Gunderson High

Summary:

Gunderson High is a public high school located in San Jose, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 921 students. The school is part of the San Jose Unified School District, which is ranked 796 out of 1,568 districts in California and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Gunderson High faces several challenges, including lower academic performance compared to the district and state averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 49.14% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, and only 16.76% were proficient or better in mathematics. The school's performance on the California Science Test (CAST) is also below the district and state levels. Gunderson High's four-year graduation rate has fluctuated in recent years, ranging from 87.7% in 2022-2023 to 95.3% in 2019-2020, and the school's dropout rate has varied from 2.0% in 2021-2022 to 7.3% in 2022-2023. Additionally, Gunderson High has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 16.3% in 2018-2019 to 31.6% in 2022-2023.

Gunderson High's performance is generally lower than nearby schools, such as Pioneer High and Summit Public School: Tahoma, which have higher test scores, graduation rates, and lower chronic absenteeism. The school's statewide ranking has also declined over the past several years, from a high of 778 out of 1,290 California high schools in 2020-2021 to 1,013 out of 2,323 in 2023-2024. This decline in performance may be attributed to the school's relatively high percentage of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, with 53.53% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 620 Gaundabert Ln.
       San Jose, CA  95136-2830


(408) 535-6340

District: San Jose Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
1013th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,092 Help


Feeder schools for Gunderson High:

Elementary:    Allen at Steinbeck
    Canoas Elementary
    Rachel Carson Elementary
    Terrell Elementary
Middle:    John Muir Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  19.6 Help
Number of students:  921

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
63.3%
Asian:
15.1%
White:
11.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  53.5% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Gunderson High ranks better than 56.4% of high schools in California. It also ranks 5th among 8 ranked high schools in the San Jose Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 44.42. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Gunderson High freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 (63.3%), Asian (15.1%), White (11.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 53.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Gunderson High is 19.6, which is the 3rd best among 8 high schools in the San Jose Unified School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Gunderson High employs 46.8 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Gunderson High is $13,092, which is the 3rd highest among 8 high schools in the San Jose Unified School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Gunderson High:

SchoolDigger ranks Gunderson High 1013th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Gunderson High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


San Jose Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks San Jose Unified 796th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Gunderson High

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Rank History for all students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 25.66 1050th 1653 36.5%
2005 31.87 999th 1901 47.4%
2006 46.92 694th 1968 64.7%
2007 47.65 711th 2063 65.5%
2008 44.83 798th 2117 62.3%
2009 49.61 753rd 2238 66.4%
2010 48.06 814th 2281 64.3%
2011 42.33 998th 2367 57.8%
2012 41.57 1014th 2354 56.9%
2013 38.15 1101st 2426 54.6%
2015 45.37 1068th 1994 46.4%
2016 45.32 1101st 2039 46.0%
2017 37.19 1279th 2021 36.7%
2018 45.83 1103rd 2017 45.3%
2019 36.99 1290th 2133 39.5%
2021 39.07 778th 1290 39.7%
2022 44.48 1052nd 2123 50.4%
2023 49.96 867th 2348 63.1%
2024 44.42 1013th 2323 56.4%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 34.55 354th 515 31.3%
2024 46.08 368th 804 54.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.40 739th 938 21.2%
2019 30.82 735th 941 21.9%
2022 45.90 391st 1044 62.5%
2023 26.05 989th 1323 25.2%
2024 32.42 731st 1350 45.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 28.18 1063rd 1547 31.3%
2024 51.15 480th 1534 68.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 36.49 1214th 1862 34.8%
2019 33.55 1283rd 1937 33.8%
2021 39.11 716th 1126 36.4%
2022 33.31 1283rd 1943 34.0%
2023 42.18 1083rd 2247 51.8%
2024 31.73 1384th 2235 38.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.81 1246th 1760 29.2%
2019 28.76 1299th 1833 29.1%
2022 34.82 1167th 1858 37.2%
2023 45.39 942nd 2118 55.5%
2024 50.61 813th 2098 61.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.95 817th 1052 22.3%
2019 17.24 1096th 1117 1.9%
2022 45.75 473rd 1161 59.3%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.22 812th 1834 55.7%
2019 36.49 1151st 1880 38.8%
2021 25.00 855th 1122 23.8%
2022 48.89 845th 1916 55.9%
2023 51.74 769th 2207 65.2%
2024 35.55 1175th 2172 45.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.30 288th 581 50.4%
2019 31.80 426th 582 26.8%
2022 33.13 419th 581 27.9%
2023 54.17 372nd 731 49.1%
2024 29.31 518th 712 27.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.71 154th 582 73.5%
2019 44.14 305th 592 48.5%
2022 25.90 395th 522 24.3%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.19 1169th 1742 32.9%
2019 26.54 1310th 1814 27.8%
2022 35.14 1201st 1861 35.5%
2023 32.07 1332nd 2142 37.8%
2024 33.36 1297th 2125 39.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Gunderson High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.81 895th 1173 23.7%
2019 32.53 848th 1222 30.6%
2022 50.39 589th 1204 51.1%
2023 53.65 543rd 1434 62.1%
2024 68.82 328th 1406 76.7%
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.

