Best High Schools in Zip Code 95490

This analysis examines three high schools serving grades 6-12 in the Willits, California area (zip code 95490), revealing a community with significant educational challenges but one standout performer.

Willits Charter is the clear academic leader, outperforming the other local schools and even exceeding the state average in science proficiency, despite serving a student population with high economic need. In contrast, the larger Willits High and the smaller Sanhedrin Alternative schools, both part of the Willits Unified district, rank in the bottom 20% of California schools. Sanhedrin Alternative, which serves the most economically disadvantaged students, faces particularly steep challenges, including the highest dropout rate and a 0% science proficiency rate.

A major concern across all three schools is chronic absenteeism, with rates more than double the state average, which severely impacts learning. Interestingly, higher per-student spending at Willits High did not correlate with stronger academic results compared to Willits Charter. For parents, this data highlights a notable performance gap between the charter and traditional district schools in the area, with student attendance being a critical issue affecting every campus.