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Northwood High

Public Grades 9-12

82^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 96% of California high schools

Summary

Northwood High is a large, high-performing public high school serving grades 9-12 to over 2,200 students in the highly-ranked Irvine Unified school district, consistently placing in the top 6% of all California high schools.

The school stands out for its exceptional and balanced results, boasting the highest graduation rate (96.9%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (7.7%) among comparable comprehensive high schools in Irvine Unified, including Portola High, Woodbridge High, and Irvine High. It achieves these top-tier outcomes—with 79% proficiency in English, 72% in Math, and 68% in Science—while spending less per student than some neighboring schools, demonstrating remarkable efficiency.

Northwood shows particular strength in supporting diverse learners, with performance for English Language Learners and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds ranking in the state's 90th percentile or higher. While the school's statewide ranking has fluctuated slightly in recent years, its quick recovery from a brief dip and sustained 5-star status highlight its resilience and consistent excellence as a model comprehensive high school in the region.

2,244

Students ?

25.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,989

Per pupil spending ?

18.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4515 Portola Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92620-2200

(949) 936-7200

District: Irvine Unified

Feeder schools for Northwood High:

Elementary:	Brywood Elementary
	Canyon View Elementary
	Eastwood Elementary
	Northwood Elementary
	More...
	Santiago Hills Elementary
	Stonegate Elementary
Middle:	Sierra Vista Middle

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

62.7%

White:

17.4%

Two or more races:

8.9%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Northwood High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 99th percentile in 2015 → 96th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (73% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 4% of California high schools

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

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 26 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school73%

District avg71%

California avg41%

82^nd of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 4%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 6High Schools in the Irvine Unified

114^th of 1,543Irvine 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	95.9	82 of 2162	96.2%	★★★★★
2024	93.1	154 of 2159	92.9%	★★★★★
2023	94.9	117 of 2170	94.6%	★★★★★
2022	98.5	29 of 2123	98.6%	★★★★★
2021	94.6	63 of 1290	95.1%	★★★★★
2019	83.4	300 of 2133	85.9%	★★★★☆
2018	93.5	128 of 2017	93.7%	★★★★★
2017	96.6	46 of 2021	97.7%	★★★★★
2016	96.9	35 of 2039	98.3%	★★★★★
2015	97.3	29 of 1994	98.5%	★★★★★
2013	93.7	8 of 2426	99.7%	★★★★★
2012	91.7	20 of 2354	99.2%	★★★★★
2011	94.2	8 of 2367	99.7%	★★★★★
2010	93.1	13 of 2281	99.4%	★★★★★
2009	87.7	27 of 2238	98.8%	★★★★★
2008	91.5	12 of 2117	99.4%	★★★★★
2007	89.3	30 of 2063	98.5%	★★★★★
2006	88.8	38 of 1968	98.1%	★★★★★
2005	89.3	29 of 1901	98.5%	★★★★★
2004	88.5	26 of 1653	98.4%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	45.3	241 of 517	53.4%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	75.6	150 of 585	74.4%	★★★★☆
2024	69.2	204 of 573	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.0	203 of 591	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	86.9	48 of 581	91.7%	★★★★★
2019	85.1	64 of 582	89.0%	★★★★☆
2018	75.1	162 of 581	72.1%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	95.2	50 of 1161	95.7%	★★★★★
2021	95.6	23 of 555	95.9%	★★★★★
2019	86.3	95 of 1117	91.5%	★★★★★
2018	98.1	34 of 1052	96.8%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	79.6	83 of 1085	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	73.9	94 of 1064	91.2%	★★★★★
2022	66.6	129 of 1044	87.6%	★★★★☆
2019	98.7	11 of 941	98.8%	★★★★★
2018	94.3	46 of 938	95.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	94.8	79 of 1906	95.9%	★★★★★
2024	93.6	113 of 1915	94.1%	★★★★★
2023	95.6	81 of 1915	95.8%	★★★★★
2022	98.1	29 of 1858	98.4%	★★★★★
2021	94.0	51 of 1054	95.2%	★★★★★
2019	95.7	70 of 1833	96.2%	★★★★★
2018	90.7	143 of 1760	91.9%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.1	318 of 1900	83.3%	★★★★☆
2024	77.4	345 of 1902	81.9%	★★★★☆
2023	95.0	82 of 1917	95.7%	★★★★★
2022	85.4	185 of 1861	90.1%	★★★★★
2019	91.5	105 of 1814	94.2%	★★★★★
2018	76.9	364 of 1742	79.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.6	178 of 2013	91.2%	★★★★★
2024	84.3	272 of 2026	86.6%	★★★★☆
2023	86.6	219 of 2030	89.2%	★★★★☆
2022	96.9	59 of 1943	97.0%	★★★★★
2021	94.4	46 of 1126	95.9%	★★★★★
2019	95.0	70 of 1937	96.4%	★★★★★
2018	83.5	266 of 1862	85.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	95.8	78 of 1942	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	91.5	169 of 1948	91.3%	★★★★★
2023	92.9	149 of 1963	92.4%	★★★★★
2022	98.4	42 of 1916	97.8%	★★★★★
2021	93.8	69 of 1122	93.9%	★★★★★
2019	97.4	53 of 1880	97.2%	★★★★★
2018	94.7	103 of 1834	94.4%	★★★★★