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





Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, September 25, 2011

Open Quote Gunderson High School is a great school. They have excellent staff and a smart and active principal. I really like Gunderson's spirit and Grizzly pride. The campus is really nice. The neighborhood homes are nice. They have a highly innovative technological program. My son is currently taking advantage of the great AP classes offered there. I am pround to have a son that attends Gunderson. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Gunderson High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1213 61 273 297 19 n/a n/a 0 1863
1989 977 61 298 382 23 n/a n/a 0 1741
1990 877 73 358 380 14 n/a n/a 0 1702
1991 797 85 360 328 14 n/a n/a 0 1584
1992 717 103 408 340 13 n/a n/a 0 1581
1993 687 94 397 347 10 n/a n/a 0 1535
1994 567 108 344 385 8 n/a n/a 0 1412
1995 478 126 294 420 20 n/a n/a 0 1338
1996 478 126 294 420 20 n/a n/a 0 1338
1997 432 137 265 443 13 n/a n/a 0 1290
1998 397 140 289 488 16 n/a n/a 0 1330
1999 336 132 290 491 16 n/a n/a 0 1265
2000 343 119 285 493 16 n/a n/a 0 1256
2001 321 121 296 546 19 n/a n/a 0 1303
2002 222 149 222 566 14 n/a n/a 1 1174
2003 222 149 222 566 14 n/a n/a 1 1174
2004 202 119 188 557 16 n/a n/a 0 1082
2005 199 117 181 558 16 n/a n/a 5 1076
2006 193 110 183 540 18 n/a n/a 9 1053
2007 204 118 157 558 7 n/a n/a 16 1060
2008 169 117 152 592 5 n/a n/a 0 1035
2009 202 101 135 626 4 16 16 0 1100
2010 189 101 139 601 8 18 17 0 1073
2011 176 86 137 621 8 16 32 0 1076
2012 187 79 146 640 8 11 28 0 1099
2013 206 80 142 653 9 10 28 0 1128
2014 214 78 152 669 10 8 34 0 1165
2015 174 77 148 709 9 2 30 0 1149
2016 167 83 147 674 8 0 28 0 1107
2017 169 71 148 695 7 1 27 0 1118
2018 157 66 144 701 7 4 29 0 1108
2019 164 66 154 668 8 3 30 0 1093
2020 163 49 158 677 5 2 45 0 1099
2021 152 50 171 674 6 2 41 0 1096
2022 115 49 146 600 2 1 44 0 957
2023 102 44 139 583 2 2 49 0 921

