Western High

Summary:

Western High is a public high school located in Anaheim, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,704 students. It is part of the Anaheim Union High School District, which is ranked 805 out of 1,568 districts in California and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Western High has maintained a relatively high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 95.1% to 97.7% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average. However, the school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 12.4% in 2017-2018 to 30.6% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the district and state averages. Western High's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are generally lower than the district and state averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 12.61% to 56.96% across different grade levels and subject areas. The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Asian and English Language Learner students performing better than other subgroups, while African American, Hispanic, and Special Education students perform below the school's overall averages.

When compared to nearby schools within the same district, such as Cypress High and John F. Kennedy High, Western High generally underperforms, with significantly higher test scores, graduation rates, and lower chronic absenteeism rates. This may be due to the high percentage of students (over 87%) eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at Western High, indicating a high proportion of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall, Western High faces several challenges, including declining performance, subgroup disparities, and the need for targeted interventions to address the unique needs of its student population.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 501 South Western Ave.
       Anaheim, CA  92804-1699


(714) 220-4040

District: Anaheim Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
1023rd of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,402 Help


Feeder schools for Western High:

Elementary:    Centralia Elementary
    Cerritos Elementary
    Danbrook Elementary
    Hansen Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Orangeview Junior High

Student/teacher ratio:  21.6 Help
Number of students:  1,667

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
76.0%
Asian:
11.3%
White:
7.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  88.4% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Western High ranks better than 56% of high schools in California. It also ranks 5th among 11 ranked high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 44.13. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Western High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (76%), Asian (11.3%), White (7.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 88.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Western High is 21.6, which is the 6th best among 11 high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Western High employs 76.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Western High is $12,402, which is the 6th highest among 11 high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Western High:

SchoolDigger ranks Western High 1023rd of 2323 California public high schools. (See Western High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Anaheim Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Anaheim Union High 805th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Western High

