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Very Good

#3382 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 36% in state

Salinas High

High School · Salinas Union High

726 South Main St., Salinas, CA 93901

Enrollment

2,446

Student-Teacher

22.6:1

Score

7.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Salinas

#10 of 60

public schools

California high schools

#634 of 1,892

In district

#3 of 12

Salinas Union High

Academic growth

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Salinas High

Salinas High serves 2,446 students in grades 9-12 in Salinas, California, with a student-teacher ratio of 22.6:1 and 108 full-time equivalent teachers. This large public high school has earned a solid 7.1 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks in the 73rd percentile among California high schools, placing it at #2551 out of 9,566 schools statewide. Academically, the school shows particular strength in English Language Arts, where 68% of students perform at proficient or above levels across grade levels.

Mathematics presents an area with room for growth, as 29% of students currently achieve proficiency. The school's overall academic score of 7.3 out of 10 reflects its commitment to student development across all subject areas. Located on South Main Street, Salinas High sits in the heart of a mid-size city within Monterey County.

The surrounding 93901 ZIP code area has a median household income of $84,669 and median home values of $658,000. The neighborhood shows a poverty rate of 11.8%, with 28% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher. This diverse community of nearly 29,500 residents provides a supportive environment for the school's large student body.

What's said publicly about Salinas High

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026.

Salinas High School is a public secondary institution serving grades 9 through 12, located in Salinas, California 2 . It operates as part of the Salinas Union High School District and holds the distinction of being the first of the district's five primary 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

Salinas High is a large school with 2,446 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 Salinas High is 22.6:1, 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 Progress9.4Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change+1.17 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics8.7Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29.4%
Reading/ELA Proficiency68.2%
Math vs. State Avg+1.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.3 pts
Overall Proficiency49%
Expected (poverty-adj.)27%
vs. Expected+21.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
College Readiness4.3Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation17%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,797

Salinas High — Students at Salinas High score 49% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

83.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 29.9%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 63.8%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 6 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
31%
ELA
55%
2024
Math
29.4%
ELA
68.2%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.4/10.

How Salinas High Compares

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

Overall Score
7.0/10
65th percentile in CA
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
9.4/10
Above average
Environment
5.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
84%
Teaching Staff
23:1 student-teacher ratio
108 teachers

Location

726 South Main St., Salinas, CA 93901

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Salinas High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. El Puente (rated 7.3/10, 1.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Mount Toro High (rated 6.2/10, 1.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.0/10, 0.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Salinas, see our Salinas schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Washington Middle Salinas 0.4 mi 7.0
Palma High School Salinas 0.4 mi
PALMA SCHOOL Salinas 0.4 mi 5.7
Lincoln Elementary Salinas 0.4 mi 7.4
Roosevelt Elementary Salinas 0.6 mi 5.5
Mission Park Elementary Salinas 0.5 mi 3.8
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL Salinas 0.6 mi 6.0
SACRED HEART SCHOOL Salinas 0.8 mi 5.4
Monterey Park Elementary Salinas 0.9 mi 6.1
University Park Elementary Salinas 1.2 mi 7.4
Monterey County Special Education Salinas 1.4 mi 6.7
Monterey County Home Charter Salinas 1.4 mi 5.3
Mount Toro High Salinas 1.5 mi 6.2
Carr Lake Community Day Salinas 1.5 mi 5.0
El Puente Salinas 1.5 mi 7.3
Sherwood Elementary Salinas 1.3 mi 5.4
Laurel Wood Elementary Salinas 1.7 mi 4.2
Boronda Meadows Salinas 1.9 mi 5.4
Madonna del Sasso School Salinas 2.1 mi
Salinas City Virtual Academy Salinas 2.2 mi 6.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93901 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$91,639

Median Home Value

$721,100

Median Rent

$1,792/mo

Population

29,480

College Educated

28.7%

Homeownership

45.7%

Avg Commute

24.8 min

Poverty Rate

10.9%

Median Age

36.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Salinas High has a median household income of $91,639. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $721,100, with a median rent of $1,792/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.9%. The average commute for residents is 25 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
Andrew P. Hill High San Jose, CA 7.0
Antelope Valley High Lancaster, CA 7.0
Arcadia High Arcadia, CA 7.0
Arroyo High San Lorenzo, CA 7.0
Bell Gardens High Bell Gardens, CA 7.0
Cajon High San Bernardino, CA 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Salinas High

What grades does Salinas High serve?

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

How many students attend Salinas High?

Salinas High has an enrollment of approximately 2,446 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Salinas High?

The student-teacher ratio at Salinas High is 22.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Salinas High rank in CA?

Salinas High is ranked #3382 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Salinas High's MySchoolScout rating?

Salinas High has a composite rating of 7.0 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 Salinas High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Salinas High has 29.9% math proficiency and 63.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Salinas High a charter school?

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

Is Salinas High a Title I school?

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

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

83.6% of students at Salinas 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
92 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
46 Some Transit
Bike Score
66 Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,228/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,446
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
108
Free/Reduced Lunch
83.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Monterey County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Salinas Union High
District Enrollment
16,225
Schools in District
12
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,435
District Rank
#3 of 12

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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