Bidwell Continuation High

Bidwell Continuation High is a small, grades 10-12 alternative high school in Antioch Unified with about 150 students, designed to provide a different pathway to graduation for youth who have struggled in traditional settings.

The school serves a high-need community and faces significant challenges, particularly with very low proficiency rates in core subjects and a chronic absenteeism rate over 43%, which is more than double the state average. Its academic performance ranks in the bottom 7% of California high schools, which is lower than other district high schools like Antioch High. Interestingly, Bidwell spends more per student than most nearby comprehensive high schools, including Deer Valley High, but this has not translated to stronger academic outcomes. Its graduation rate has been volatile in recent years, though its current dropout rate is actually lower than the district average.

Compared to other continuation schools in the area, such as Live Oak High (Continuation), Bidwell's performance is similar, but it performs significantly better than the lowest-ranked alternatives like Black Diamond High (Continuation). The contrast with higher-performing schools in neighboring districts, like Heritage High in the Liberty Union High district, is stark, highlighting different outcomes across the region. A notable finding is a reversed gender performance gap at Bidwell, with female students ranking lower than male students statewide, which is unusual and warrants attention.