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 Gunderson High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1863 81.3 22.9 n/a
1989 1741 74.1 23.4 n/a
1990 1702 71.8 23.7 n/a
1991 1584 68.5 23.1 n/a
1992 1581 69.6 22.7 22.8
1993 1535 58.5 26.2 29
1994 1412 53.4 26.4 27.5
1995 1338 56.5 23.7 33
1996 1338 56.5 23.7 33
1997 1290 35.4 36.4 38.2
1998 1330 50.1 26.5 37.1
1999 1265 44.1 28.7 32.8
2000 1256 40.2 31.2 29.5
2001 1303 52.6 24.8 33.2
2002 1174 63.4 18.5 44.2
2003 1174 63.4 18.5 44.2
2004 1082 51.8 20.9 53.1
2005 1076 51.2 21.0 43.4
2006 1053 56.3 18.7 42.4
2007 1060 53.3 19.9 42.4
2008 1035 60.2 17.2 0
2009 1100 55.0 18.3 56.4
2010 1073 55.3 19.4 52.9
2011 1076 n/a n/a 51.8
2012 1099 53.1 20.6 n/a
2013 1128 52.1 21.6 52
2014 1165 52.6 22.1 51.8
2015 1149 53.0 21.6 53.3
2016 1107 53.0 20.8 54.1
2017 1118 55.2 20.2 58.9
2018 1108 55.4 19.9 60.8
2019 1093 51.4 21.2 56.5
2020 1099 n/a n/a 56.1
2021 1096 56.8 19.2 49.5
2022 957 52.9 18.0 48.5
2023 921 46.8 19.6 53.5

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 Gunderson High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1863 81.3 22.9 n/a
1989 1741 74.1 23.4 n/a
1990 1702 71.8 23.7 n/a
1991 1584 68.5 23.1 n/a
1992 1581 69.6 22.7 22.8
1993 1535 58.5 26.2 29
1994 1412 53.4 26.4 27.5
1995 1338 56.5 23.7 33
1996 1338 56.5 23.7 33
1997 1290 35.4 36.4 38.2
1998 1330 50.1 26.5 37.1
1999 1265 44.1 28.7 32.8
2000 1256 40.2 31.2 29.5
2001 1303 52.6 24.8 33.2
2002 1174 63.4 18.5 44.2
2003 1174 63.4 18.5 44.2
2004 1082 51.8 20.9 53.1
2005 1076 51.2 21.0 43.4
2006 1053 56.3 18.7 42.4
2007 1060 53.3 19.9 42.4
2008 1035 60.2 17.2 0
2009 1100 55.0 18.3 56.4
2010 1073 55.3 19.4 52.9
2011 1076 n/a n/a 51.8
2012 1099 53.1 20.6 n/a
2013 1128 52.1 21.6 52
2014 1165 52.6 22.1 51.8
2015 1149 53.0 21.6 53.3
2016 1107 53.0 20.8 54.1
2017 1118 55.2 20.2 58.9
2018 1108 55.4 19.9 60.8
2019 1093 51.4 21.2 56.5
2020 1099 n/a n/a 56.1
2021 1096 56.8 19.2 49.5
2022 957 52.9 18.0 48.5
2023 921 46.8 19.6 53.5

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 Gunderson High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $13,092

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Gunderson 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 1290th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 867th of 2348 High schools
 23.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Gunderson High)31.447.8
 16.3%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (San Jose Unified)52.854.8
 2.1%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Gunderson High)1722
 5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (San Jose Unified)37.432.9
 4.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Gunderson High)4.636.9
 32.4%
   11th Grade Science (San Jose Unified)34.942.6
 7.7%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (Gunderson High)407
 33%
   12th Grade Science (San Jose Unified)27.710.6
 17%
   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 Students1093921
 15.7%
African American6644
 33.3%
American Indian82
 75%
Asian154139
 9.7%
Hispanic668583
 12.7%
Pacific Islander32
 33.3%
White164102
 37.8%
Two or More Races3049
 63.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients56.5%53.5%
 3%


Schools Near Gunderson High









Frequently Asked Questions about Gunderson High

Students at Gunderson High are 63% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 11% White, 5% Two or more races, 5% African American.

Gunderson High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Allen at Steinbeck
Elementary : Canoas Elementary
Elementary : Rachel Carson Elementary
Elementary : Terrell Elementary
Middle : John Muir Middle

In the 2022-23 school year, 921 students attended Gunderson High.

Gunderson High ranks 1013th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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