Skip to main content

Very Good

#2984 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 31% in state

Salinas High

High School · Salinas Union High · Salinas, CA

A Salinas Union High high school where students score 22 points above what's typical for similar communities.

726 South Main St., Salinas, CA 93901

  • Math 29% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 68% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 90.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.3Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.7Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency68.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+1.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.3 pts
Overall Proficiency49% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)27% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+21.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
College Readiness5.9Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate90%
AP Participation17%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.6:1
District spending per student$18,435
Chronic Absenteeism17.1%

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

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency29%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency68%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2009–2024), then recovered 6 points since 2017, reaching 49% in 2024.

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
55%
ELA
52%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
59%
2011
Math
60%
ELA
61%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
59%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
51%
2014
Math
24%
ELA
54%
2015
Math
35%
ELA
60%
2016
Math
34%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
28%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
31%
ELA
55%
2019
Math
31%
ELA
55%
2024
Math
29%
ELA
68%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 41% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 26 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

83.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Salinas High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 92Walker's Paradise
  • Transit 45Some Transit
  • Bike 66Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,228/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Salinas), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$91,639

Median home value

$721,100

Median rent

$1,792/mo

College educated

28.7%

Homeownership

45.7%

Poverty rate

10.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93901; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
17% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics23sports offered
12 boys'·11 girls'·45 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses3of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Palma High SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated6–120.4 mi584Compare →
Palma SchoolPrivate · tuition5.7private6–120.4 mi457Compare →
Notre Dame High SchoolPrivate · tuition6.0private9–120.6 mi177Compare →
Monterey County Home CharterCharter · enrollment unverified7.2K–121.4 mi254Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Salinas Union High

Schools in district
12
Rank in district
#2 of 12
District spending per student
$18,435NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
18.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Salinas High is listed in Salinas Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Salinas High

Salinas High is a public high school in Salinas, CA, part of Salinas Union High, serving approximately 2,446 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #2,984 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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

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 ranks #2,984 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Salinas High's MySchoolScout rating?

Salinas High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Salinas High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Salinas High has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,446
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
108
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Monterey County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.1%
4-Year Graduation
90.0%
Area population (ZIP 93901)
29,480
Area average commute
24.8 min
Area median age
36.9
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 93901; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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.