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Hilltop Senior High

Q: Is Hilltop Senior High a good school?

Hilltop Senior High ranks 970 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

970^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 55% of California high schools

Summary

Hilltop Senior High is a large public high school serving approximately 1,771 students in grades 9-12 within the Sweetwater Union High School District in Chula Vista, CA, where it maintains a consistent 3-star rating and serves a community with significant economic need.

The school presents a compelling mix of strengths and challenges for parents to consider. Its most outstanding achievement is a remarkable 96.6% graduation rate, which is the highest among comparable comprehensive high schools in the district and well above state averages, paired with a very low dropout rate. Academically, the school shines in English Language Arts, where its proficiency rate of 60.55% significantly outperforms many nearby schools like Sweetwater High and Chula Vista Senior High. However, mathematics proficiency is a notable area for improvement, as the 18.43% rate lags behind the district and state, and is lower than at neighboring Bonita Vista Senior High.

When comparing to other schools, Hilltop demonstrates particular effectiveness in supporting English Language Learners and students from low-income families, often outperforming expectations for these groups. A key concern is a chronic absenteeism rate of 24.5%, which is higher than the district average and notably higher than at Bonita Vista Senior High (15.7%). While the school's overall statewide ranking has seen a recent slight decline, its ability to graduate students at such a high rate, despite academic challenges in math and higher absenteeism, suggests strong support systems to keep students on track for completion.

1,771

Students ?

21.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

77.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

555 Claire Ave.
Chula Vista, CA 91910-6105

(619) 476-4200

District: Sweetwater Union High

Feeder schools for Hilltop Senior High:

Elementary:	Cook (Hazel Goes) Elementary
	Halecrest Elementary
	Hilltop Drive Elementary
	Kellogg (Karl H.) Elementary
	More...
	Rosebank Elementary
Middle:	Hilltop Middle

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

78.8%

White:

13.4%

Asian:

3.0%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Hilltop Senior High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 68th percentile in 2015 → 55th in 2025

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

✓Above the California median (55th percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (35% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg38%

California avg41%

970^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 45%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From top 32% (2015) to top 45% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 15High Schools in the Sweetwater Union High

729^th of 1,543Sweetwater Union High 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	52.9	970 of 2162	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.1	792 of 2159	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.0	922 of 2170	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.1	930 of 2123	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.0	499 of 1290	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	55.6	839 of 2133	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.3	651 of 2017	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.5	847 of 2021	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	70.3	552 of 2039	72.9%	★★★★☆
2015	66.3	633 of 1994	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.6	851 of 2426	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	50.6	786 of 2354	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	54.3	682 of 2367	71.2%	★★★★☆
2010	56.4	587 of 2281	74.3%	★★★★☆
2009	54.4	610 of 2238	72.7%	★★★★☆
2008	49.6	685 of 2117	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	50.7	640 of 2063	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	45.2	732 of 1968	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	48.7	620 of 1901	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	45.0	588 of 1653	64.4%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	35.7	671 of 1161	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.9	163 of 555	70.6%	★★★★☆
2019	43.9	498 of 1117	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.0	315 of 1052	70.1%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	57.2	233 of 1085	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	51.1	327 of 1064	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.7	361 of 1044	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.1	132 of 467	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	34.0	633 of 941	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	65.6	182 of 938	80.6%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	51.3	886 of 1906	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.2	731 of 1915	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.9	718 of 1915	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.8	920 of 1858	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.3	499 of 1054	52.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.2	752 of 1833	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.6	519 of 1760	70.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	61.3	681 of 1900	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.6	520 of 1902	72.7%	★★★★☆
2023	60.1	666 of 1917	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.5	670 of 1861	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.7	560 of 1814	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.3	399 of 1742	77.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.1	769 of 2013	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.7	578 of 2026	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	61.6	664 of 2030	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	53.3	784 of 1943	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.3	315 of 1126	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	63.9	574 of 1937	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	72.5	470 of 1862	74.8%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	50.3	913 of 1942	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.3	742 of 1948	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.9	979 of 1963	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.5	818 of 1916	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	54.2	463 of 1122	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.9	824 of 1880	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.1	757 of 1834	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	63.8	209 of 577	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.4	278 of 541	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	45.0	293 of 515	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	44.5	254 of 422	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	52.7	190 of 366	48.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.7	427 of 1252	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.9	399 of 1216	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.5	373 of 1197	68.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.0	897 of 1155	22.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.2	748 of 1173	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.3	804 of 1193	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.5	726 of 1204	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.8	621 of 1222	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	65.1	458 of 1173	61.0%	★★★☆☆

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)79th percentile+15 vs school

Special Education (2025)66th percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)64th percentile+9 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)64th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)62nd percentile+7 vs school

Female (2025)54th percentile~ school

Male (2025)53rd percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)42nd percentile-14 vs school

White (2025)22nd percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy61%+12 vs state

