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Excellent

#493 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 5% in state

California High

High School · Whittier Union High

9800 South Mills Ave., Whittier, CA 90604

Enrollment

2,376

Student-Teacher

22:1

Score

8.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Whittier

#2 of 42

public schools

California high schools

#73 of 1,892

In district

#1 of 7

Whittier Union High

Academic growth

9.8 / 10

Exceptional

About California High

California High is a public high school in Whittier, CA, part of the Whittier Union High. The school serves approximately 2,376 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 94.8th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 34% proficiency in math, 3 points above the state average and 67% in reading/language arts, 15 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $101,104, where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

What's said publicly about California High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

California High School (CHS) is a public high school located in South Whittier, California 1 . The school is part of the Whittier Union High School District 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

California High is a large school with 2,376 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

The student-teacher ratio at California High is 22:1, 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 Progress9.8Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+2.27 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics9.0Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency34.8%
Reading/ELA Proficiency72.8%
Math vs. State Avg+6.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+16.9 pts
Overall Proficiency54%
Expected (poverty-adj.)29%
vs. Expected+25.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
College Readiness8.3Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation22.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.5Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,809

California High — Students at California High score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

81%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 34.4%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 66.7%
School
State
51.5%

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

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
27%
ELA
57%
2021*
Math
41%
ELA
64%
2024
Math
34.8%
ELA
72.8%

* 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: 9.8/10.

How California High Compares

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

Overall Score
8.7/10
95th percentile in CA
Academic
9.0/10
9.0/10
Growth
9.8/10
Above average
Environment
7.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
81%
Teaching Staff
22:1 student-teacher ratio
108 teachers

Location

9800 South Mills Ave., Whittier, CA 90604

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering California High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Frontier High (Continuation) (rated 6.6/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Sierra Vista High (Alternative) (rated 3.9/10, 1.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Whittier, see our Whittier schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Carden Academy of Whittier Whittier 0.2 mi
CARDEN ACADEMY OF WHITTIER Whittier 0.2 mi 7.1
Mulberry Elementary Whittier 0.4 mi 7.5
Ceres Elementary Whittier 0.6 mi 4.9
East Whittier Middle Whittier 0.9 mi 7.0
La Colima Elementary Whittier 1.0 mi 6.8
St. Gregory the Great Whittier 1.0 mi
ST GREGORY THE GREAT SCHOOL Whittier 1.0 mi 3.8
Howard J. McKibben Elementary Whittier 1.0 mi 5.4
Ocean View Elementary Whittier 1.2 mi 6.7
Mulberry Tree Preschool Whittier 1.2 mi
Laurel Elementary Whittier 1.1 mi 6.2
Orchard Dale Elementary Whittier 1.1 mi 8.3
Hillview Middle Whittier 1.2 mi 8.5
Sierra Vista High (Alternative) Whittier 1.4 mi 3.9
Frontier High (Continuation) Whittier 1.4 mi 6.6
Lake Marie Elementary Whittier 1.4 mi 4.1
Los Altos Elementary Whittier 1.7 mi 6.7
Lydia Jackson College Preparatory Academy Whittier 1.8 mi 6.2
Evergreen Elementary Whittier 1.7 mi 8.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 90604 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,104

Median Home Value

$684,400

Median Rent

$1,809/mo

Population

39,378

College Educated

23.4%

Homeownership

63.8%

Avg Commute

32.3 min

Poverty Rate

5.9%

Median Age

36.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding California High has a median household income of $101,104. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $684,400, with a median rent of $1,809/month. The local poverty rate of 5.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 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
Crescenta Valley High La Crescenta, CA 8.7
Los Amigos High Fountain Valley, CA 8.7
Manuel Dominguez High Compton, CA 8.7
Oakland Technical High Oakland, CA 8.7
San Pasqual High Escondido, CA 8.7
Skyline High Oakland, CA 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about California High

What grades does California High serve?

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

How many students attend California High?

California High has an enrollment of approximately 2,376 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at California High?

The student-teacher ratio at California High is 22:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does California High rank in CA?

California High is ranked #493 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is California High's MySchoolScout rating?

California High has a composite rating of 8.7 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 California High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, California High has 34.4% math proficiency and 66.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is California High a charter school?

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

Is California High a Title I school?

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

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

81.0% of students at California 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
57 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
50 Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,878/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,376
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
Teachers (FTE)
108
Free/Reduced Lunch
81.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Los Angeles County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Whittier Union High
District Enrollment
10,223
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,374
District Rank
#1 of 7

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

Related reading

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