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#4976 of 9,539 schools in CA

Vista High

High School · Vista Unified · Vista, CA

A Vista Unified high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1234 Arcadia Ave., Vista, CA 92084

  • Math 17% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 40% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 82.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.79 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.3Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency16.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency39.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-11.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-16 pts
Overall Proficiency28% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-5.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile34th
College Readiness7.5Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate82%
AP Participation16.6%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19:1
District spending per student$17,647
Chronic Absenteeism39.5%

Students at Vista High score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency17%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency40%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 8 points since 2019, to 28% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
49%
ELA
51%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
57%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
52%
2012
Math
49%
ELA
54%
2013
Math
51%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
25%
ELA
56%
2015
Math
21%
ELA
49%
2016
Math
18%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
20%
ELA
50%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
56%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
56%
2020*
Math
18%
ELA
47%
2021*
Math
18%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
17%
ELA
40%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

72.9%

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 Vista High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Diego map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 64Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 33Some Transit
  • Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Elevated1,187/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Vista), 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

$97,410

Median home value

$745,800

Median rent

$1,936/mo

College educated

27.1%

Homeownership

57.6%

Poverty rate

9.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 92084; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offeredIB Programme
16.6% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·110 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics21sports offered
10 boys'·11 girls'·45 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 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
Vista Adult Transition CenterEnrollment path unverified5.9120.1 mi118Compare →
Vista Springs CharterCharter · enrollment unverified6.4K–120.4 mi247Compare →
Guajome Learning CentersCharter · enrollment unverified5.6K–120.7 mi75Compare →
Guajome Park Academy CharterCharter · enrollment unverified8.6K–120.7 mi1,353Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

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

Vista Unified

Schools in district
28
Rank in district
#8 of 27
District spending per student
$17,647NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
10.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

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

About Vista High

Vista High is a public high school in Vista, CA, part of Vista Unified, serving approximately 1,896 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 out of 10 and ranks #4,976 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Vista High

What grades does Vista High serve?

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

How many students attend Vista High?

Vista High has an enrollment of approximately 1,896 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista High?

The student-teacher ratio at Vista High is 19:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Vista High rank in CA?

Vista High ranks #4,976 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Vista High's MySchoolScout rating?

Vista High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.3 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 Vista High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Vista High has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Vista High a charter school?

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

Is Vista High a Title I school?

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

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

72.9% of students at Vista 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
1,896
Student-Teacher Ratio
19:1
Teachers (FTE)
100
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
San Diego County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
39.5%
4-Year Graduation
82.0%
Area population (ZIP 92084)
49,533
Area average commute
28.1 min
Area median age
34.9
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 92084; 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

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