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California High

Q: Is California High a good school?

California High ranks 444 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

444^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 79% of California high schools

Summary

California High is a large, grades 9-12 public school in Whittier, CA, serving over 2,200 students within the Whittier Union High district, and it stands out for achieving strong academic results while serving a community with significant economic need.

The school excels in several key areas: it has an excellent 97% graduation rate with a very low dropout rate, and its students perform very well in English Language Arts, scoring well above both district and state averages. Perhaps most impressively, the school is exceptionally effective in supporting its students from lower-income families, helping them succeed at high levels. While the school's overall ranking in the 79th percentile is strong, it shows a specific area for growth in mathematics, where proficiency is below the state average. This contrasts with nearby Santa Fe High, which has similar demographics but higher math scores.

When compared to other schools in the area, California High holds its own remarkably well. It performs similarly to higher-ranked schools like La Serna High in English but does so while serving a student population with greater economic challenges. It also outperforms other district schools like Whittier High and Pioneer High in key metrics like chronic absenteeism. The school's consistent improvement over recent years, even as economic challenges have persisted, demonstrates a committed and effective educational approach for all its students.

2,261

Students ?

22.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,501

Per pupil spending ?

80.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

9800 South Mills Ave.
Whittier, CA 90604-1030

(562) 698-8121

District: Whittier Union High

Feeder schools for California High:

Elementary:	Ceres Elementary
	Loma Vista Elementary
	Los Altos Elementary
	Mulberry Elementary
	More...
	Ocean View Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

92.4%

White:

4.3%

Asian:

1.9%

See top rated California high schools

Compare California High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 69th percentile in 2015 → 79th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (50% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 21% of California high schools

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

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 22 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school50%

District avg47%

California avg41%

444^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 21%▲ up 11 pts since 2015

From top 31% (2015) to top 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 7High Schools in the Whittier Union High

540^th of 1,543Whittier 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	78.2	444 of 2162	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	80.2	411 of 2159	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	72.9	533 of 2170	75.4%	★★★★☆
2022	73.8	471 of 2123	77.8%	★★★★☆
2021	64.7	412 of 1290	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.5	752 of 2133	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.0	707 of 2017	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	64.0	701 of 2021	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.5	680 of 2039	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	66.4	627 of 1994	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.3	508 of 2426	79.1%	★★★★☆
2012	63.5	450 of 2354	80.9%	★★★★☆
2011	58.4	572 of 2367	75.8%	★★★★☆
2010	62.6	454 of 2281	80.1%	★★★★☆
2009	61.4	427 of 2238	80.9%	★★★★☆
2008	62.9	422 of 2117	80.1%	★★★★☆
2007	56.1	528 of 2063	74.4%	★★★★☆
2006	50.4	631 of 1968	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	46.2	666 of 1901	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2004	49.5	499 of 1653	69.8%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	48.7	424 of 1161	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	42.5	265 of 555	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.3	492 of 1117	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.9	241 of 1052	77.1%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	55.5	263 of 1085	75.8%	★★★★☆
2023	49.8	351 of 1064	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	44.0	425 of 1044	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.0	108 of 467	76.9%	★★★★☆
2019	41.1	435 of 941	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	41.9	413 of 938	56.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	78.4	380 of 1906	80.1%	★★★★☆
2024	76.7	410 of 1915	78.6%	★★★★☆
2023	71.4	484 of 1915	74.7%	★★★★☆
2022	71.1	448 of 1858	75.9%	★★★★☆
2021	63.2	358 of 1054	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.0	672 of 1833	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	60.7	706 of 1760	59.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	173 of 1900	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	90.3	134 of 1902	93.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.0	266 of 1917	86.1%	★★★★☆
2022	85.6	182 of 1861	90.2%	★★★★★
2019	67.9	478 of 1814	73.6%	★★★★☆
2018	72.4	447 of 1742	74.3%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	70.4	98 of 410	76.1%	★★★★☆
2024	80.1	43 of 328	86.9%	★★★★☆
2023	81.7	37 of 299	87.6%	★★★★☆
2022	60.2	101 of 290	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	82.1	300 of 2013	85.1%	★★★★☆
2024	84.8	267 of 2026	86.8%	★★★★☆
2023	77.6	363 of 2030	82.1%	★★★★☆
2022	79.2	291 of 1943	85.0%	★★★★☆
2021	67.3	307 of 1126	72.7%	★★★★☆
2019	62.8	606 of 1937	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.2	514 of 1862	72.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.6	465 of 1942	76.1%	★★★★☆
2024	79.8	376 of 1948	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	69.7	526 of 1963	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	72.4	451 of 1916	76.5%	★★★★☆
2021	61.0	393 of 1122	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.2	777 of 1880	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	63.9	650 of 1834	64.6%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	55.2	402 of 1252	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	63.4	290 of 1216	76.2%	★★★★☆
2023	55.0	366 of 1197	69.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	80.4	197 of 1155	82.9%	★★★★☆
2024	74.8	289 of 1173	75.4%	★★★★☆
2023	76.9	251 of 1193	79.0%	★★★★☆
2022	68.5	345 of 1204	71.3%	★★★★☆
2019	50.2	610 of 1222	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.9	381 of 1173	67.5%	★★★☆☆

