Best High Schools in Zip Code 95357

Zip code 95357 in the Modesto/Empire area of California contains two high schools serving grades 9-12: Peter Johansen High, a large traditional school in the Modesto City High district, and Teel School in Empire, a much smaller alternative school operated by the Stanislaus County Office of Education.

For families considering a traditional high school, Peter Johansen High is the stronger performer, with an 88.9% graduation rate that exceeds the state average and a relatively low dropout rate of 3.2%. However, academic proficiency, especially in mathematics, is below state averages, and chronic absenteeism is a concern. In contrast, Teel School in Empire serves a different population with severe challenges, reflected in a very high dropout rate of 44.2%, a critical chronic absenteeism rate over 60%, and extremely low academic proficiency.

The most striking finding is the difference in resources and outcomes: Teel School spends nearly twice as much per student and has a much lower student-teacher ratio than Peter Johansen High, yet its student outcomes are dramatically worse. This suggests Teel serves students with significant needs, but also raises questions about the effectiveness of its current programs. For most students, Peter Johansen provides a more stable and successful pathway to graduation.