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Rank History for all students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 65.79 250th 1653 84.9%
2005 75.04 163rd 1901 91.4%
2006 74.71 205th 1968 89.6%
2007 71.25 242nd 2063 88.3%
2008 67.68 312th 2117 85.3%
2009 63.00 384th 2238 82.8%
2010 71.22 262nd 2281 88.5%
2011 66.74 356th 2367 85.0%
2012 70.98 285th 2354 87.9%
2013 67.20 360th 2426 85.2%
2015 62.16 701st 1994 64.8%
2016 63.97 696th 2039 65.9%
2017 51.92 979th 2021 51.6%
2018 38.51 1242nd 2017 38.4%
2019 66.95 603rd 2133 71.7%
2021 48.12 635th 1290 50.8%
2022 40.60 1164th 2123 45.2%
2023 40.96 1107th 2348 52.9%
2024 44.13 1023rd 2323 56.0%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.09 349th 938 62.8%
2019 52.28 258th 941 72.6%
2021 47.41 197th 467 57.8%
2022 37.83 591st 1044 43.4%
2023 58.35 159th 1323 88.0%
2024 53.60 202nd 1350 85.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 39.95 693rd 1547 55.2%
2024 24.70 1179th 1534 23.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.11 1153rd 1862 38.1%
2019 74.96 387th 1937 80.0%
2021 57.43 429th 1126 61.9%
2022 46.51 935th 1943 51.9%
2023 50.88 860th 2247 61.7%
2024 52.61 792nd 2235 64.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 65.19 69th 290 76.2%
2023 48.69 173rd 417 58.5%
2024 45.50 247th 451 45.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.71 1209th 1760 31.3%
2019 56.52 708th 1833 61.4%
2021 42.50 595th 1054 43.5%
2022 32.34 1218th 1858 34.4%
2023 38.05 1144th 2118 46.0%
2024 41.21 1050th 2098 50.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.44 762nd 1052 27.6%
2019 31.89 725th 1117 35.1%
2021 32.50 373rd 555 32.8%
2022 38.39 603rd 1161 48.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 31.90 173rd 233 25.8%
2024 44.27 123rd 234 47.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.53 1135th 1834 38.1%
2019 57.75 702nd 1880 62.7%
2021 47.21 547th 1122 51.2%
2022 44.25 948th 1916 50.5%
2023 41.29 1014th 2207 54.1%
2024 43.86 952nd 2172 56.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.20 512th 581 11.9%
2019 50.52 333rd 582 42.8%
2022 28.54 445th 581 23.4%
2023 25.28 560th 731 23.4%
2024 22.89 555th 712 22.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 37.29 417th 720 42.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.57 1163rd 1742 33.2%
2019 58.97 665th 1814 63.3%
2022 42.11 1043rd 1861 44.0%
2023 45.61 967th 2142 54.9%
2024 43.82 1000th 2125 52.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Western High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.29 845th 1173 28.0%
2019 30.18 869th 1222 28.9%
2022 24.04 926th 1204 23.1%
2023 27.13 983rd 1434 31.5%
2024 35.85 821st 1406 41.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Western High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Western High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1021 30 209 258 9 n/a n/a 0 1527
1989 908 29 213 265 14 n/a n/a 0 1429
1990 820 39 233 297 15 n/a n/a 0 1404
1991 797 48 245 323 13 n/a n/a 0 1426
1992 749 49 221 376 14 n/a n/a 0 1409
1993 693 62 249 407 7 n/a n/a 0 1418
1994 692 52 253 428 10 n/a n/a 0 1435
1995 649 68 276 489 15 n/a n/a 0 1497
1996 649 68 276 489 15 n/a n/a 0 1497
1997 644 75 311 532 21 n/a n/a 0 1583
1998 593 82 300 549 20 n/a n/a 0 1544
1999 581 91 335 637 10 n/a n/a 0 1654
2000 533 96 328 682 10 n/a n/a 0 1649
2001 473 119 413 647 39 n/a n/a 0 1691
2002 468 99 345 820 18 n/a n/a 0 1750
2003 468 99 345 820 18 n/a n/a 0 1750
2004 458 114 341 882 17 n/a n/a 0 1812
2005 455 121 330 923 17 n/a n/a 0 1846
2006 462 129 365 965 18 n/a n/a 0 1939
2007 433 128 361 978 12 n/a n/a 209 2121
2008 412 110 369 1072 10 n/a n/a 0 1973
2009 402 124 353 1227 6 61 208 0 2381
2010 405 106 369 1318 8 54 61 0 2321
2011 337 92 380 1357 11 49 47 0 2273
2012 300 99 376 1420 10 47 49 0 2301
2013 281 85 337 1381 7 41 63 0 2195
2014 286 89 306 1350 6 31 87 0 2155
2015 272 91 305 1348 12 23 73 0 2124
2016 241 71 297 1416 12 21 67 0 2125
2017 203 70 314 1425 18 16 58 0 2104
2018 106 71 316 1402 15 13 81 0 2004
2019 157 55 296 1382 10 14 28 0 1942
2020 150 67 264 1360 5 18 34 0 1898
2021 133 61 215 1272 1 13 39 0 1734
2022 137 53 214 1298 3 12 33 0 1750
2023 122 57 190 1291 3 7 31 3 1704
2024 122 46 188 1267 3 7 34 0 1667

