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Excellent

#1122 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 12% in state

Pioneer High

High School · Whittier Union High

10800 Ben Avon, Whittier, CA 90606

Enrollment

1,072

Student-Teacher

18.8:1

Score

8.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Whittier

#7 of 42

public schools

California high schools

#185 of 1,892

In district

#4 of 7

Whittier Union High

Equity

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Pioneer High

Pioneer High is a public high school in Whittier, CA, part of the Whittier Union High. The school serves approximately 1,072 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 18.8:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 88.2th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 32% proficiency in math, 0 points above the state average and 62% in reading/language arts, 11 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $94,904, where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.7Above Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.75 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics8.6Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency26.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.8%
Math vs. State Avg-1.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+8.9 pts
Overall Proficiency46%
Expected (poverty-adj.)24%
vs. Expected+22.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile78th
College Readiness8.7Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation26.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,809

Pioneer High — Students at Pioneer High score 46% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

89.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 32.1%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 62.1%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
38%
ELA
61%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
58%
2024
Math
26.6%
ELA
64.8%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How Pioneer High Compares

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

Overall Score
8.2/10
88th percentile in CA
Academic
8.6/10
8.6/10
Growth
6.7/10
Above average
Environment
8.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
90%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
57 teachers

Location

10800 Ben Avon, Whittier, CA 90606

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pioneer High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. El Rancho High (rated 8.4/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Pico Rivera), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Ruben Salazar Continuation (rated 5.5/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Pico Rivera), a more accessible option. For more schools in Whittier, see our Whittier schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Ada S. Nelson Elementary Whittier 0.2 mi 7.6
Los Nietos Middle Los Nietos 0.5 mi 8.3
HANGUI YU INC DBA Whittier 0.5 mi 5.6
Aeolian Elementary Whittier 0.7 mi 7.0
Daniel Phelan Language Academy Whittier 0.8 mi 7.1
Rancho Santa Gertrudes Elementary Santa Fe Springs 1.1 mi 9.1
Keystone Academy Santa Fe Springs 0.9 mi
El Rancho High Pico Rivera 1.1 mi 8.4
Katherine Edwards Mid Sch STEAM & Dual Immersion Acad Whittier 1.1 mi 7.8
Rivera Middle Pico Rivera 1.0 mi 6.7
Rivera Elementary Pico Rivera 1.0 mi 5.8
St. Marianne De Parades Elementary Pico Rivera 1.0 mi
STEAM Academy @ Burke Pico Rivera 1.0 mi 5.2
Jersey Avenue Elementary Santa Fe Springs 1.2 mi 7.1
ST MARIANNE SCHOOL Pico Rivera 1.1 mi 5.0
West Whittier Elementary Whittier 1.3 mi 6.6
Valencia Academy of the Arts Pico Rivera 1.3 mi 7.3
Christian Sorensen Science Academy Whittier 1.2 mi 6.5
Ruben Salazar Continuation Pico Rivera 1.4 mi 5.5
Birney Tech Academy Pico Rivera 1.3 mi 8.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 90606 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$94,904

Median Home Value

$623,500

Median Rent

$1,913/mo

Population

31,881

College Educated

17.6%

Homeownership

70.7%

Avg Commute

31.3 min

Poverty Rate

10.6%

Median Age

38.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Pioneer High has a median household income of $94,904. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $623,500, with a median rent of $1,913/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.6%. The average commute for residents is 31 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 Academy of Mathematics and Science Carson, CA 8.2
Dozier-Libbey Medical High Antioch, CA 8.2
El Camino High South San Francisco, CA 8.2
Gunderson High San Jose, CA 8.2
Monterey High Monterey, CA 8.2
Saddleback High Santa Ana, CA 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pioneer High

What grades does Pioneer High serve?

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

How many students attend Pioneer High?

Pioneer High has an enrollment of approximately 1,072 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer High?

The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer High is 18.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pioneer High rank in CA?

Pioneer High is ranked #1122 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Pioneer High's MySchoolScout rating?

Pioneer High has a composite rating of 8.2 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 Pioneer High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Pioneer High has 32.1% math proficiency and 62.1% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Pioneer High a charter school?

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

Is Pioneer High a Title I school?

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

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

89.6% of students at Pioneer 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
71 Very Walkable
Bike Score
64 Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,878/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,072
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Free/Reduced Lunch
89.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Los Angeles County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Whittier Union High
District Enrollment
10,223
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,374
District Rank
#4 of 7

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

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