South San Francisco High

Summary:

South San Francisco High is a public high school serving 1,280 students in grades 9-12 in the South San Francisco Unified School District in South San Francisco, California. The school has been consistently ranked in the top half of California high schools, with a current ranking of 560 out of 2,323 schools and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South San Francisco High has maintained a strong four-year graduation rate, ranging from 82.4% to 90.5% over the past five years, which is higher than the state average. However, the school has seen an increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 17.0% in 2017-2018 to 24.8% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the nearby Westmoor High (18.0%) but lower than the Baden High continuation school (52.7%). The school's performance across different student subgroups is mixed, with strong results for male and Asian students but lower performance for female, Hispanic, and White students.

Compared to nearby schools, South San Francisco High's performance is generally stronger than the Baden High continuation school, which struggles with much lower graduation rates, higher dropout rates, and significantly lower test scores. However, the school lags behind the higher-performing El Camino High and Westmoor High, which have higher graduation rates, lower chronic absenteeism, and better test scores. Addressing the school's challenges, such as chronic absenteeism and achievement gaps, could help South San Francisco High further enhance its academic outcomes and provide a more equitable education for all its students.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 400 B St.
       South San Francisco, CA  94080-4425


(650) 877-8754

District: South San Francisco Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
560th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,010 Help


Feeder schools for South San Francisco High:

Elementary:    Los Cerritos Elementary
    Martin Elementary
    Monte Verde Elementary
    Ponderosa Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Parkway Heights Middle
    Westborough Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  19.2 Help
Number of students:  1,280

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
61.1%
Asian:
26.5%
White:
5.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  40.8% Help


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 Compare South San Francisco High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details South San Francisco High ranks better than 75.9% of high schools in California. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked high schools in the South San Francisco Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 64.11. (See more...)
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The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of South San Francisco High freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.
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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 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
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Compare Details South San Francisco High has the largest high school student body size in the South San Francisco Unified School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (61.1%), Asian (26.5%), White (5.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 40.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South San Francisco High is 19.2. 2 high schools in the South San Francisco Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare South San Francisco High employs 66.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at South San Francisco High is $6,010, which is the 2nd highest among 3 high schools in the South San Francisco Unified School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South San Francisco High:

SchoolDigger ranks South San Francisco High 560th of 2323 California public high schools. (See South San Francisco 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:


South San Francisco Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks South San Francisco Unified 650th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South San Francisco High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 59.47 350th 1653 78.8%
2005 60.59 401st 1901 78.9%
2006 63.39 398th 1968 79.8%
2007 56.08 529th 2063 74.4%
2008 65.02 371st 2117 82.5%
2009 64.05 356th 2238 84.1%
2010 67.38 346th 2281 84.8%
2011 62.48 455th 2367 80.8%
2012 53.20 710th 2354 69.8%
2013 50.50 775th 2426 68.1%
2015 68.35 582nd 1994 70.8%
2016 64.29 685th 2039 66.4%
2017 48.86 1047th 2021 48.2%
2018 59.89 802nd 2017 60.2%
2019 58.50 782nd 2133 63.3%
2021 70.01 352nd 1290 72.7%
2022 66.22 592nd 2123 72.1%
2023 60.72 644th 2348 72.6%
2024 64.11 560th 2323 75.9%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.44 254th 366 30.6%
2019 43.09 260th 422 38.4%
2023 50.34 327th 786 58.4%
2024 57.28 281st 804 65.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.33 307th 938 67.3%
2019 54.51 229th 941 75.7%
2021 71.31 71st 467 84.8%
2022 52.53 295th 1044 71.7%
2023 36.61 563rd 1323 57.4%
2024 36.93 570th 1350 57.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 50.94 454th 1547 70.7%
2024 47.08 557th 1534 63.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.59 687th 1862 63.1%
2019 57.36 738th 1937 61.9%
2021 74.98 234th 1126 79.2%
2022 63.98 564th 1943 71.0%
2023 42.62 1075th 2247 52.2%
2024 50.07 854th 2235 61.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 55.70 790th 1760 55.1%
2019 51.42 814th 1833 55.6%
2021 68.09 313th 1054 70.3%
2022 60.91 602nd 1858 67.6%
2023 57.27 659th 2118 68.9%
2024 56.59 667th 2098 68.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.08 628th 1052 40.3%
2019 26.53 841st 1117 24.7%
2021 44.70 245th 555 55.9%
2022 62.71 259th 1161 77.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.31 775th 1834 57.7%
2019 58.25 691st 1880 63.2%
2021 65.52 336th 1122 70.1%
2022 67.37 527th 1916 72.5%
2023 60.74 602nd 2207 72.7%
2024 67.36 484th 2172 77.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 47.27 344th 581 40.8%
2019 33.50 422nd 582 27.5%
2022 64.77 227th 581 60.9%
2023 72.69 202nd 731 72.4%
2024 61.06 305th 712 57.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.78 943rd 1742 45.9%
2019 51.26 832nd 1814 54.1%
2022 58.40 647th 1861 65.2%
2023 48.60 887th 2142 58.6%
2024 53.51 745th 2125 64.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South San Francisco High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.04 520th 1173 55.7%
2019 19.83 1006th 1222 17.7%
2022 9.56 1096th 1204 9.0%
2023 35.54 832nd 1434 42.0%
2024 56.64 484th 1406 65.6%
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.

