Very Good
#3312 of 9,533 schools in CA
Top 35% in state
John J. Cairns Continuation
High School · Lindsay Unified
290 North Harvard Ave., Lindsay, CA 93247
Enrollment
72
Student-Teacher
10.3:1
Score
7.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
72
Student-Teacher
10.3:1
Score
7.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Lindsay
#3 of 9
public schools
California high schools
#623 of 1,892
In district
#3 of 9
Lindsay Unified
School environment
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About John J. Cairns Continuation
John J. Cairns Continuation is an alternative high school located in Lindsay, California, on the edge of a small town near an urban area. Serving students from ninth through twelfth grade, the school has a student body of 72 and maintains a favorable teacher-student ratio of 10.3:1 with seven full-time equivalent teachers.
While John J. Cairns Continuation may not excel in state academic rankings or scores—holding a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranking at #6494 out of 9566 schools in California—it focuses on providing individualized support to its students. The school’s ELA proficiency rate stands at 19% across all grades, while math proficiency is lower at just 6%.
These scores suggest that the school has room for academic growth and emphasizes student development outside traditional metrics. John J. Cairns Continuation is situated in a supportive community setting where it works to provide tailored educational opportunities for its students, offering them a second chance or an alternative path to their education goals.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 72 students, John J. Cairns Continuation is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
While current test scores at John J. Cairns Continuation are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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John J. Cairns Continuation — Students at John J. Cairns Continuation score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
87.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 6 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.0/10.
How John J. Cairns Continuation Compares
See how John J. Cairns Continuation performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 10% (2019) to 3.45% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 10% (2019) to 23.33% (2024).
Location
290 North Harvard Ave., Lindsay, CA 93247
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering John J. Cairns Continuation may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Kaweah High (rated 8.2/10, 6.8 miles away, in nearby Exeter), which scores notably higher. Another option is Harmony Magnet Academy (rated 7.5/10, 4.5 miles away, in nearby Porterville), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Exeter Union High (rated 6.1/10, 7.0 miles away, in nearby Exeter), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Lindsay, see our Lindsay schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 7.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Loma Vista Charter Lindsay | 0.0 mi | 3.1 |
| Lindsay Community Day Lindsay | 0.0 mi | — |
| Reagan Elementary Lindsay | 0.1 mi | 5.1 |
| Washington Elementary Lindsay | 0.2 mi | 7.4 |
| Lincoln Elementary Lindsay | 0.5 mi | 6.7 |
| Kennedy Elementary Lindsay | 0.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Lindsay Senior High Lindsay | 0.9 mi | 5.6 |
| Roosevelt Elementary Lindsay | 1.1 mi | 5.9 |
| Jefferson Elementary Lindsay | 1.1 mi | 5.6 |
| Sunnyside Elementary Strathmore | 4.2 mi | 5.1 |
| Strathmore Elementary Strathmore | 4.2 mi | 5.6 |
| Strathmore High Porterville | 4.4 mi | 4.8 |
| Sierra View Junior Academy Exeter | 4.1 mi | — |
| SIERRA VIEW JR ACADEMY Exeter | 4.1 mi | 6.7 |
| Harmony Magnet Academy Porterville | 4.5 mi | 7.5 |
| Kaweah High Exeter | 6.8 mi | 8.2 |
| Exeter Independent Study (Alternative) Exeter | 6.8 mi | 4.3 |
| Lincoln Elementary Exeter | 6.7 mi | 7.2 |
| Exeter Union High Exeter | 7.0 mi | 6.1 |
| Exeter Community Day Exeter | 7.0 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 93247 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$55,460
Median Home Value
$271,700
Median Rent
$957/mo
Population
17,967
College Educated
7.5%
Homeownership
55.3%
Avg Commute
29.5 min
Poverty Rate
27.4%
Median Age
32.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding John J. Cairns Continuation has a median household income of $55,460. It is a community where 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $271,700, with a median rent of $957/month. The area has a poverty rate of 27.4%, 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 |
|---|---|
| ANACAPA SCHOOL Santa Barbara, CA | 7.0 |
| Chaparral High (Continuation) San Dimas, CA | 7.0 |
| FUSION ACADEMY SLB: SOLANA BEACH Solana Beach, CA | 7.0 |
| LITTLET CITIZEN WESTSIDE ACD Los Angeles, CA | 7.0 |
| Ridgeview High (Continuation) Paradise, CA | 7.0 |
| Simon Rodia Continuation South Gate, CA | 7.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about John J. Cairns Continuation
What grades does John J. Cairns Continuation serve?
John J. Cairns Continuation serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend John J. Cairns Continuation?
John J. Cairns Continuation has an enrollment of approximately 72 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John J. Cairns Continuation?
The student-teacher ratio at John J. Cairns Continuation is 10.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does John J. Cairns Continuation rank in CA?
John J. Cairns Continuation is ranked #3312 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is John J. Cairns Continuation's MySchoolScout rating?
John J. Cairns Continuation has a composite rating of 7.0 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 John J. Cairns Continuation?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, John J. Cairns Continuation has 5.6% math proficiency and 18.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is John J. Cairns Continuation a charter school?
No, John J. Cairns Continuation is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John J. Cairns Continuation a Title I school?
No, John J. Cairns Continuation is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John J. Cairns Continuation?
87.5% of students at John J. Cairns Continuation qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,928/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lindsay). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 72
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 7
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 87.5%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- Tulare County
- Phone
- (559) 562-5913
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Lindsay Unified- District Enrollment
- 3,987
- Schools in District
- 11
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $21,319
- District Rank
- #3 of 9
Other Schools in This District
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.
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