Average
#5654 of 9,533 schools in CA
Palomar High
High School · Sweetwater Union High
480 Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911
Enrollment
299
Student-Teacher
15.7:1
Score
6.0
Grades
7th – 12th
Enrollment
299
Student-Teacher
15.7:1
Score
6.0
Grades
7th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Chula Vista
#36 of 62
public schools
California high schools
#1,210 of 1,892
In district
#18 of 28
Sweetwater Union High
School environment
8.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Palomar High
Palomar High is an alternative high school located in Chula Vista, California, with a student body of 299 students. The school serves seventh through twelfth graders and has a student-teacher ratio of 15.7:1, ensuring relatively personalized attention for each student. With 19 full-time equivalent teachers, Palomar High aims to provide a supportive learning environment.
According to MySchoolScout ratings, the school's overall performance is at 3.2 out of 10, placing it in the 13th percentile among California schools. Specifically, the academic score sits at 1.2 out of 10, indicating there is room for improvement in areas like ELA and math proficiency rates, which are currently at 13% and 3%, respectively. Despite these challenges, Palomar High continues to focus on student development and growth.
The school's setting within a large city offers students access to diverse resources and experiences outside the classroom.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Palomar High 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
View breakdown
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Palomar High — Students at Palomar High score 4% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
85.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.2/10.
How Palomar High Compares
See how Palomar High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 2.5% (2019) to 0% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 7.5% (2019) to 7.69% (2024).
Location
480 Palomar St., Chula Vista, CA 91911
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Palomar High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Chula Vista Senior High (rated 7.3/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Montgomery Senior High (rated 7.2/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby San Diego), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Castle Park Senior High (rated 7.1/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Chula Vista, see our Chula Vista schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Lauderbach (J. Calvin) Elementary Chula Vista | 0.2 mi | 5.0 |
| Montgomery (John J.) Elementary Chula Vista | 0.6 mi | 5.5 |
| MAAC Community Charter Chula Vista | 0.5 mi | 6.0 |
| Options Secondary Chula Vista | 0.7 mi | 6.2 |
| Harborside Elementary Chula Vista | 0.8 mi | 4.8 |
| Rice (Lilian J.) Elementary Chula Vista | 0.9 mi | 4.6 |
| Castle Park Middle Chula Vista | 0.8 mi | 3.9 |
| Chula Vista Senior High Chula Vista | 1.2 mi | 7.3 |
| Chula Vista Learning Community Charter Chula Vista | 1.2 mi | 7.6 |
| Otay Elementary Chula Vista | 1.1 mi | 5.5 |
| Castle Park Elementary Chula Vista | 1.2 mi | 6.5 |
| OCEAN VIEW CHRISTIAN ACADEMY San Diego | 1.4 mi | 6.0 |
| ST PIUS X SCHOOL Chula Vista | 1.3 mi | 5.9 |
| Castle Park Senior High Chula Vista | 1.3 mi | 7.1 |
| Montgomery Senior High San Diego | 1.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Loma Verde Elementary Chula Vista | 1.4 mi | 4.6 |
| Accelerated Academics San Diego | 1.7 mi | — |
| Sunnyslope Elementary San Diego | 1.7 mi | 7.3 |
| Refugio de Amor Academy San Diego | 1.7 mi | — |
| Cook (Hazel Goes) Elementary Chula Vista | 1.8 mi | 5.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 91911 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$79,334
Median Home Value
$602,000
Median Rent
$1,931/mo
Population
84,619
College Educated
19.5%
Homeownership
51.8%
Avg Commute
27.7 min
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Median Age
36.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Palomar High has a median household income of $79,334. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $602,000, with a median rent of $1,931/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.6%. The average commute for residents is 28 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 |
|---|---|
| AIMS College Prep High Oakland, CA | 6.0 |
| ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Redlands, CA | 6.0 |
| Abraxas Continuation High Poway, CA | 6.0 |
| Amistad High (Continuation) Indio, CA | 6.0 |
| Bowman (Jereann) High (Continuation) Santa Clarita, CA | 6.0 |
| Mojave Jr./Sr. High Mojave, CA | 6.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Palomar High
What grades does Palomar High serve?
Palomar High serves students in grades 7th through 12th.
How many students attend Palomar High?
Palomar High has an enrollment of approximately 299 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palomar High?
The student-teacher ratio at Palomar High is 15.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Palomar High rank in CA?
Palomar High is ranked #5654 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Palomar High's MySchoolScout rating?
Palomar High has a composite rating of 6.0 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 Palomar High?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Palomar High has 3.1% math proficiency and 13.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Palomar High a charter school?
No, Palomar High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Palomar High a Title I school?
No, Palomar High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Palomar High?
85.6% of students at Palomar 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,521/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Chula Vista). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 7th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 299
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 85.6%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- San Diego County
- Phone
- (619) 407-4800
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Sweetwater Union High- District Enrollment
- 35,226
- Schools in District
- 29
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,647
- District Rank
- #18 of 28
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.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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