South San Francisco 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 South San Francisco High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 575 93 360 466 4 n/a n/a 0 1498
1989 556 77 362 490 2 n/a n/a 0 1487
1990 455 76 367 467 1 n/a n/a 0 1366
1991 384 60 383 460 1 n/a n/a 0 1288
1992 365 65 398 471 0 n/a n/a 0 1299
1993 381 81 441 531 1 n/a n/a 0 1435
1994 370 95 478 512 4 n/a n/a 0 1459
1995 334 98 501 529 5 n/a n/a 0 1467
1996 334 98 501 529 5 n/a n/a 0 1467
1997 334 111 507 558 7 n/a n/a 0 1517
1998 350 90 507 610 6 n/a n/a 0 1563
1999 343 100 529 635 5 n/a n/a 0 1612
2000 324 93 570 624 4 n/a n/a 0 1615
2001 319 73 575 646 2 n/a n/a 0 1615
2002 314 58 574 576 5 n/a n/a 0 1527
2003 314 58 574 576 5 n/a n/a 0 1527
2004 283 64 567 626 6 n/a n/a 0 1546
2005 275 78 569 654 0 n/a n/a 0 1576
2006 223 90 564 685 5 n/a n/a 0 1567
2007 211 76 580 679 5 n/a n/a 14 1565
2008 201 72 575 711 5 n/a n/a 0 1564
2009 169 81 528 710 7 49 1 0 1545
2010 121 45 197 744 1 49 360 0 1517
2011 108 37 226 730 3 61 355 0 1520
2012 100 33 228 740 0 54 361 0 1516
2013 94 25 233 709 0 42 339 0 1442
2014 92 24 243 762 1 45 304 0 1471
2015 82 23 415 762 0 42 79 0 1403
2016 60 17 390 774 2 42 78 0 1363
2017 67 21 389 779 2 37 71 0 1366
2018 65 21 410 791 4 35 62 0 1388
2019 58 18 404 753 2 28 58 0 1321
2020 59 16 407 738 3 21 50 0 1294
2021 60 20 390 753 3 20 57 0 1303
2022 66 20 364 790 1 17 62 0 1320
2023 69 12 339 782 5 18 55 0 1280

