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Very Good

#3599 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 38% in state

Northwood High

High School · Irvine Unified · Irvine, CA

An Irvine Unified high school where students score 6 points above what's typical for similar communities.

4515 Portola Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92620

  • Math 66% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 72% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 97.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.9Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.49 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.7Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency66.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.7% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+38.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.8 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)63% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+5.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
College Readiness8.5Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate97%
AP Participation32.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.1Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio26.9:1
District spending per student$14,405
Chronic Absenteeism10.1%

Students at Northwood High score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency66%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency72%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 69% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
90%
2012
Math
93%
ELA
89%
2013
Math
95%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
78%
ELA
86%
2015
Math
81%
ELA
85%
2016
Math
81%
ELA
88%
2017
Math
73%
ELA
75%
2018
Math
78%
ELA
81%
2019
Math
78%
ELA
81%
2020*
Math
75%
ELA
83%
2021*
Math
75%
ELA
83%
2024
Math
66%
ELA
72%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 83% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

19.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Northwood High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 12Car-Dependent
  • Transit 0Minimal Transit
  • Bike 18Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,479/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Irvine), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$144,572

Median home value

$1,204,100

Median rent

$3,125/mo

College educated

71.7%

Homeownership

56.4%

Poverty rate

8.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92620; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
32.3% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·55 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Joseph of Cupertino Classical AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–102.0 mi65Compare →
Arnold O. Beckman HighEnrollment path unverified8.09–122.2 mi2,713Compare →
Crean Lutheran High SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated9–122.5 mi1,126Compare →
Crean Lutheran High SchoolPrivate · tuition5.7private9–122.5 mi982Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Irvine Unified

Schools in district
45
Rank in district
#26 of 43
District spending per student
$14,405NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
8.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Northwood High is listed in Irvine Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Northwood High

Northwood High is a public high school in Irvine, CA, part of Irvine Unified, serving approximately 2,310 students in grades 9th-12th with a 26.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #3,599 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 83% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

What's said publicly about Northwood High

Sources:Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Northwood High School is a public high school situated in the Orchard Hills neighborhood in the northernmost part of Irvine, California 2. The school opened in 1999, with its first graduating class completing their studies in 2002 2. In 2016, the school was ranked 25th nationally on Newsweek's list of top public high schools 2.
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Northwood High

What grades does Northwood High serve?

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

How many students attend Northwood High?

Northwood High has an enrollment of approximately 2,310 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwood High?

The student-teacher ratio at Northwood High is 26.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Northwood High rank in CA?

Northwood High ranks #3,599 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Northwood High's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwood High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Northwood High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Northwood High has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 83% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Northwood High a charter school?

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

Is Northwood High a Title I school?

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

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

19.5% of students at Northwood 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,310
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
86
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.1%
4-Year Graduation
97.0%
Area population (ZIP 92620)
61,744
Area average commute
26.7 min
Area median age
37.2
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 92620; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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