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Western High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1527 61.0 25.0 n/a
1989 1429 57.5 24.8 n/a
1990 1404 59.2 23.7 n/a
1991 1426 55.6 25.6 n/a
1992 1409 56.5 24.9 25.6
1993 1418 53.0 26.8 27.9
1994 1435 50.0 28.7 26.1
1995 1497 55.0 27.2 33.9
1996 1497 55.0 27.2 33.9
1997 1583 59.0 26.8 34.3
1998 1544 57.0 27.1 39.4
1999 1654 62.3 26.5 41.5
2000 1649 66.0 25.0 40.4
2001 1691 69.0 24.5 38.9
2002 1750 69.0 25.4 34.9
2003 1750 69.0 25.4 34.9
2004 1812 69.0 26.3 34.2
2005 1846 66.0 28.0 38.3
2006 1939 71.0 27.3 37
2007 2121 76.0 27.9 46.9
2008 1973 92.0 21.4 51.3
2009 2381 83.0 26.2 49.3
2010 2321 84.0 27.6 61.6
2011 2273 n/a n/a 60.4
2012 2301 80.6 28.5 n/a
2013 2195 79.0 27.7 72.5
2014 2155 0.7 2798.7 75.6
2015 2124 80.0 26.5 79.2
2016 2125 80.0 26.5 72
2017 2104 79.0 26.6 70
2018 2004 77.1 25.9 79.1
2019 1942 74.9 25.9 79.5
2020 1898 n/a n/a 80.6
2021 1734 68.7 25.2 89.6
2022 1750 78.6 22.2 83.5
2023 1704 81.7 20.8 87.1
2024 1667 76.9 21.6 88.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Western High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1527 61.0 25.0 n/a
1989 1429 57.5 24.8 n/a
1990 1404 59.2 23.7 n/a
1991 1426 55.6 25.6 n/a
1992 1409 56.5 24.9 25.6
1993 1418 53.0 26.8 27.9
1994 1435 50.0 28.7 26.1
1995 1497 55.0 27.2 33.9
1996 1497 55.0 27.2 33.9
1997 1583 59.0 26.8 34.3
1998 1544 57.0 27.1 39.4
1999 1654 62.3 26.5 41.5
2000 1649 66.0 25.0 40.4
2001 1691 69.0 24.5 38.9
2002 1750 69.0 25.4 34.9
2003 1750 69.0 25.4 34.9
2004 1812 69.0 26.3 34.2
2005 1846 66.0 28.0 38.3
2006 1939 71.0 27.3 37
2007 2121 76.0 27.9 46.9
2008 1973 92.0 21.4 51.3
2009 2381 83.0 26.2 49.3
2010 2321 84.0 27.6 61.6
2011 2273 n/a n/a 60.4
2012 2301 80.6 28.5 n/a
2013 2195 79.0 27.7 72.5
2014 2155 0.7 2798.7 75.6
2015 2124 80.0 26.5 79.2
2016 2125 80.0 26.5 72
2017 2104 79.0 26.6 70
2018 2004 77.1 25.9 79.1
2019 1942 74.9 25.9 79.5
2020 1898 n/a n/a 80.6
2021 1734 68.7 25.2 89.6
2022 1750 78.6 22.2 83.5
2023 1704 81.7 20.8 87.1
2024 1667 76.9 21.6 88.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Western High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $12,402

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Western High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 603rd of 2133 High schoolsRanks 1107th of 2348 High schools
 18.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Western High)59.344.1
 15.2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Anaheim Union High)59.152.5
 6.6%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Western High)25.216.2
 9%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Anaheim Union High)27.424.1
 3.3%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Western High)27.724
 3.7%
   11th Grade Science (Anaheim Union High)30.832
 1.2%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (Western High)37.55.9
 31.6%
   12th Grade Science (Anaheim Union High)13.113.7
 0.6%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students19421704
 12.3%
African American5557
 3.6%
American Indian103
 70%
Asian296190
 35.8%
Hispanic13821291
 6.6%
Pacific Islander147
 50%
White157122
 22.3%
Two or More Races2831
 10.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients79.5%87.1%
 7.6%


Schools Near Western High









Frequently Asked Questions about Western High

Western High ranks 1023rd of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Western High are 76% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 7% White, 3% African American, 2% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,667 students attended Western High.

Western High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Centralia Elementary
Elementary : Cerritos Elementary
Elementary : Danbrook Elementary
Elementary : Hansen Elementary
Elementary : Holder Elementary
Elementary : Twila Reid Elementary
Middle : Orangeview Junior High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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