Umoja International Academy

Umoja International Academy is a standout public high school serving grades 7-12 to 412 students in the Sacramento City Unified district, achieving a 5-star state ranking in the 95th percentile despite being in a lower-ranked district and serving a student body where 68% are economically disadvantaged.

The school's most remarkable achievement is its perfect 100% graduation rate and 0% dropout rate for five straight years, far exceeding nearby schools like C. K. McClatchy High (91.1% graduation) and Hiram W. Johnson High (82.3% graduation). Umoja shows exceptional effectiveness with specific student groups, such as low-income students, who perform in the 90th-92nd percentile statewide, and has seen dramatic improvements in performance since 2021. The school invests more resources per student ($25,860) than district averages, supporting a lower student-teacher ratio.

An interesting comparison is with the also high-performing West Campus, which excels in test scores and attendance but serves a less economically challenged population with lower spending, suggesting two different models of success. Umoja achieves its outcomes despite a significant chronic absenteeism rate (36.2%), highlighting that its model successfully supports students to graduate even when facing attendance challenges. This contrasts sharply with the nearby continuation school, American Legion High (Continuation), which has much higher funding but significantly lower graduation rates, showing that Umoja's approach is particularly effective for its student population.