Twain High

Twain High is a small public school serving grades 7-12 with 293 students in the San Diego Unified district, characterized by very high per-student spending and a low student-teacher ratio, but it faces significant academic and attendance challenges.

The school's performance is notably lower than other high schools in the area. For example, only 21% of students are proficient in English and 4% in math, compared to much higher rates at nearby schools like Clairemont High. Most strikingly, chronic absenteeism—where students miss a large amount of school—is at 74%, which is dramatically higher than the district average and all comparison schools, including the high-performing Kearny Digital Media & Design and School for Entrepreneurship and Technology. This attendance crisis is a primary barrier to learning and contributes to a graduation rate of about 60%, far below the over-95% rates seen at most other local schools.

Despite spending over $33,000 per student, which is much higher than nearby schools, these resources have not translated into stronger outcomes. This contrast is evident when comparing to charter schools like High Technical High Mesa, which spend less but achieve higher rankings. The data suggests that addressing student attendance is the most urgent need for Twain High to improve, as even schools with similar student populations in the district achieve significantly better results.