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Vista High

Q: Is Vista High a good school?

Vista High ranks 1287 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

1287^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 40% of California high schools

Summary

Vista High is a large public high school serving grades 9-12 in the Vista Unified district, with approximately 1,750 students in a community where a high percentage of families face economic challenges.

The school has a significant strength in graduating its students, with a rate of 91.2% that exceeds both district and state averages. However, academic proficiency scores, especially in mathematics where only about 12% of students are proficient, are well below those of neighboring schools like Rancho Buena Vista High, Mission Vista High, and El Camino High. This gap exists even though Vista High spends more per student than some of these higher-performing schools, indicating a challenge in translating resources into academic results.

Vista High's state ranking has declined notably in recent years, coinciding with a rapid increase in the number of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school shows it can effectively support some groups, like English Learners, but struggles with chronic absenteeism and with achieving consistent academic results for other vulnerable subgroups, such as students in special education. Compared to high-achieving schools in other districts like Sage Creek High in Carlsbad Unified, the data suggests district-level policies and support systems may significantly impact a school's ability to meet the needs of its specific student population.

1,746

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,101

Per pupil spending ?

84.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1 Panther Way
Vista, CA 92084-3101

(760) 726-5611

District: Vista Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

85.4%

White:

8.5%

Two or more races:

2.7%

See top rated California high schools

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 56th percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓91% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (24% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school24%

District avg37%

California avg41%

1,287^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 40%▼ down 16 pts since 2015

From top 44% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5High Schools in the Vista Unified

818^th of 1,543Vista 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	39.1	1287 of 2162	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.7	1060 of 2159	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.1	844 of 2170	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.9	1132 of 2123	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.4	788 of 1290	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.4	1019 of 2133	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.5	983 of 2017	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.3	923 of 2021	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	44.4	1115 of 2039	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2015	55.0	873 of 1994	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	45.1	923 of 2426	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.8	745 of 2354	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	61.1	484 of 2367	79.6%	★★★★☆
2010	56.8	581 of 2281	74.5%	★★★★☆
2009	61.9	411 of 2238	81.6%	★★★★☆
2008	60.0	472 of 2117	77.7%	★★★★☆
2007	63.5	381 of 2063	81.5%	★★★★☆
2006	61.5	444 of 1968	77.4%	★★★★☆
2005	57.2	461 of 1901	75.7%	★★★★☆
2004	55.8	410 of 1653	75.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	36.1	659 of 1161	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.3	498 of 555	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	41.0	536 of 1117	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	31.4	673 of 1052	36.0%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	48.7	372 of 1085	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	27.1	922 of 1064	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.5	568 of 1044	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.2	160 of 467	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	34.3	624 of 941	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.3	890 of 938	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.1	1167 of 1906	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.2	1097 of 1915	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.1	938 of 1915	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.5	1091 of 1858	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.5	739 of 1054	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	43.5	1002 of 1833	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.4	870 of 1760	50.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	43.1	1087 of 1900	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.1	902 of 1902	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.9	699 of 1917	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.9	1017 of 1861	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.9	934 of 1814	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.0	936 of 1742	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	324 of 410	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	240 of 328	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	66.7	77 of 299	74.2%	★★★★☆
2022	44.3	153 of 290	47.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.6	1150 of 2013	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.4	961 of 2026	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.5	713 of 2030	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	47.5	907 of 1943	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.5	668 of 1126	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.3	1002 of 1937	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.4	976 of 1862	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.3	1276 of 1942	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.5	915 of 1948	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.7	695 of 1963	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.3	1012 of 1916	47.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.7	717 of 1122	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.6	919 of 1880	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.8	1008 of 1834	45.0%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.8	62 of 85	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.5	52 of 85	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	57.3	30 of 74	59.5%	★★★☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	19.4	150 of 190	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	7.8	162 of 168	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	48.2	311 of 574	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	318 of 541	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.4	328 of 515	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.4	225 of 422	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	34.2	255 of 366	30.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	22.0	1076 of 1252	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	1064 of 1216	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.9	556 of 1197	53.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	31.5	820 of 1155	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	49.3	614 of 1173	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	65.5	403 of 1193	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.7	683 of 1204	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.9	649 of 1222	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	65.4	454 of 1173	61.3%	★★★☆☆

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)66th percentile+15 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)46th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2022)43rd percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)43rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)39th percentile~ school

Male (2025)34th percentile-6 vs school

White (2025)29th percentile-11 vs school

Migrant (2025)27th percentile-13 vs school

Military Connected (2023)21st percentile-40 vs school

Homeless (2025)21st percentile-19 vs school

Special Education (2025)14th percentile-26 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy41%-8 vs state

