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Very Good

#2163 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 23% in state

Whittier High

High School · Whittier Union High

12417 East Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA 90601

Enrollment

1,710

Student-Teacher

21.4:1

Score

7.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Whittier

#15 of 42

public schools

California high schools

#374 of 1,892

In district

#5 of 7

Whittier Union High

Equity

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Whittier High

Whittier High serves 1,710 students in grades 9-12 in this established suburban community of Los Angeles County. With 80 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio while earning strong recognition as a top-performing California high school. The school demonstrates solid academic achievement, ranking in the 82nd percentile statewide at #1,694 out of 9,566 California schools.

Students show particular strength in English Language Arts, with 63% scoring proficient or above, while math performance at 44% proficient indicates an area with room for continued growth. These results contribute to Whittier High's impressive 7.7 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating. The school draws from a stable suburban neighborhood where families enjoy a median household income of $96,209 and median home values of $708,400.

With 31% of adults holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low 9.1% poverty rate, the surrounding ZIP code of 30,667 residents reflects a middle-to-upper-middle-class community that values education. Located on East Philadelphia Street, Whittier High sits in the heart of this large suburban area that combines residential neighborhoods with the educational opportunities and community resources that families seek when choosing where to raise their children.

What Parents Should Know

The student-teacher ratio at Whittier High is 21.4:1, 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 Progress9.2Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.84 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.0Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency43.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency63%
Math vs. State Avg+15.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+7.1 pts
Overall Proficiency53%
Expected (poverty-adj.)26%
vs. Expected+27.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
College Readiness4.8Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation19.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.8Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,809

Whittier High — Students at Whittier High score 53% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

86.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 41.8%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 61.8%
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
37%
ELA
61%
2021*
Math
43%
ELA
60%
2024
Math
43.5%
ELA
63%

* 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: 9.2/10.

How Whittier High Compares

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

Overall Score
7.6/10
77th percentile in CA
Academic
9.0/10
9.0/10
Growth
9.2/10
Above average
Environment
7.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
86%
Teaching Staff
21:1 student-teacher ratio
80 teachers

Location

12417 East Philadelphia St., Whittier, CA 90601

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Whittier High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Evergreen Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Longfellow Elementary (rated 7.9/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 0.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Whittier, see our Whittier schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
ST MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL Whittier 0.3 mi 5.9
St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary Whittier 0.3 mi
LAD N LASSIE PRESCHOOL Whittier 0.4 mi
HADLEY SCHOOL Whittier 0.5 mi
Hadley Whittier 0.5 mi
WHITTIER FRIENDS SCHOOL Whittier 0.5 mi
Whittier Friends School Whittier 0.5 mi
KEYSTONE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL WHITTIER Whittier 0.6 mi
Keystone Montessori Preschool Whittier Whittier 0.6 mi
PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Whittier 0.6 mi 6.8
Longfellow Elementary Whittier 0.6 mi 7.9
B'nai Ha Aliyah - Children of Ascent Academy Whittier 0.6 mi
The Broadoaks School of Whittier College Whittier 0.8 mi
Walter F. Dexter Middle Whittier 0.9 mi 4.9
Whittier Independent Study Whittier 0.9 mi 5.0
Lou Henry Hoover School of Fine Arts Whittier 0.9 mi 6.5
Christian Sorensen Science Academy Whittier 0.9 mi 6.5
Lydia Jackson College Preparatory Academy Whittier 1.1 mi 6.2
Evergreen Elementary Whittier 1.1 mi 8.1
Keystone Academy Santa Fe Springs 1.4 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 90601 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$102,267

Median Home Value

$729,000

Median Rent

$1,862/mo

Population

30,472

College Educated

31.1%

Homeownership

62.1%

Avg Commute

32.9 min

Poverty Rate

9%

Median Age

40.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Whittier High has a median household income of $102,267. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $729,000, with a median rent of $1,862/month. The local poverty rate of 9.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 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
Analy High Sebastopol, CA 7.6
Beverly Hills High Beverly Hills, CA 7.6
Brea Olinda High Brea, CA 7.6
Campolindo High Moraga, CA 7.6
Foothill High Tustin, CA 7.6
Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High Los Angeles, CA 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Whittier High

What grades does Whittier High serve?

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

How many students attend Whittier High?

Whittier High has an enrollment of approximately 1,710 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Whittier High?

The student-teacher ratio at Whittier High is 21.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Whittier High rank in CA?

Whittier High is ranked #2163 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Whittier High's MySchoolScout rating?

Whittier High has a composite rating of 7.6 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 Whittier High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Whittier High has 41.8% math proficiency and 61.8% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Whittier High a charter school?

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

Is Whittier High a Title I school?

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

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

86.3% of students at Whittier 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
89 Very Walkable
Bike Score
68 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
1,710
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
80
Free/Reduced Lunch
86.3%
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
#5 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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