Ceres Unified

The Ceres Unified school district in California's Central Valley serves 23 schools, including 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The district's performance is mixed, with some standout schools like Whitmore Charter School of Art & Technology and Whitmore Charter High consistently outperforming the district and state averages, while others struggle to meet proficiency standards.

The district's charter schools, Whitmore Charter School of Art & Technology and Whitmore Charter High, stand out with strong academic performance, high graduation rates, and low chronic absenteeism. In contrast, the alternative and continuation high schools, such as Argus High (Continuation), face challenges with low graduation rates and high chronic absenteeism. The district also has a wide range of performance on standardized tests, with some elementary schools like La Rosa Elementary exceeding expectations, while others lag behind.

Addressing the significant achievement gap within the district and tackling issues like chronic absenteeism, particularly at the alternative and continuation schools, will be crucial for Ceres Unified to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. The district's high rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch also highlight the need for robust support services and programs to address socioeconomic challenges that may be impacting student outcomes.