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Middle College High

Public Grades 9-12

63^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 97% of California high schools

Summary

Middle College High is a small, high-performing public high school of 294 students in grades 9-12, located on the campus of Contra Costa College in San Pablo and operating within the West Contra Costa Unified school district.

The school consistently ranks in the top 3-5% of all California high schools, with academic proficiency rates far exceeding both district and state averages; for example, 94.2% of students are proficient in English compared to 33.4% in the district. It achieves a perfect 100% graduation rate with almost no chronic absenteeism (2.7%), demonstrating exceptional student engagement. This success is particularly notable as the school serves a community where 65% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and it achieves these outstanding results with lower per-student spending than many neighboring schools.

Middle College High's unique early college model, which allows students to take college courses, appears to be a key driver of its success, especially when compared to other local options. It significantly outperforms nearby district schools like Richmond High and Pinole Valley High academically. It also achieves higher outcomes than high-spending local charter schools such as Making Waves Academy, despite using fewer resources per student. This makes it a compelling example of how an innovative school design can create exceptional opportunities for students within a broader district context that faces significant challenges.

294

Students ?

30.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$4,660

Per pupil spending ?

65%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2600 Mission Bell Dr.
San Pablo, CA 94806-3195

(510) 215-3881

District: West Contra Costa Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

50.0%

Asian:

28.6%

African American:

9.9%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 95th percentile in 2015 → 97th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (72% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 3% of California high schools

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 31 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school72%

District avg28%

California avg41%

63^rd of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 3%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8High Schools in the West Contra Costa Unified

1110^th of 1,543West Contra Costa Unified 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	96.7	63 of 2162	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	97.2	63 of 2159	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	95.4	99 of 2170	95.4%	★★★★★
2022	94.2	130 of 2123	93.9%	★★★★★
2021	95.3	47 of 1290	96.4%	★★★★★
2019	88.9	190 of 2133	91.1%	★★★★★
2018	93.8	123 of 2017	93.9%	★★★★★
2017	96.5	48 of 2021	97.6%	★★★★★
2016	94.7	78 of 2039	96.2%	★★★★★
2015	94.3	92 of 1994	95.4%	★★★★★
2013	71.2	286 of 2426	88.2%	★★★★☆
2012	59.5	553 of 2354	76.5%	★★★★☆
2011	61.1	486 of 2367	79.5%	★★★★☆
2010	60.3	513 of 2281	77.5%	★★★★☆
2009	59.4	484 of 2238	78.4%	★★★★☆
2008	69.2	285 of 2117	86.5%	★★★★☆
2007	60.1	452 of 2063	78.1%	★★★★☆
2006	55.4	557 of 1968	71.7%	★★★★☆
2005	54.8	505 of 1901	73.4%	★★★★☆
2004	47.4	544 of 1653	67.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2018	75.5	129 of 582	77.8%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	81.7	93 of 585	84.1%	★★★★☆
2024	68.9	209 of 573	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	79.2	116 of 591	80.4%	★★★★☆
2022	41.0	368 of 581	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.5	84 of 1906	95.6%	★★★★★
2024	90.2	175 of 1915	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	93.1	130 of 1915	93.2%	★★★★★
2022	93.2	132 of 1858	92.9%	★★★★★
2021	96.4	29 of 1054	97.2%	★★★★★
2019	85.2	242 of 1833	86.8%	★★★★☆
2018	89.9	158 of 1760	91.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.4	30 of 1900	98.4%	★★★★★
2024	98.9	27 of 1902	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	88.2	166 of 1917	91.3%	★★★★★
2022	95.2	72 of 1861	96.1%	★★★★★
2019	96.4	48 of 1814	97.4%	★★★★★
2018	99.1	10 of 1742	99.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.7	38 of 2013	98.1%	★★★★★
2024	98.9	28 of 2026	98.6%	★★★★★
2023	97.4	53 of 2030	97.4%	★★★★★
2022	98.3	33 of 1943	98.3%	★★★★★
2021	97.8	19 of 1126	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	94.1	82 of 1937	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	97.2	41 of 1862	97.8%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.6	46 of 1942	97.6%	★★★★★
2024	99.0	25 of 1948	98.7%	★★★★★
2023	96.8	76 of 1963	96.1%	★★★★★
2022	91.5	162 of 1916	91.5%	★★★★★
2021	89.7	118 of 1122	89.5%	★★★★☆
2019	87.6	195 of 1880	89.6%	★★★★☆
2018	95.2	89 of 1834	95.1%	★★★★★

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)

Hispanic (2025)98th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)98th percentile~ school

Male (2025)98th percentile~ school

Female (2025)96th percentile~ school

Asian (2025)84th percentile-13 vs school

African American (2018)78th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy94%+45 vs state

