Summary:
Zip code 91962 in Pine Valley, California, is served by three high schools within the Mountain Empire Unified district: the main comprehensive Mountain Empire High, the small Hillside Junior/Senior High, and the alternative Sunrise High (Continuation).
Mountain Empire High is the district's largest school and has a very strong 97% graduation rate, though its standardized test scores are below state averages and chronic absenteeism is high. Hillside Junior/Senior High is much smaller and also faces significant attendance challenges. Sunrise High (Continuation), which serves students at risk of not graduating, has severe rates of chronic absenteeism and a low graduation rate, despite receiving the highest funding per student.
For families, the data shows a clear distinction in outcomes between the traditional and alternative school models. While the district's overall graduation rate is near the state average, this is heavily influenced by the high rate at Mountain Empire High. A key area for improvement across all schools is student attendance, as chronic absenteeism is notably high and is linked to poorer academic results. Parents should consider both the graduation success and the attendance and test score challenges when evaluating Mountain Empire High as the primary option in the area.
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