625 South Seventh St.	San Jose	95112	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6243	261	12	21.4	85.1%	6 (2.3%)	1 (0.4%)	240 (92.0%)	11 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	6.6	5794^th of 5857 public elementary schools	1.1%		7.7	5784^th of 5869 public elementary schools	1.4%	10	8.5				8.5	2.6	11.4	19.5					11.4	0.0	11.4	4.3					4.8	91.9						$23,509	$22,178	$1,331
Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary	Public	K-5	1610 Bird Ave.	San Jose	95125	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6671	309	13	23.7	20.1%	90 (29.1%)	14 (4.5%)	88 (28.5%)	62 (20.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (17.2%)	92	545^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.7%		89.1	743^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	87.3%	198	64.0				64.0	67.3	71.9	72.0					70.4	76.4	73.7	72.0					74.1							$17,835	$17,074	$761
Ernesto Galarza Elementary	Public	K-5	1610 Bird Ave.	San Jose	95125	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6671	322	14	22.5	77.3%	18 (5.6%)	10 (3.1%)	262 (81.4%)	18 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	9.4	5662^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	3.3%		10.7	5652^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	3.7%	10	10.9				10.9	8.3	20.0	15.4					14.7	12.2	19.2	5.5					12.2	93.3				93.3		$23,012	$21,414	$1,598
Rocketship Mosaic Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	950 Owsley Ave.	San Jose	95110	Santa Clara County	Rocketship Mosaic Elementary District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(877) 806-0920	528	16	33.0	66.9%	9 (1.7%)	5 (0.9%)	235 (44.5%)	273 (51.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.8%)	77.1	1281^st of 5857 public elementary schools	78.1%		76.2	1330^th of 5869 public elementary schools	77.3%	49	20.0				20.0	58.3	69.6	35.5					60.3	72.5	68.6	35.5					65.8	95.0	96.0		96.0	96.0	95.0
Yerba Buena High	Public	9-12	1855 Lucretia Ave.	San Jose	95122	Santa Clara County	East Side Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 347-4700	1,612	67	23.8	61.9%	32 (2.0%)	21 (1.3%)	800 (49.6%)	738 (45.8%)	2 (0.1%)	5 (0.3%)	14 (0.9%)	58.9	850^th of 2162 public high schools	60.7%		67.1	614^th of 2159 public high schools	71.6%	236			30.9	6.3	29.1							55.0	55.0							29.6	29.6							$23,971	$23,384	$587
Gardner Elementary	Public	K-5	502 Illinois Ave.	San Jose	95125	Santa Clara County	San Jose Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 535-6225	385	21	18.5	70.1%	18 (4.7%)	11 (2.9%)	334 (86.8%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.1%)	14.9	5270^th of 5857 public elementary schools	10.0%		21.9	4684^th of 5869 public elementary schools	20.2%	586	13.6				13.6	18.3	25.0	26.8					23.0	21.7	19.3	13.8					18.5							$22,396	$21,526	$870
Shirakawa (George Senior) Elementary	Public	K-6	665 Wool Creek Dr.	San Jose	95112	Santa Clara County	Franklin-McKinley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 283-6086	508	22	23.0	82.7%	22 (4.3%)	9 (1.8%)	290 (57.1%)	165 (32.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.1%)	47.1	2748^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.1%		55.7	2249^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.7%	499	32.8	18.6			26.0	35.9	41.7	49.2	40.0	48.0	28.1		41.0	42.9	42.6	37.5	32.3	34.3	22.4		35.3	95.2	95.2		95.2	95.2	95.2	$23,266	$21,000	$2,266

Frequently Asked Questions about Downtown College Preparatory

Is Downtown College Preparatory a good school?

Downtown College Preparatory ranks 1253^rd of 2162 California schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Downtown College Preparatory in?

Downtown College Preparatory District

What is the racial makeup of Downtown College Preparatory?

Students at Downtown College Preparatory are 96% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 1% African American.

How many students attend Downtown College Preparatory?

In the 2024-25 school year, 520 students attended Downtown College Preparatory.

Rate Downtown College Preparatory!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.