Terra Nova High

Summary:

Terra Nova High is a public high school located in Pacifica, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 739 students. The school is part of the Jefferson Union High School District, which is ranked 518 out of 1,568 districts in California and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Terra Nova High is a high-performing school, consistently ranking in the top 25% of California high schools over the past several years. The school's academic performance is notably strong, with 54.07% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 40.94% proficient or better in Mathematics, outperforming the district and state averages. In science, Terra Nova High's performance on the CAST exam is also impressive, with 39.37% of students scoring proficient or better. The school maintains a high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 89.5% to 95.9% over the past five years, which is higher than the state average, and a low dropout rate, ranging from 1.1% to 2.6% during the same period, significantly lower than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, Oceana High performs similarly to Terra Nova High in many metrics, while schools in the neighboring San Mateo Union High School District, such as Mills High and Capuchino High, tend to outperform Terra Nova High in academic achievement, particularly in mathematics. The continuation schools in the area, such as Peninsula High and Baden High, struggle with significantly lower academic performance, higher dropout rates, and higher chronic absenteeism compared to Terra Nova High and other nearby traditional high schools.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1450 Terra Nova Blvd.
       Pacifica, CA  94044-3615


(650) 550-7600

District: Jefferson Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
482nd of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,606 Help


Feeder schools for Terra Nova High:

Elementary:    Cabrillo Elementary
    Ocean Shore Elementary
    Ortega Elementary
    Sunset Ridge Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Ingrid B. Lacy Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  18.9 Help
Number of students:  739

Racial breakdown:

White:
40.7%
Hispanic:
29.4%
Two or more races:
13.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  20.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Terra Nova High ranks better than 79.3% of high schools in California. It also ranks 3rd among 5 ranked high schools in the Jefferson Union High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.99. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Terra Nova 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.
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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 Student population at Terra Nova High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (40.7%), Hispanic (29.4%), two or more races (13.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 20.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Terra Nova High is 18.9. 2 high schools in the Jefferson Union High School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Terra Nova High employs 39 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Terra Nova High is $6,606. 2 high schools in the Jefferson Union High School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Terra Nova High:

SchoolDigger ranks Terra Nova High 482nd of 2323 California public high schools. (See Terra Nova High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Jefferson Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Jefferson Union High 518th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Terra Nova High?

Rank History for Terra Nova High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 65.93 248th 1653 85.0%
2005 65.18 336th 1901 82.3%
2006 75.51 189th 1968 90.4%
2007 67.88 303rd 2063 85.3%
2008 62.92 420th 2117 80.2%
2009 67.11 302nd 2238 86.5%
2010 63.95 421st 2281 81.5%
2011 72.26 266th 2367 88.8%
2012 62.86 470th 2354 80.0%
2013 67.09 365th 2426 85.0%
2015 77.65 407th 1994 79.6%
2016 76.51 435th 2039 78.7%
2017 76.10 480th 2021 76.2%
2018 76.09 468th 2017 76.8%
2019 61.24 709th 2133 66.8%
2021 93.82 74th 1290 94.3%
2022 87.03 249th 2123 88.3%
2023 74.16 421st 2348 82.1%
2024 69.99 482nd 2323 79.3%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.73 207th 366 43.4%
2019 38.13 280th 422 33.6%
2022 30.67 384th 515 25.4%
2023 51.51 320th 786 59.3%
2024 52.34 321st 804 60.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 59.19 334th 1547 78.4%
2024 24.80 1176th 1534 23.3%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.39 823rd 1862 55.8%
2019 50.98 905th 1937 53.3%
2022 73.36 373rd 1943 80.8%
2023 44.62 1016th 2247 54.8%
2024 42.22 1069th 2235 52.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.66 444th 1760 74.8%
2019 61.65 609th 1833 66.8%
2021 93.99 52nd 1054 95.1%
2022 88.93 197th 1858 89.4%
2023 78.26 325th 2118 84.7%
2024 74.04 394th 2098 81.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.96 552nd 1052 47.5%
2019 34.01 663rd 1117 40.6%
2022 56.22 319th 1161 72.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.61 472nd 1834 74.3%
2019 53.46 786th 1880 58.2%
2021 93.60 74th 1122 93.4%
2022 80.91 312th 1916 83.7%
2023 64.72 538th 2207 75.6%
2024 61.24 579th 2172 73.3%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 68.91 518th 1742 70.3%
2019 47.94 930th 1814 48.7%
2022 87.89 153rd 1861 91.8%
2023 73.05 361st 2142 83.1%
2024 53.51 744th 2125 65.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Terra Nova High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.63 431st 1173 63.3%
2019 46.51 675th 1222 44.8%
2022 77.40 241st 1204 80.0%
2023 51.47 580th 1434 59.6%
2024 57.02 476th 1406 66.1%
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.

