Best High Schools in Zip Code 96056

In the rural area of McArthur, California (zip code 96056), the Fall River Joint Unified district operates three small high schools serving 250 students in grades 7-12: a comprehensive junior-senior high and two alternative schools for at-risk youth.

Fall River Junior-Senior High is the standout, graduating 97% of its students—well above the state average—despite nearly half the students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. However, test scores are mixed, with English being a relative strength while math and science proficiency, especially in 11th grade, are significant areas for improvement. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, affecting over a quarter of its students.

The alternative schools, Soldier Mountain High (Continuation) and Fall River Community Day, serve much smaller, highly at-risk populations and face profound challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism and lower graduation rates compared to the comprehensive high school. This creates a two-tiered system within the district, where the alternative schools struggle with outcomes despite having similar per-student funding and favorable student-teacher ratios.