Best High Schools in Zip Code 95817

Zip code 95817 in Sacramento, California, is home to two public high schools serving grades 9-12: Sacramento Charter High, a charter school in the Sacramento Charter High District, and American Legion High (Continuation), an alternative school in the Sacramento City Unified district, which serves students needing a different educational pathway.

Sacramento Charter High is the higher-performing school in the area, with a graduation rate of 86.2% and English Language Arts scores that exceed the state average. In contrast, American Legion High (Continuation) faces significant challenges, including a much higher dropout rate and very low proficiency rates in core subjects, which is common for continuation schools designed to support at-risk students. Both schools serve a predominantly low-income student population.

Key areas for parents to consider include a severe mathematics performance gap at Sacramento Charter High, despite its strength in English, and an extreme chronic absenteeism rate at American Legion High. Interestingly, American Legion High spends significantly more per student and has a much smaller class size, highlighting the different resources required for its student population. Overall, the schools serve distinct roles in the community, with Sacramento Charter High providing a more traditional academic track and American Legion High offering an essential alternative for students who have struggled elsewhere.