Science20%-12 vs state

Mathematics12%-25 vs state

★

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Schools Near Vista 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 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	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
Vista High	Public	9-12	1 Panther Way	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 726-5611	1,746	105	16.5	84.7%	148 (8.5%)	21 (1.2%)	1,491 (85.4%)	24 (1.4%)	2 (0.1%)	7 (0.4%)	47 (2.7%)	39.1	1287^th of 2162 public high schools	40.5%		47.7	1060^th of 2159 public high schools	50.9%	227		16.0	24.6	20.3	41.0	41.0	12.4	12.4	$19,101	$3,290	$15,811
Vista Adult Transition Center	Public	12	325 East Bobier Dr.	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 758-3400	107	9	12.5	69.2%	29 (27.1%)	3 (2.8%)	71 (66.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.8%)								(n/a)									$39,689	$11,109	$28,580
North County Trade Technical High	Public, Charter	9-12	1132 N Melrose Drive Ste. 501	Vista	92083	San Diego County	North County Trade Technical High District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 598-0782	145	13	11.3	69.0%	30 (20.7%)	2 (1.4%)	95 (65.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	14 (9.7%)	28.2	1521^st of 2162 public high schools	29.6%		37	1314^th of 2159 public high schools	39.1%	207	20.7			18.8	29.4	29.4	11.8	11.8	$27,870	$1,498	$26,372
Alta Vista High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1575 Bonair Dr.	Vista	92084	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 724-3775	90	9	9.6	94.4%	4 (4.4%)	1 (1.1%)	80 (88.9%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	22.6	1636^th of 2162 public high schools	24.3%		17.9	1738^th of 2159 public high schools	19.5%	102			14.3	8.7	0.0	0.0			$31,321	$5,159	$26,162
SIATech	Public, Charter	10-12	2611 Temple Heights Dr. Ste. A	Oceanside	92056	San Diego County	SIATech District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 945-1227	1,174	44	26.4	92.7%	88 (7.5%)	154 (13.1%)	807 (68.7%)	12 (1.0%)	9 (0.8%)	9 (0.8%)	87 (7.4%)	18.2	1723^rd of 2162 public high schools	20.3%		18.7	1725^th of 2159 public high schools	20.1%	2			20.4	20.4	24.8	24.8	2.3	2.3	$26,489	$779	$25,710
Major General Raymond Murray High	Public	10-12	215 North Melrose Dr.	Vista	92083	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 631-2502	146	14	10.3	89.7%	9 (6.2%)	2 (1.4%)	132 (90.4%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	9.5	2042^nd of 2162 public high schools	5.6%		12.6	1908^th of 2159 public high schools	11.6%	134		2.4	6.3	3.5	4.3	4.3	0.0	0.0	$24,330	$3,600	$20,730
Mission Vista High	Public	9-12	1306 Melrose Dr.	Oceanside	92057	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 758-6800	1,670	76	21.9	44.1%	659 (39.5%)	37 (2.2%)	673 (40.3%)	126 (7.5%)	6 (0.4%)	8 (0.5%)	147 (8.8%)	93.3	139^th of 2162 public high schools	93.6%		95.5	101^st of 2159 public high schools	95.3%	38		53.2	52.4	52.8	89.4	89.4	48.0	48.0	$16,114	$1,899	$14,215
Rancho Buena Vista High	Public	9-12	1601 Longhorn Dr.	Vista	92081	San Diego County	Vista Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 727-7284	1,949	103	18.9	70.1%	414 (21.2%)	32 (1.6%)	1,300 (66.7%)	79 (4.1%)	8 (0.4%)	10 (0.5%)	101 (5.2%)	68.2	632^nd of 2162 public high schools	70.8%		73.6	513^th of 2159 public high schools	76.2%	119		31.5	3.5	29.6	62.3	62.3	39.1	39.1	$18,573	$2,843	$15,730
El Camino High	Public	9-12	400 Rancho del Oro Dr.	Oceanside	92057	San Diego County	Oceanside Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 901-8000	2,463	106	23.2	67.0%	430 (17.5%)	96 (3.9%)	1,533 (62.2%)	157 (6.4%)	4 (0.2%)	51 (2.1%)	184 (7.5%)	64	713^th of 2162 public high schools	67.0%		65.3	644^th of 2159 public high schools	70.2%	69		36.5	13.6	35.6	53.6	53.6	31.9	31.9	$9,436	$493	$8,943
Sage Creek High	Public	9-12	3900 Bobcat Blvd.	Carlsbad	92010	San Diego County	Carlsbad Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 331-6600	1,289	52	24.7	29.8%	622 (48.3%)	15 (1.2%)	330 (25.6%)	173 (13.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	143 (11.1%)	94.7	101^st of 2162 public high schools	95.3%		97	69^th of 2159 public high schools	96.8%	32			59.8	59.8	76.9	76.9	59.5	59.5	$14,077	$442	$13,635

Frequently Asked Questions about Vista High

Is Vista High a good school?

Vista High ranks 1287^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Vista High in?

Vista Unified

What is the racial makeup of Vista High?

Students at Vista High are 85% Hispanic, 8% White, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% African American.

What schools feed into Vista High?

Vista High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alamosa Park Elementary
Elementary : Bobier Elementary
Elementary : Empresa Elementary
Elementary : Foothill Oak Elementary
Elementary : Maryland Elementary
Elementary : Mission Meadows Elementary
Elementary : T.H.E Leadership Academy
Middle : Roosevelt Middle

How many students attend Vista High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,746 students attended Vista High.

Rate Vista High!

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Schools in 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.