Terra Nova 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 Terra Nova High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 851 8 63 86 5 n/a n/a 0 1013
1989 742 13 68 74 0 n/a n/a 0 897
1990 677 17 65 75 4 n/a n/a 0 838
1991 628 16 61 65 5 n/a n/a 0 775
1992 751 94 131 158 6 n/a n/a 0 1140
1993 735 83 129 172 4 n/a n/a 0 1123
1994 627 58 127 144 10 n/a n/a 0 966
1995 624 64 103 130 4 n/a n/a 0 925
1996 624 64 103 130 4 n/a n/a 0 925
1997 725 81 133 150 4 n/a n/a 0 1093
1998 852 76 149 186 14 n/a n/a 0 1277
1999 885 78 185 208 9 n/a n/a 0 1365
2000 910 96 227 218 6 n/a n/a 0 1457
2001 944 81 253 218 8 n/a n/a 0 1504
2002 943 70 226 228 6 n/a n/a 0 1473
2003 943 70 226 228 6 n/a n/a 0 1473
2004 890 63 252 249 8 n/a n/a 1 1463
2005 911 70 242 219 4 n/a n/a 0 1446
2006 892 55 253 242 10 n/a n/a 0 1452
2007 833 58 261 250 17 n/a n/a 0 1419
2008 809 61 277 253 18 n/a n/a 0 1418
2009 794 59 215 295 17 25 3 0 1408
2010 679 46 190 317 6 21 108 0 1367
2011 610 38 157 290 4 25 125 0 1249
2012 541 38 140 330 2 30 149 0 1230
2013 459 25 134 348 1 34 144 0 1145
2014 410 21 139 341 3 29 136 0 1079
2015 397 21 152 317 7 28 115 0 1037
2016 387 19 142 301 7 28 128 0 1012
2017 381 22 135 287 5 23 129 0 982
2018 349 15 129 274 4 22 121 0 914
2019 303 10 126 231 7 17 118 0 812
2020 302 7 133 230 2 18 115 1 808
2021 283 6 119 210 3 15 110 0 746
2022 300 5 119 206 6 5 101 0 742
2023 301 10 101 217 2 4 102 2 739

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 Terra Nova High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1013 44.4 22.8 n/a
1989 897 39.4 22.7 n/a
1990 838 36.9 22.7 n/a
1991 775 37.0 20.9 n/a
1992 1140 37.6 30.3 5
1993 1123 47.2 23.8 6.6
1994 966 41.2 23.4 6.1
1995 925 36.2 25.6 8.1
1996 925 36.2 25.6 8.1
1997 1093 44.6 24.5 10.6
1998 1277 51.6 24.7 10.6
1999 1365 56.6 24.1 11.6
2000 1457 62.8 23.2 10.4
2001 1504 63.0 23.9 9.6
2002 1473 63.6 23.2 10.9
2003 1473 63.6 23.2 10.9
2004 1463 62.6 23.4 12.5
2005 1446 60.2 24.0 13.3
2006 1452 62.2 23.3 13.3
2007 1419 43.4 32.7 21.1
2008 1418 32.3 43.9 17.7
2009 1408 61.4 22.9 21.8
2010 1367 58.8 23.2 23.8
2011 1249 n/a n/a 23.6
2012 1230 50.3 24.4 n/a
2013 1145 49.8 22.9 20.5
2014 1079 47.2 22.8 16.7
2015 1037 47.0 22.0 18.8
2016 1012 46.0 22.0 19.4
2017 982 43.4 22.5 18.9
2018 914 38.7 23.6 22
2019 812 40.5 20.0 16.4
2020 808 n/a n/a 16.8
2021 746 35.4 21.0 20.4
2022 742 36.5 20.2 18.1
2023 739 39.0 18.9 20.2

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 Terra Nova High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1013 44.4 22.8 n/a
1989 897 39.4 22.7 n/a
1990 838 36.9 22.7 n/a
1991 775 37.0 20.9 n/a
1992 1140 37.6 30.3 5
1993 1123 47.2 23.8 6.6
1994 966 41.2 23.4 6.1
1995 925 36.2 25.6 8.1
1996 925 36.2 25.6 8.1
1997 1093 44.6 24.5 10.6
1998 1277 51.6 24.7 10.6
1999 1365 56.6 24.1 11.6
2000 1457 62.8 23.2 10.4
2001 1504 63.0 23.9 9.6
2002 1473 63.6 23.2 10.9
2003 1473 63.6 23.2 10.9
2004 1463 62.6 23.4 12.5
2005 1446 60.2 24.0 13.3
2006 1452 62.2 23.3 13.3
2007 1419 43.4 32.7 21.1
2008 1418 32.3 43.9 17.7
2009 1408 61.4 22.9 21.8
2010 1367 58.8 23.2 23.8
2011 1249 n/a n/a 23.6
2012 1230 50.3 24.4 n/a
2013 1145 49.8 22.9 20.5
2014 1079 47.2 22.8 16.7
2015 1037 47.0 22.0 18.8
2016 1012 46.0 22.0 19.4
2017 982 43.4 22.5 18.9
2018 914 38.7 23.6 22
2019 812 40.5 20.0 16.4
2020 808 n/a n/a 16.8
2021 746 35.4 21.0 20.4
2022 742 36.5 20.2 18.1
2023 739 39.0 18.9 20.2

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 Terra Nova High

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $6,606

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Terra Nova 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 709th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 421st of 2348 High schools
 15.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Terra Nova High)56.359
 2.7%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Jefferson Union High)56.156
 0.1%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Terra Nova High)36.734.6
 2%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Jefferson Union High)3530.6
 4.4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Terra Nova High)2940.3
 11.3%
   11th Grade Science (Jefferson Union High)26.831.9
 5.1%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (Terra Nova High)20.942.5
 21.6%
   12th Grade Science (Jefferson Union High)21.534.6
 13.1%
   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 Students812739
 9%
African American1010
American Indian72
 71.4%
Asian126101
 19.8%
Hispanic231217
 6.1%
Pacific Islander174
 76.5%
White303301
 0.7%
Two or More Races118102
 13.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients16.4%20.2%
 3.8%


Schools Near Terra Nova High









Frequently Asked Questions about Terra Nova High

Terra Nova High ranks 482nd of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 739 students attended Terra Nova High.

Terra Nova High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cabrillo Elementary
Elementary : Ocean Shore Elementary
Elementary : Ortega Elementary
Elementary : Sunset Ridge Elementary
Elementary : Vallemar Elementary
Middle : Ingrid B. Lacy Middle

Students at Terra Nova High are 41% White, 29% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 14% Asian, 1% African American.


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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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