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	81.6	33 of 190	82.6%	★★★★☆
2022	84.1	22 of 168	86.9%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	81.1	111 of 577	80.8%	★★★★☆
2024	84.5	69 of 574	88.0%	★★★★☆
2023	58.0	239 of 541	55.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	84.2	51 of 515	90.1%	★★★★★
2019	59.1	180 of 422	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	72.3	107 of 366	70.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.1	166 of 1252	86.7%	★★★★☆
2024	69.5	236 of 1216	80.6%	★★★★☆
2023	93.7	54 of 1197	95.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	80.4	198 of 1155	82.9%	★★★★☆
2024	60.9	457 of 1173	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.2	318 of 1193	73.3%	★★★★☆
2022	85.4	129 of 1204	89.3%	★★★★☆
2019	91.2	69 of 1222	94.4%	★★★★★
2018	75.8	290 of 1173	75.3%	★★★★☆

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)

Male (2025)96th percentile~ school

Female (2025)96th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)96th percentile-3 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)92nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)91st percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)87th percentile-9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)83rd percentile-13 vs school

White (2025)83rd percentile-13 vs school

Military Connected (2023)83rd percentile-12 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)81st percentile-15 vs school

Asian (2025)74th percentile-22 vs school

African American (2024)53rd percentile-39 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy79%+30 vs state

Mathematics72%+35 vs state

Science68%+36 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a student
Monday, April 18, 2011

The school is absolutely breathtaking; building designs, academics (education received), teachers, and even the people roaming the campus. Northwood is a great school where the competition to achieve perfection is well sought throughout each student. Even as its birth since 1999, it has climbed up the ranks and is now situated to be 7th in the top ten best schools in Orange County. As Wikipedia states, "In May 2006, the school was featured in Newsweek as a "Public Elite" among American high schools, excluded from the standard list of Best High Schools because so many of the students score well above average on the SAT and ACT." Northwood High is a multicultural high school where top-notch students expand their learning in a competitive environment as well as mature and discover their identity through Northwood's elective classes such as a wide variety in arts (visual, performing), business and technology courses, world languages, science/history/social science courses that go beyond core subjects (Horticulture, Psychology, Economics, Anatomy/Physiology, etc), as well as English courses exceed the core subject (Journalism, our renowned NHS Howler Newspaper, Speech and Debate, Broadcast Communications, etc), and also our vast range of award-winning sports (basketball, football, waterpolo, tennis, wrestling, swimming, track and field, cross country, volleyball, yoga, bowling, weight training, etc). Northwood provides an elite education as well as a community filled with students that are motivated, highly determined, welcoming, and admirable. Close Quote

