Skip to main content

Average

#4981 of 9,533 schools in CA

Northwood High

High School · Irvine Unified

4515 Portola Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92620

Enrollment

2,310

Student-Teacher

26.9:1

Score

6.3

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Irvine

#28 of 47

public schools

California high schools

#1,047 of 1,892

In district

#26 of 43

Irvine Unified

Equity

9.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Northwood High

Northwood High serves 2,310 students in grades 9-12 in Irvine, California, earning strong recognition as the 1,850th ranked high school out of 9,566 schools statewide, placing it in the 81st percentile. With 86 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 26.9:1. The school demonstrates solid academic performance, with 72% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 66% meeting or exceeding standards in mathematics.

These results reflect the school's commitment to preparing students for college and career success. Northwood High has earned a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10, with particularly strong marks in academics. Located at 4515 Portola Parkway, the school draws from an affluent and highly educated community where 72% of adults hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The surrounding zip code 92620 has a median household income of $135,494 and median home value of $1,142,700, with a relatively low poverty rate of 9.4%. This educated, prosperous environment with over 61,000 residents provides a supportive backdrop for the school's educational mission. Northwood High operates within Irvine's master-planned community atmosphere, benefiting from the city's reputation for excellent schools and family-oriented neighborhoods.

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

What Parents Should Know

Northwood High is a large school with 2,310 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 Northwood High is 26.9:1, 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 Progress3.8Fair25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-2.14 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.6Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency66.4%
Reading/ELA Proficiency71.7%
Math vs. State Avg+38.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.8 pts
Overall Proficiency69%
Expected (poverty-adj.)64%
vs. Expected+4.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
College Readiness9.1Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation32.3%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.2Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio26.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,314

Northwood High — Students at Northwood High score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

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 71.5%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 76.9%
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
78%
ELA
81%
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: 3.8/10.

How Northwood High Compares

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

Overall Score
6.3/10
48th percentile in CA
Academic
8.6/10
8.6/10
Growth
3.8/10
Below average
Environment
2.2/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
27:1 student-teacher ratio
86 teachers

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 8.1/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Tustin), which scores notably higher. Additionally, CREAN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL (rated 5.7/10, 2.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. 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 6.9
NORTHWOOD MONTESSORI OF IRVINE Irvine 0.6 mi
Northwood Montessori School of Irvine Irvine 0.6 mi
Orchard Hills Irvine 0.6 mi 8.0
LEPORT MONTESSORI SCHOOL Irvine 0.6 mi
Santiago Hills Elementary Irvine 1.2 mi 7.3
Eastwood Elementary Irvine 1.3 mi 7.5
Hicks Canyon Elementary Tustin 1.3 mi 7.4
GREAT FOUNDATIONS MONTESSORI Irvine 1.6 mi
Sierra Vista Middle Irvine 1.6 mi 7.4
Myford Elementary Tustin 1.5 mi 7.1
Peters Canyon Elementary Tustin 1.7 mi 7.4
Pioneer Middle Tustin 1.7 mi 7.0
Stonegate Elementary Irvine 2.0 mi 7.4
Ladera Elementary Tustin 1.9 mi 5.8
Brywood Elementary Irvine 2.1 mi 6.9
Joseph of Cupertino Classical Academy Irvine 2.0 mi
Northwood Elementary Irvine 2.3 mi 6.3
Arnold O. Beckman High Tustin 2.2 mi 8.1
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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Northwood High has a median household income of $144,572. It is a well-educated community where 72% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,204,100, with a median rent of $3,125/month. The local poverty rate of 8.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 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
California High San Ramon, CA 6.3
Colony High Ontario, CA 6.3
Eastside High Lancaster, CA 6.3
Lathrop High Manteca, CA 6.3
Liberty High Brentwood, CA 6.3
Manteca High Manteca, CA 6.3

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 is ranked #4981 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Northwood High's MySchoolScout rating?

Northwood High has a composite rating of 6.3 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 Northwood High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Northwood High has 71.5% math proficiency and 76.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

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
City Safety
Elevated (1,479/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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

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

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.