How strong are the public high schools in Sacramento?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public high school rankings.
Kit Carson International Academy's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Sacramento, rising from a C to a B-, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 5301 N St., enrolls 453 students. Kit Carson serves a diverse population: 46% of students identify as Hispanic, 23% identify as white and 14% identify as black. Niche gave the school mixed grades: C+ on an A-D scale for academics, B for administration and C- for clubs and activities.
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 15% of Kit Carson's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 35% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 19% in math and 37% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable since it serves a less affluent population, with 81% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 12% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. John F. Kennedy High School saw its overall rating increase from a B to a B+. The school is located at 6715 Gloria Drive and is much larger, currently serving 2,227 students, of whom 31% identify as Hispanic, 30% identify as Asian and 19% identify as black.
Niche gave John F. Kennedy High School mixed grades: B on an A-D scale for academics, C+ for administration and C for clubs and activities. John F. Kennedy High School's latest math proficiency was at 36%, and reading proficiency was 64%.
Luther Burbank High School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from a C+ to a B-. The school is located at 3500 Florin Road and has 1,716 students currently enrolled, of whom 40% identify as Hispanic, 29% identify as Asian and 21% identify as black.
Niche gave Luther Burbank High School mixed grades — C on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and C for clubs and activities. Luther Burbank High School's latest math proficiency was at 13%, and reading proficiency was 42%. Luther Burbank High School also serves a less affluent community, with 89% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Mira Loma High School, with an overall rating of A+.
- Sheldon High School, with an A rating overall.
- Rio Americano High School, rated A overall.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