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)91st percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)85th percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)83rd percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)80th percentile~ school

Homeless (2025)76th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2025)76th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)76th percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)68th percentile-12 vs school

Disabled (2022)63rd percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy71%+22 vs state

Science43%+10 vs state

Mathematics35%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near California 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 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
California High	Public	9-12	9800 South Mills Ave.	Whittier	90604	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	2,261	102	22.0	80.3%	97 (4.3%)	13 (0.6%)	2,090 (92.4%)	42 (1.9%)	7 (0.3%)	3 (0.1%)	6 (0.3%)	78.2	444^th of 2162 public high schools	79.5%		80.2	411^th of 2159 public high schools	81.0%	33	43.6		43.0	70.9	70.9	35.2	35.2	$21,501	$615	$20,886
Sierra Vista High (Alternative)	Public	9-12	9401 South Painter Ave.	Whittier	90605	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	284	13	21.9	80.3%	10 (3.5%)	2 (0.7%)	264 (93.0%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	29.9	1488^th of 2162 public high schools	31.2%		28.3	1534^th of 2159 public high schools	28.9%	46	14.8	14.3	14.6	41.8	41.8	7.1	7.1	$20,534	$398	$20,136
Frontier High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	9401 South Painter Ave.	Whittier	90605	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	364	28	13.2	72.3%	17 (4.7%)	5 (1.4%)	334 (91.8%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	10.7	1986^th of 2162 public high schools	8.1%		12.4	1918^th of 2159 public high schools	11.2%	68	1.2	7.3	3.2	11.2	11.2	0.0	0.0	$22,569	$1,574	$20,995
La Serna High	Public	9-12	15301 Youngwood Dr.	Whittier	90605	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	2,372	92	25.9	58.4%	236 (9.9%)	25 (1.1%)	1,970 (83.1%)	99 (4.2%)	14 (0.6%)	1 (0.0%)	24 (1.0%)	86.6	271^st of 2162 public high schools	87.5%		88.4	256^th of 2159 public high schools	88.1%	15	57.7	0.0	56.6	71.3	71.3	42.9	42.9	$19,981	$529	$19,452
La Mirada High	Public	9-12	13520 Adelfa Dr.	La Mirada	90638	Los Angeles County	Norwalk-La Mirada Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 210-3315	1,726	73	23.6	57.0%	204 (11.8%)	45 (2.6%)	1,244 (72.1%)	178 (10.3%)	3 (0.2%)	11 (0.6%)	41 (2.4%)	87	265^th of 2162 public high schools	87.7%		74.7	483^rd of 2159 public high schools	77.6%	218	47.4		46.6	70.6	70.6	54.1	54.1	$18,975	$1,427	$17,548
Whittier High	Public	9-12	12417 East Philadelphia St.	Whittier	90601	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	1,652	77	21.4	85.5%	84 (5.1%)	14 (0.8%)	1,525 (92.3%)	17 (1.0%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (0.5%)	68.3	630^th of 2162 public high schools	70.9%		71.6	543^rd of 2159 public high schools	74.8%	87	28.8	7.1	27.2	63.7	63.7	41.6	41.6	$22,438	$956	$21,482
John H. Glenn High	Public	9-12	13520 Shoemaker Ave.	Norwalk	90650	Los Angeles County	Norwalk-La Mirada Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 210-3000	882	48	18.4	74.9%	22 (2.5%)	24 (2.7%)	783 (88.8%)	35 (4.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	16 (1.8%)	42.9	1191^st of 2162 public high schools	44.9%		43	1168^th of 2159 public high schools	45.9%	23	23.4		22.9	43.7	43.7	21.0	21.0	$28,065	$3,204	$24,861
El Camino High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	14640 Mercado Ave.	La Mirada	90638	Los Angeles County	Norwalk-La Mirada Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 210-3595	256	18	13.9	74.2%	15 (5.9%)	7 (2.7%)	224 (87.5%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	11.4	1945^th of 2162 public high schools	10.0%		10.6	2032^nd of 2159 public high schools	5.9%	87	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.1	4.1	7.7	7.7	$25,373	$2,091	$23,282
Pioneer High	Public	9-12	10800 Ben Avon	Whittier	90606	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	1,000	53	18.7	87.7%	26 (2.6%)	8 (0.8%)	954 (95.4%)	8 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	61.8	768^th of 2162 public high schools	64.5%		66.4	626^th of 2159 public high schools	71.0%	142	31.7	23.1	31.3	61.8	61.8	26.5	26.5	$25,474	$958	$24,516
Tri-Cities Regional Occupational Program	Public	9-12	10800 Ben Avon St. Unit E	Whittier	90606	Los Angeles County	Tri-Cities Regional Occupational Program	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(562) 698-9571	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about California High

What is the racial makeup of California High?

Students at California High are 92% Hispanic, 4% White, 2% Asian.

What district is California High in?

Whittier Union High

How many students attend California High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,261 students attended California High.

What schools feed into California High?

California High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ceres Elementary
Elementary : Loma Vista Elementary
Elementary : Los Altos Elementary
Elementary : Mulberry Elementary
Elementary : Ocean View Elementary

Is California High a good school?

California High ranks 444^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate California High!

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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.