Washington High leads most-improved Fresno public high schools

Washington High leads most-improved Fresno public high schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 13, 2019

How do the public high schools in Fresno stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

Washington High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Fresno, rising from a C to a B-, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 6041 S. Elm Ave., enrolls 1,031 students. Washington High School serves a diverse population: 69% of students identify as Hispanic and 10% identify as white. Niche gave the school mixed grades: C+ on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and B- 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, 20% of Washington High School's students scored proficient or above in math, and 59% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 20% in math and 44% in reading. The school's improved rating is notable since it serves a less-affluent population, with 83% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Fresno High School saw its overall rating go from a C to a C+. The school is located at 1839 Echo Ave. and is much larger, currently serving 2,319 students, of whom 73% identify as Hispanic.

Niche gave Fresno High School mixed grades: C on an A-D scale for academics, B- for administration and C for clubs and activities. Fresno High School's latest math proficiency was 8%, and reading proficiency was 44%. Fresno High School also serves a less-affluent population, with 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Herbert Hoover High School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from a B- to a B. The school is located at 5550 N. First St. and has 1,806 students currently enrolled, of whom 59% identify as Hispanic, 15% identify as white and 12% identify as Asian.

Niche gave Herbert Hoover High School mixed grades — C+ on an A-D scale for academics, B+ for administration and C+ for clubs and activities. Its latest math proficiency was 19%, and reading proficiency was 40%. The school also serves a less-affluent community, with 84% 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:

  • Clovis North High School, with an overall rating of A+.
  • Clovis West High School, with an A rating overall.
  • Design Science Middle College 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.