Science27%-5 vs state

Mathematics18%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Hilltop Senior 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 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 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
Hilltop Senior High	Public	9-12	555 Claire Ave.	Chula Vista	91910	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 476-4200	1,771	81	21.9	77.4%	237 (13.4%)	30 (1.7%)	1,396 (78.8%)	53 (3.0%)	7 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	46 (2.6%)	52.9	970^th of 2162 public high schools	55.1%		59.1	792^nd of 2159 public high schools	63.3%	178			27.8	9.1	27.3				60.6	60.6				18.4	18.4
Altus Schools South Bay	Public, Charter	7-12	3252 Bonita Rd.	Chula Vista	91910	San Diego County	Altus Schools South Bay District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(858) 678-2020	372	11	33.9	76.1%	21 (5.6%)	29 (7.8%)	294 (79.0%)	12 (3.2%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	10 (2.7%)	48.3	1070^th of 2162 public high schools	50.5%		48.1	1055^th of 2159 public high schools	51.1%	15	14.6	18.9	48.0	17.1	22.1		33.3	24.4	56.6	40.7		12.5	4.9	13.2	10.2	$16,105	$1,604	$14,501
Chula Vista Senior High	Public	9-12	820 Fourth Ave.	Chula Vista	91911	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 476-5824	1,864	91	20.5	80.1%	142 (7.6%)	38 (2.0%)	1,600 (85.8%)	48 (2.6%)	5 (0.3%)	8 (0.4%)	23 (1.2%)	39.7	1264^th of 2162 public high schools	41.5%		40.8	1225^th of 2159 public high schools	43.3%	39				14.7	14.7				45.5	45.5				15.2	15.2
Castle Park Senior High	Public	9-12	1395 Hilltop Dr.	Chula Vista	91911	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 585-2000	1,363	62	22.1	82.3%	79 (5.8%)	21 (1.5%)	1,186 (87.0%)	58 (4.3%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	11 (0.8%)	47.9	1075^th of 2162 public high schools	50.3%		41.9	1190^th of 2159 public high schools	44.9%	115			23.4	14.3	23.0				50.5	50.5				23.2	23.2
MAAC Community Charter	Public, Charter	9-12	1385 Third Ave.	Chula Vista	91911	San Diego County	MAAC Community Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 476-0749	171	12	14.3	57.3%	6 (3.5%)	18 (10.5%)	145 (84.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	10.5	1994^th of 2162 public high schools	7.8%		10.9	2014^th of 2159 public high schools	6.7%	20				1.2	1.2				0.0	0.0				0.0	0.0	$23,198	$3,274	$19,924
Alta Vista Academy	Public	7-12	730 Medical Center Ct.	Chula Vista	91911	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 216-5160	27	7	3.7	81.5%	5 (18.5%)	2 (7.4%)	16 (59.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.7%)	3 (11.1%)								(n/a)										0.0					0.0
Palomar High	Public	7-12	480 Palomar St.	Chula Vista	91911	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 407-4800	269	20	13.3	80.3%	34 (12.6%)	11 (4.1%)	208 (77.3%)	4 (1.5%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	8 (3.0%)	13.2	1873^rd of 2162 public high schools	13.4%		11.1	1998^th of 2159 public high schools	7.5%	125				5.0	5.0				9.9	9.9				1.0	1.0
Sweetwater High	Public	9-12	2900 Highland Ave.	National City	91950	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 474-9700	2,290	90	25.3	89.2%	150 (6.6%)	34 (1.5%)	1,762 (76.9%)	297 (13.0%)	5 (0.2%)	10 (0.4%)	31 (1.4%)	39.4	1280^th of 2162 public high schools	40.8%		40.4	1230^th of 2159 public high schools	43.0%	50			0.9	17.9	15.1				40.6	40.6				18.1	18.1
San Diego SCPA	Public	6-12	2425 Dusk Dr.	San Diego	92139	San Diego County	San Diego Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 470-0555	1,297	53	24.5	58.4%	194 (15.0%)	81 (6.2%)	619 (47.7%)	249 (19.2%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	138 (10.6%)	80.6	399^th of 2162 public high schools	81.5%		84.7	329^th of 2159 public high schools	84.8%	70	30.8		45.1		37.9	51.6	52.6	54.4	77.6	59.4	35.3	39.4	30.5	34.5	34.7	$18,565	$3,688	$14,877
Options Secondary	Public	7-12	3250 Palm Ave.	San Diego	92154	San Diego County	Sweetwater Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(619) 796-7320	69	10	6.9	59.4%	19 (27.5%)	2 (2.9%)	41 (59.4%)	3 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (5.8%)	63.5	730^th of 2162 public high schools	66.2%		47.7	1062^nd of 2159 public high schools	50.8%	332			29.4		22.7				64.7	50.0				29.4	23.3

Frequently Asked Questions about Hilltop Senior High

What schools feed into Hilltop Senior High?

Hilltop Senior High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cook (Hazel Goes) Elementary
Elementary : Halecrest Elementary
Elementary : Hilltop Drive Elementary
Elementary : Kellogg (Karl H.) Elementary
Elementary : Rosebank Elementary
Middle : Hilltop Middle

What is the racial makeup of Hilltop Senior High?

Students at Hilltop Senior High are 79% Hispanic, 13% White, 3% Asian, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Hilltop Senior High a good school?

Hilltop Senior High ranks 970^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Hilltop Senior High in?

Sweetwater Union High

How many students attend Hilltop Senior High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,771 students attended Hilltop Senior High.

Rate Hilltop Senior High!

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Schools in Chula Vista, CA

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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.