Skip to main content

Very Good

#3599 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 38% in state

Northwood High

High School · Irvine Unified

4515 Portola Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92620

Enrollment

2,310

Student-Teacher

26.9:1

Score

7.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#3,599 of 9,539

In Irvine

#28 of 47

public schools

In district

#26 of 43

Irvine Unified

Equity

9.0 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Northwood High?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Northwood High

7.0/10

High School in Irvine · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Canyon View Elementary

7.3/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Northwood Montessori of Irvine

Nearby

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Northwood High

Northwood High is a public high school in Irvine, CA, part of Irvine Unified. Northwood High serves approximately 2,310 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 26.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Northwood High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #3,599 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Northwood High 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
How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.0 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.2
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Northwood High is a large school: 2,310 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

Northwood High runs 26.9:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Score Breakdown

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, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio26.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,405
Chronic Absenteeism10.1%

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

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

19.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 81.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
31.8% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 83.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
51.5% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

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
66.4%
ELA
71.7%

* 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: 5.9/10.

How Northwood High Compares

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

Overall Score
7.0/10
62th percentile in CA
Academic
8.7/10
Excellent
Growth
5.9/10
Average
Environment
4.1/10
Below Average
AP Courses
4
State avg: 2.6
Sports
22
11 boys' · 11 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
27:1 student-teacher ratio
86 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.1%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
32.3% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·55 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

4515 Portola Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92620

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Northwood High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Arnold O. Beckman High (rated 8.0/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Tustin), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, CREAN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.7/10, 2.5 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Irvine, see our Irvine schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Canyon View Elementary Irvine 0.6 mi 7.3
NORTHWOOD MONTESSORI OF IRVINE Irvine 0.6 mi
Northwood Montessori School of Irvine Irvine 0.6 mi
Orchard Hills Irvine 0.6 mi 6.8
LEPORT MONTESSORI SCHOOL Irvine 0.6 mi
Santiago Hills Elementary Irvine 1.2 mi 7.9
Eastwood Elementary Irvine 1.3 mi 8.1
Hicks Canyon Elementary Tustin 1.3 mi 7.3
GREAT FOUNDATIONS MONTESSORI Irvine 1.6 mi
Sierra Vista Middle Irvine 1.6 mi 7.4
Myford Elementary Tustin 1.5 mi 7.2
Peters Canyon Elementary Tustin 1.7 mi 5.0
Pioneer Middle Tustin 1.7 mi 7.0
Stonegate Elementary Irvine 2.0 mi 7.9
Ladera Elementary Tustin 1.9 mi 5.9
Brywood Elementary Irvine 2.1 mi 7.9
Joseph of Cupertino Classical Academy Irvine 2.0 mi
Northwood Elementary Irvine 2.3 mi 5.9
Arnold O. Beckman High Tustin 2.2 mi 8.0
CREAN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Irvine 2.5 mi 5.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 92620 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$144,572

Median Home Value

$1,204,100

Median Rent

$3,125/mo

Population

61,744

College Educated

71.7%

Homeownership

56.4%

Avg Commute

26.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.8%

Median Age

37.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Agoura High Agoura, CA 7.0
El Modena High Orange, CA 7.0
Glendora High Glendora, CA 7.0
Hawthorne High Hawthorne, CA 7.0
Martin Luther King Jr. High Riverside, CA 7.0
Mission Oak High Tulare, CA 7.0

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
12 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
0 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
18 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,310
Student-Teacher Ratio
26.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
86
Free/Reduced Lunch
19.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.1%
4-Year Graduation
97.0%

District

Irvine Unified
District Enrollment
37,731
Schools in District
45
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,405
District Rank
#26 of 43

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

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.