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Needs Improvement

#9171 of 9,533 schools in CA

Barstow High

High School · Barstow Unified

551 South Avenue H, Barstow, CA 92311

Enrollment

1,549

Student-Teacher

24.6:1

Score

3.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Barstow

#8 of 11

public schools

California high schools

#1,859 of 1,892

In district

#8 of 11

Barstow Unified

About Barstow High

Barstow High serves 1,549 students in grades 9-12 in the desert community of Barstow, California. With 63 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 24.6:1, providing a sizable high school experience in San Bernardino County. The school faces significant academic challenges, with considerable room for growth in student achievement.

Currently, 34% of students demonstrate proficiency in English Language Arts, while 9% meet proficiency standards in mathematics. These results place Barstow High in the 11th percentile among California high schools, ranking #8,509 out of 9,566 schools statewide with a MySchoolScout rating of 2.8 out of 10. The school serves a community where the median household income is $57,687 and median home values average $172,300.

About 21% of families in the area live below the poverty line, and 11% of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher. These socioeconomic factors often correlate with educational challenges that many high-need schools work to address through targeted support and resources. Barstow High is situated in a town setting along a major transportation corridor between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, serving families in this historic railroad and mining community in California's Mojave Desert region.

What Parents Should Know

The student-teacher ratio at Barstow High is 24.6:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.6Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.68 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics3.5Fair25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency9%
Reading/ELA Proficiency34.5%
Math vs. State Avg-19 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-21.4 pts
Overall Proficiency22%
Expected (poverty-adj.)39%
vs. Expected-16.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile17th
College Readiness3.2Fair30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation11.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.3Fair20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio24.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,529

Barstow High — Students at Barstow High score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 14.0%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 39.7%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
16%
ELA
43%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
9%
ELA
34.5%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.6/10.

How Barstow High Compares

See how Barstow High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
3.6/10
4th percentile in CA
Academic
3.5/10
3.5/10
Growth
4.6/10
Below average
Environment
3.3/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
64%
Teaching Staff
25:1 student-teacher ratio
63 teachers

Location

551 South Avenue H, Barstow, CA 92311

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Barstow High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Silver Valley High (rated 7.8/10, 7.9 miles away, in nearby Yermo), which scores notably higher. Another option is Calico Continuation High (rated 5.9/10, 8.1 miles away, in nearby Yermo), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Central High (Continuation) (rated 5.8/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Barstow, see our Barstow schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 21.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Barstow STEM Academy Barstow 0.2 mi 2.7
Amory Academic Academy Barstow 0.4 mi
Central High (Continuation) Barstow 0.6 mi 5.8
Henderson Elementary Barstow 0.7 mi 4.8
Barstow Fine Arts Academy Barstow 0.9 mi 5.0
Cameron Elementary Barstow 1.0 mi 5.8
Barstow Junior High Barstow 1.3 mi 2.6
Crestline Elementary Barstow 1.5 mi 5.4
Mojave River Academy - Silver Mountain Oro Grance 1.5 mi 5.5
Skyline North Elementary Barstow 2.0 mi 2.2
Montara Elementary Barstow 2.1 mi 5.7
Lenwood Elementary Barstow 4.7 mi 5.7
Silver Valley High Yermo 7.9 mi 7.8
Calico Continuation High Yermo 8.1 mi 5.9
Silver Valley Academy Yermo 8.1 mi 3.8
Yermo Elementary Yermo 11.5 mi 6.1
Independence Charter Academy Helendale 20.1 mi 4.6
Helendale Elementary Helendale 20.1 mi 5.6
Sycamore Rocks Elementary Apple Valley 24.6 mi 3.2
Riverview Middle Helendale 21.7 mi 5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92311 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,338

Median Home Value

$217,500

Median Rent

$1,081/mo

Population

33,982

College Educated

11%

Homeownership

49.4%

Avg Commute

29.7 min

Poverty Rate

21.4%

Median Age

33.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding Barstow High has a median household income of $59,338. It is a community where 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $217,500, with a median rent of $1,081/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Del Campo High Fair Oaks, CA 3.6
Golden West High Visalia, CA 3.7
San Lorenzo High San Lorenzo, CA 3.7
BELLARMINE COLLEGE PREPARATORY San Jose, CA 3.8
Hanford High Hanford, CA 3.8
Marysville High Marysville, CA 3.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Barstow High

What grades does Barstow High serve?

Barstow High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Barstow High?

Barstow High has an enrollment of approximately 1,549 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Barstow High?

The student-teacher ratio at Barstow High is 24.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Barstow High rank in CA?

Barstow High is ranked #9171 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Barstow High's MySchoolScout rating?

Barstow High has a composite rating of 3.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Barstow High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Barstow High has 14.0% math proficiency and 39.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Barstow High a charter school?

No, Barstow High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Barstow High a Title I school?

No, Barstow High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Barstow High?

64.0% of students at Barstow High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
51 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
40 Some Transit
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,852/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Barstow). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,549
Student-Teacher Ratio
24.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
63
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
San Bernardino County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Barstow Unified
District Enrollment
6,318
Schools in District
14
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,640
District Rank
#8 of 11

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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