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 South San Francisco High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1498 66.5 22.5 n/a
1989 1487 61.8 24.0 n/a
1990 1366 59.2 23.0 n/a
1991 1288 55.1 23.3 n/a
1992 1299 56.0 23.1 19.9
1993 1435 59.8 24.0 15
1994 1459 63.4 23.0 20.3
1995 1467 62.2 23.6 29.8
1996 1467 62.2 23.6 29.8
1997 1517 65.1 23.3 30.5
1998 1563 68.4 22.9 31.4
1999 1612 71.2 22.6 16.4
2000 1615 74.8 21.6 23.5
2001 1615 72.5 22.3 20.4
2002 1527 68.4 22.3 22.8
2003 1527 68.4 22.3 22.8
2004 1546 68.4 22.6 24.1
2005 1576 71.4 22.1 19.2
2006 1567 68.2 23.0 24.8
2007 1565 69.8 22.4 n/a
2008 1564 78.0 20.1 22.3
2009 1545 68.8 20.1 33.3
2010 1517 68.2 22.2 37.8
2011 1520 n/a n/a 40.4
2012 1516 65.0 23.3 n/a
2013 1442 63.0 22.8 47.2
2014 1471 62.4 23.5 28.2
2015 1403 59.0 23.7 42.3
2016 1363 59.0 23.1 43.2
2017 1366 59.4 22.9 37
2018 1388 62.6 22.1 45.7
2019 1321 61.8 21.3 44
2020 1294 n/a n/a 40.3
2021 1303 60.9 21.3 37.7
2022 1320 67.6 19.5 36.8
2023 1280 66.5 19.2 40.8

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 South San Francisco High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1498 66.5 22.5 n/a
1989 1487 61.8 24.0 n/a
1990 1366 59.2 23.0 n/a
1991 1288 55.1 23.3 n/a
1992 1299 56.0 23.1 19.9
1993 1435 59.8 24.0 15
1994 1459 63.4 23.0 20.3
1995 1467 62.2 23.6 29.8
1996 1467 62.2 23.6 29.8
1997 1517 65.1 23.3 30.5
1998 1563 68.4 22.9 31.4
1999 1612 71.2 22.6 16.4
2000 1615 74.8 21.6 23.5
2001 1615 72.5 22.3 20.4
2002 1527 68.4 22.3 22.8
2003 1527 68.4 22.3 22.8
2004 1546 68.4 22.6 24.1
2005 1576 71.4 22.1 19.2
2006 1567 68.2 23.0 24.8
2007 1565 69.8 22.4 n/a
2008 1564 78.0 20.1 22.3
2009 1545 68.8 20.1 33.3
2010 1517 68.2 22.2 37.8
2011 1520 n/a n/a 40.4
2012 1516 65.0 23.3 n/a
2013 1442 63.0 22.8 47.2
2014 1471 62.4 23.5 28.2
2015 1403 59.0 23.7 42.3
2016 1363 59.0 23.1 43.2
2017 1366 59.4 22.9 37
2018 1388 62.6 22.1 45.7
2019 1321 61.8 21.3 44
2020 1294 n/a n/a 40.3
2021 1303 60.9 21.3 37.7
2022 1320 67.6 19.5 36.8
2023 1280 66.5 19.2 40.8

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 South San Francisco High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $6,010

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

Impact of COVID-19 on South San Francisco 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 782nd of 2133 High schoolsRanks 644th of 2348 High schools
 9.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South San Francisco High)53.658.2
 4.7%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South San Francisco Unified)5764.8
 7.8%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (South San Francisco High)27.225.1
 2.1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (South San Francisco Unified)31.829.7
 2.1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
12th Grade Science (South San Francisco High)22.329.3
 7%
   12th Grade Science (South San Francisco Unified)22.831.2
 8.4%
   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 Students13211280
 3.1%
African American1812
 33.3%
American Indian25
 150%
Asian404339
 16.1%
Hispanic753782
 3.9%
Pacific Islander2818
 35.7%
White5869
 19%
Two or More Races5855
 5.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients44%40.8%
 3.2%


Schools Near South San Francisco High









Frequently Asked Questions about South San Francisco High

Students at South San Francisco High are 61% Hispanic, 26% Asian, 5% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

South San Francisco High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Los Cerritos Elementary
Elementary : Martin Elementary
Elementary : Monte Verde Elementary
Elementary : Ponderosa Elementary
Elementary : Spruce Elementary
Middle : Parkway Heights Middle
Middle : Westborough Middle

South San Francisco High ranks 560th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,280 students attended South San Francisco 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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