Salinas Union High School District
School District · Salinas, California
Avg Rating
6.2
out of 10
Schools
12
4 mid, 8 high
Enrollment
16,225
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Avg Rating
6.2
out of 10
Schools
12
4 mid, 8 high
Enrollment
16,225
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
How this district compares
California rank
#398 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.1
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$18,435
+$788 vs California median
District size
16,225 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Salinas Union High ranks #398 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Salinas Union High's schools with real test data average 6.2/10 across 12 schools. Its top-rated schools are Rancho San Juan High (7.6/10), Salinas High (7.5/10), and Alisal High (7.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.2/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Salinas Union High schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +3.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Salinas Union High schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Salinas Union High
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (12 of 12). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rancho San Juan High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Salinas High | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Alisal High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | North Salinas High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 5 | La Paz Middle | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | EL Sausal Middle | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Washington Middle | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Harden Middle | 6.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Everett Alvarez High | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Carr Lake Community Day | 5.2 / 10 |
See all 12 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Salinas Union High
Salinas Union High is a Salinas, California school district serving 12 schools.The district educates 16,225 students with a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. District-level spending was $18,435 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.2/10, Salinas Union High demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Rancho San Juan High, which has a composite score of 7.6/10.
In standardized testing, Salinas Union High students show an average math proficiency of 24.1% and ELA proficiency of 39.4%.
The district includes 4 middle schools, and 8 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Salinas Union High, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Salinas Union High with test data.
Schools in Salinas Union High
12 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- California
- City
- Salinas
- Total Enrollment
- 16,225
- Teachers (FTE)
- 739
- District spending per student
- $18,435NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Salinas Union High?
Salinas Union High has 12 schools in total — 4 middle, and 8 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Salinas Union High?
The average composite rating for Salinas Union High is 6.2/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Salinas Union High?
Salinas Union High's district-level spending was $18,435 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Salinas Union High?
The average student-teacher ratio in Salinas Union High is 22:1.
What is the top-rated school in Salinas Union High?
Rancho San Juan High is the highest-rated school in Salinas Union High with a composite score of 7.6/10.
What are the test scores in Salinas Union High?
Across schools in Salinas Union High with test data, the average math proficiency is 24.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 39.4%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Salinas Union High compare to other districts in California?
Salinas Union High has an average school rating of 6.2/10 across 12 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.2/10
- Math Proficiency
- 24.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 39.4%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Salinas Union High with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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