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Pioneer High

Q: Is Pioneer High a good school?

Pioneer High ranks 768 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

768^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 64% of California high schools

Summary

Pioneer High is a public high school serving approximately 1,000 students in grades 9-12 within the Whittier Union High district, known for its exceptional success in ensuring students graduate.

The school's greatest strength is its outstanding graduation rate of 96.5%, which is higher than both the district and state averages, and it excels at supporting vulnerable student groups, including English learners and students experiencing homelessness. This success is supported by a higher per-student spending level compared to nearby schools like Whittier High and Santa Fe High. However, a significant area for improvement is mathematics proficiency, where the school's rate of 26.5% lags behind the district, state, and these same neighboring schools.

An interesting point is that while Pioneer High has a higher chronic absenteeism rate than the state average, it still achieves remarkably low dropout rates, suggesting effective re-engagement strategies. When compared to its closest peer, El Rancho High in a different district, the two schools have very similar graduation and academic proficiency rates, despite Pioneer's higher spending. The school has also shown dramatic recent improvement in serving its special education students.

1,000

Students ?

18.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$35,008

Per pupil spending ?

87.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10800 Ben Avon
Whittier, CA 90606-3010

(562) 698-8121

District: Whittier Union High

Feeder schools for Pioneer High:

Elementary:	Ada S. Nelson Elementary
	Aeolian Elementary
	Daniel Phelan Language Academy
	Lake Marie Elementary
	More...
	Wallen L. Andrews
	West Whittier Elementary
Middle:	Los Nietos Middle

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

95.4%

White:

2.6%

African American:

0.8%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Pioneer High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 57th percentile in 2015 → 64th in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 7 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the California median (64th percentile)

Worth a look

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

!Mathematics scores 11 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg47%

California avg41%

768^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 36%▲ up 8 pts since 2015

From top 43% (2015) to top 36% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th 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	61.8	768 of 2162	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.4	626 of 2159	71.0%	★★★★☆
2023	57.0	824 of 2170	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.4	815 of 2123	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.5	503 of 1290	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	62.8	681 of 2133	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.3	702 of 2017	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.9	912 of 2021	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.3	873 of 2039	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.7	864 of 1994	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.0	656 of 2426	73.0%	★★★★☆
2012	49.3	817 of 2354	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	47.6	852 of 2367	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	38.8	1040 of 2281	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	41.1	981 of 2238	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2008	44.4	805 of 2117	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	36.5	967 of 2063	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2006	41.2	808 of 1968	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2005	35.7	904 of 1901	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2004	33.6	841 of 1653	49.1%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	37.3	626 of 1161	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.4	212 of 555	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.2	438 of 1117	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.5	272 of 1052	74.1%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	69.3	127 of 1085	88.3%	★★★★☆
2023	58.2	232 of 1064	78.2%	★★★★☆
2022	49.7	333 of 1044	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.4	226 of 467	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	44.7	375 of 941	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.9	381 of 938	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.1	668 of 1906	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.6	560 of 1915	70.8%	★★★★☆
2023	60.7	664 of 1915	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	52.6	763 of 1858	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.0	442 of 1054	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.0	586 of 1833	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.4	613 of 1760	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	71.9	460 of 1900	75.8%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	298 of 1902	84.3%	★★★★☆
2023	68.6	504 of 1917	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	67.3	482 of 1861	74.1%	★★★★☆
2019	73.6	372 of 1814	79.5%	★★★★☆
2018	76.1	386 of 1742	77.8%	★★★★☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	82.4	46 of 410	88.8%	★★★★☆
2024	81.7	35 of 328	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	87.2	32 of 299	89.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	66.7	602 of 2013	70.1%	★★★★☆
2024	75.3	410 of 2026	79.8%	★★★★☆
2023	65.0	586 of 2030	71.1%	★★★★☆
2022	66.0	525 of 1943	73.0%	★★★★☆
2021	63.9	343 of 1126	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.6	442 of 1937	77.2%	★★★★☆
2018	76.0	384 of 1862	79.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.3	782 of 1942	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.9	628 of 1948	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.1	887 of 1963	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.3	759 of 1916	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.8	539 of 1122	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.4	729 of 1880	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.4	726 of 1834	60.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.3	311 of 1252	75.2%	★★★★☆
2024	53.4	417 of 1216	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.5	717 of 1197	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Homeless (2025)89th percentile+24 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)88th percentile+17 vs school