Science62%+30 vs state

Mathematics59%+22 vs state

★

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Schools Near Middle College High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores 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)						Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	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 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 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	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Middle College High	Public	9-12	2600 Mission Bell Dr.	San Pablo	94806	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 215-3881	294	10	30.6	65.0%	17 (5.8%)	29 (9.9%)	147 (50.0%)	84 (28.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (5.1%)	96.7	63^rd of 2162 public high schools	97.1%		97.2	63^rd of 2159 public high schools	97.1%				62.3		62.3					94.2	94.2					59.4	59.4	$4,660	$1,439	$3,221
Summit Public School: Tamalpais	Public, Charter	7-12	3020 Hilltop Mall Rd.	Richmond	94806	Contra Costa County	Summit Public School: Tamalpais District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 374-4185	629	25	24.8	78.2%	16 (2.5%)	43 (6.8%)	491 (78.1%)	56 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.2%)	39.8	1263^rd of 2162 public high schools	41.6%		46.5	1086^th of 2159 public high schools	49.7%	177		17.4		27.5	22.0			27.0	32.7	37.1	32.1			24.8	13.6	6.4	15.3	$15,659	$911	$14,748
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	3040 Hilltop Mall Rd.	Richmond	94806	Contra Costa County	Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 684-8900	590	24	24.5	85.3%	8 (1.4%)	54 (9.2%)	434 (73.6%)	40 (6.8%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	49 (8.3%)	42.8	1192^nd of 2162 public high schools	44.9%		39.1	1262^nd of 2159 public high schools	41.5%	70		12.0	20.9		15.7		26.9	24.0	25.3	52.2	30.6		21.5	21.1	6.7	16.4	16.6	$18,213	$1,406	$16,807
Making Waves Academy	Public, Charter	5-12	4123 Lakeside Dr.	Richmond	94806	Contra Costa County	Making Waves Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 262-1511	1,078	56	19.1	79.9%	15 (1.4%)	73 (6.8%)	944 (87.6%)	42 (3.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	69.1	618^th of 2162 public high schools	71.4%		70.4	561^st of 2159 public high schools	74.0%	57	30.2	23.5	48.2		32.9	42.5	37.8	52.7	36.8	67.9	47.2	28.6	21.8	38.0	25.8	19.6	27.4	$24,148	$1,167	$22,981
Richmond High	Public	9-12	1250 23rd St.	Richmond	94804	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1450	1,280	57	22.3	96.8%	18 (1.4%)	59 (4.6%)	1,144 (89.4%)	39 (3.0%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.4%)	10 (0.8%)	29.7	1493^rd of 2162 public high schools	30.9%		21.8	1659^th of 2159 public high schools	23.2%	166			18.1	9.5	17.5					39.6	39.6					8.6	8.6	$6,035	$1,768	$4,267
De Anza High	Public	9-12	5000 Valley View Rd.	Richmond	94803	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1440	1,047	46	22.9	86.1%	70 (6.7%)	182 (17.4%)	563 (53.8%)	179 (17.1%)	2 (0.2%)	7 (0.7%)	43 (4.1%)	28.9	1504^th of 2162 public high schools	30.4%		22.1	1646^th of 2159 public high schools	23.8%	142			15.2		15.2					37.0	37.0					12.3	12.3	$6,955	$1,707	$5,248
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond	Public, Charter	9-12	880 Bissell Ave.	Richmond	94801	Contra Costa County	Leadership Public Schools: Richmond District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 235-4522	546	26	21.2	65.4%	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.4%)	522 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.5%)	51.5	1006^th of 2162 public high schools	53.5%		46.8	1081^st of 2159 public high schools	49.9%	75			9.7		9.7					55.7	55.7					34.2	34.2	$17,287	$2,679	$14,608
Greenwood Academy	Public	9-12	831 Chanslor Ave.	Richmond	94801	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1402	200	11	17.8	93.5%	9 (4.5%)	48 (24.0%)	126 (63.0%)	5 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	8 (4.0%)	8.3	2103^rd of 2162 public high schools	2.7%		9.2	2115^th of 2159 public high schools	2.0%	12			0.0	0.0	0.0					4.0	4.0					1.4	1.4	$7,400	$1,776	$5,624
Pinole Valley High	Public	9-12	2900 Pinole Valley Rd.	Pinole	94564	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1442	1,245	50	24.7	61.8%	126 (10.1%)	181 (14.5%)	639 (51.3%)	228 (18.3%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	59 (4.7%)	71.6	567^th of 2162 public high schools	73.8%		57.9	818^th of 2159 public high schools	62.1%	251										58.0	58.0					38.4	38.4	$6,207	$1,616	$4,591
John F. Kennedy High	Public	9-12	4300 Cutting Blvd.	Richmond	94804	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1433	740	38	19.2	59.9%	8 (1.1%)	108 (14.6%)	557 (75.3%)	35 (4.7%)	7 (0.9%)	11 (1.5%)	11 (1.5%)	13.2	1875^th of 2162 public high schools	13.3%		16.2	1783^rd of 2159 public high schools	17.4%	92			1.8	0.0	1.5					15.7	15.7					8.8	8.8	$6,942	$2,144	$4,798

Frequently Asked Questions about Middle College High

Is Middle College High a good school?

Yes! Middle College High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 63^rd of 2162 California high schools.

How many students attend Middle College High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 294 students attended Middle College High.

What is the racial makeup of Middle College High?

Students at Middle College High are 50% Hispanic, 29% Asian, 10% African American, 6% White, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Middle College High in?

West Contra Costa Unified

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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.