Best High Schools in Zip Code 94553

Three high schools serve students in grades 9-12 within Martinez, California's 94553 zip code, representing two different educational models: a traditional comprehensive high school and two smaller alternative programs.

Alhambra Senior High is the area's primary traditional high school within the Martinez Unified district, serving over 1,000 students with strong academic results including a 97% graduation rate and the highest test scores of the three. In contrast, the much smaller Vicente Martinez High, also in Martinez Unified, and Mt. McKinley, operated by the Contra Costa County Office of Education, are alternative schools with fewer than 60 students each, facing significant challenges with graduation rates and academic proficiency.

Key differences include resource allocation and student engagement; Mt. McKinley spends far more per student and has virtually no chronic absenteeism, yet has low graduation rates, while Vicente Martinez High struggles with very high absenteeism. Alhambra Senior High performs well across most metrics with standard resource levels. Parents should note these schools serve very different student populations, with the two alternative schools likely providing specialized support that isn't fully reflected in standard test scores, making direct comparisons to the comprehensive high school difficult.