Schools Near Northwood 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 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
Northwood High	Public	9-12	4515 Portola Pkwy.	Irvine	92620	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 936-7200	2,244	86	25.9	18.8%	390 (17.4%)	42 (1.9%)	190 (8.5%)	1,406 (62.7%)	4 (0.2%)	7 (0.3%)	199 (8.9%)	95.9	82^nd of 2162 public high schools	96.2%		93.1	154^th of 2159 public high schools	92.9%	72		68.5		68.3				79.0	79.0				72.0	72.0	$13,989	$406	$13,583
Arnold O. Beckman High	Public	9-12	3588 Bryan Ave.	Irvine	92602	Orange County	Tustin Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 734-2900	2,776	105	26.3	44.5%	507 (18.3%)	76 (2.7%)	774 (27.9%)	1,237 (44.6%)	3 (0.1%)	8 (0.3%)	165 (5.9%)	95.6	86^th of 2162 public high schools	96.0%		97.4	58^th of 2159 public high schools	97.3%	28		64.2		64.0				82.6	82.6				61.3	61.3	$15,247	$1,182	$14,065
Irvine High	Public	9-12	4321 Walnut Ave.	Irvine	92604	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 936-7000	1,964	79	24.7	22.6%	400 (20.4%)	39 (2.0%)	316 (16.1%)	1,045 (53.2%)	4 (0.2%)	6 (0.3%)	151 (7.7%)	89.8	202^nd of 2162 public high schools	90.7%		90.3	216^th of 2159 public high schools	90.0%	14		50.5	15.8	49.0				74.3	74.3				61.5	61.5	$16,298	$526	$15,772
Hillview High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	1701 San Juan St.	Tustin	92780	Orange County	Tustin Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 730-7356	142	11	12.6	91.5%	7 (4.9%)	3 (2.1%)	124 (87.3%)	5 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	2 (1.4%)	9.7	2030^th of 2162 public high schools	6.1%		10.5	2042^nd of 2159 public high schools	5.4%	12		3.7		3.4				9.1	9.1				1.9	1.9	$23,494	$2,267	$21,227
Foothill High	Public	9-12	19251 Dodge Ave.	Santa Ana	92705	Orange County	Tustin Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 730-7464	2,126	85	25.0	47.8%	774 (36.4%)	12 (0.6%)	989 (46.5%)	202 (9.5%)	3 (0.1%)	10 (0.5%)	131 (6.2%)	84.2	331^st of 2162 public high schools	84.7%		92.3	175^th of 2159 public high schools	91.9%	156		50.5		49.5				67.6	67.6				44.1	44.1	$15,777	$1,221	$14,556
Tustin High	Public	9-12	1171 El Camino Real	Tustin	92780	Orange County	Tustin Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 730-7414	1,627	68	23.9	86.8%	104 (6.4%)	44 (2.7%)	1,335 (82.1%)	99 (6.1%)	2 (0.1%)	9 (0.6%)	31 (1.9%)	58.7	855^th of 2162 public high schools	60.5%		65.6	640^th of 2159 public high schools	70.4%	215		31.1	11.8	30.4				60.3	60.3				24.2	24.2	$16,551	$1,450	$15,101
Legacy Magnet Academy	Public	6-12	15500 Legacy Rd.	Tustin	92782	Orange County	Tustin Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(714) 430-2088	964	37	26.2	32.5%	200 (20.7%)	8 (0.8%)	244 (25.3%)	398 (41.3%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	110 (11.4%)	96.6	65^th of 2162 public high schools	97.0%		99	18^th of 2159 public high schools	99.2%	47	74.5	65.6		71.5	82.6	88.2	81.5	89.7	84.8	74.5	66.5	74.5	59.4	69.9	$14,798	$1,265	$13,533
Portola High	Public	9-12	1001 Cadence	Irvine	92618	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 936-8200	2,693	102	26.3	17.6%	488 (18.1%)	46 (1.7%)	263 (9.8%)	1,673 (62.1%)	3 (0.1%)	11 (0.4%)	205 (7.6%)	92.7	153^rd of 2162 public high schools	92.9%		95.8	94^th of 2159 public high schools	95.6%	59		58.3	23.5	57.4				75.2	75.2				62.9	62.9	$13,438	$441	$12,997
Irvine Adult Transition Programs	Public	12	311 West Yale Loop	Irvine	92604	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 936-7400	117	11	11.1	17.1%	35 (29.9%)	2 (1.7%)	21 (17.9%)	50 (42.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.7%)								(n/a)															$3,702	$283	$3,419
Woodbridge High	Public	9-12	2 Meadowbrook	Irvine	92604	Orange County	Irvine Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(949) 786-1104	2,232	94	23.7	24.5%	737 (33.0%)	54 (2.4%)	321 (14.4%)	862 (38.6%)	4 (0.2%)	11 (0.5%)	239 (10.7%)	94.3	113^th of 2162 public high schools	94.8%		89.9	231^st of 2159 public high schools	89.3%	118		64.6	40.9	63.7				77.5	77.5				60.7	60.7	$15,333	$453	$14,880

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwood High

What district is Northwood High in?

Irvine Unified

Is Northwood High a good school?

Yes! Northwood High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 82^nd of 2162 California high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Northwood High?

Students at Northwood High are 63% Asian, 17% White, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 2% African American.

How many students attend Northwood High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,244 students attended Northwood High.

What schools feed into Northwood High?

Northwood High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Brywood Elementary
Elementary : Canyon View Elementary
Elementary : Eastwood Elementary
Elementary : Northwood Elementary
Elementary : Santiago Hills Elementary
Elementary : Stonegate Elementary
Middle : Sierra Vista Middle

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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.