Hispanic (2025)76th percentile+11 vs school

Special Education (2025)75th percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)70th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)65th percentile~ school

Male (2025)60th percentile-5 vs school

Disabled (2022)46th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy62%+13 vs state

Science31%~ state avg

Mathematics27%-11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Pioneer High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 (2025)
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
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	$35,008	$33,888	$1,120
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)
El Rancho High	Public	9-12	6501 South Passons Blvd.	Pico Rivera	90660	Los Angeles County	El Rancho Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 801-7500	1,995	90	22.2	73.9%	21 (1.1%)	4 (0.2%)	1,934 (96.9%)	28 (1.4%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	59.8	827^th of 2162 public high schools	61.7%		65.2	648^th of 2159 public high schools	70.0%	179	27.3	0.0	26.6	61.5	61.5	28.9	28.9	$19,394	$18,692	$702
Ruben Salazar Continuation	Public	9-12	9115 Balfour St.	Pico Rivera	90660	Los Angeles County	El Rancho Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 801-7680	178	11	16.1	77.5%	3 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	173 (97.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	8.7	2086^th of 2162 public high schools	3.5%		11.2	1989^th of 2159 public high schools	7.9%	97	3.1		2.9	7.3	7.3	0.0	0.0	$28,604	$27,590	$1,014
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	$26,346	$25,462	$884
Santa Fe High	Public	9-12	10400 South Orr and Day Rd.	Santa Fe Springs	90670	Los Angeles County	Whittier Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 698-8121	1,865	77	24.1	77.6%	95 (5.1%)	16 (0.9%)	1,699 (91.1%)	42 (2.3%)	2 (0.1%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	79.4	421^st of 2162 public high schools	80.5%		77	456^th of 2159 public high schools	78.9%	35	37.6	9.5	36.4	68.9	68.9	49.3	49.3	$24,603	$24,142	$461
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	$28,359	$27,894	$465
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	$30,757	$29,550	$1,207
Applied Technology Center	Public	9-12	1200 West Mines Ave.	Montebello	90640	Los Angeles County	Montebello Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 248-2500	295	25	12.0	88.5%	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	284 (96.3%)	5 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	47.4	1088^th of 2162 public high schools	49.7%		55.8	858^th of 2159 public high schools	60.3%	230	23.0		23.0	64.0	64.0	12.0	12.0	$26,272	$24,424	$1,848
Vail High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1230 South Vail Ave.	Montebello	90640	Los Angeles County	Montebello Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 728-1940	219	12	18.1	95.0%	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.5%)	216 (98.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12.2	1904^th of 2162 public high schools	11.9%		10.1	2065^th of 2159 public high schools	4.4%	161	9.1	7.7	8.9	10.6	10.6	1.2	1.2	$28,531	$25,402	$3,129

Frequently Asked Questions about Pioneer High

What is the racial makeup of Pioneer High?

Students at Pioneer High are 95% Hispanic, 3% White.

What district is Pioneer High in?

Whittier Union High

How many students attend Pioneer High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,000 students attended Pioneer High.

Is Pioneer High a good school?

Pioneer High ranks 768^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Pioneer High?

Pioneer High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Ada S. Nelson Elementary
Elementary : Aeolian Elementary
Elementary : Daniel Phelan Language Academy
Elementary : Lake Marie Elementary
Elementary : Wallen L. Andrews
Elementary : West Whittier Elementary
Middle : Los Nietos Middle

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Schools in Whittier, CA

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.