University High

Summary:

University High is a public high school located in Irvine, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 2,164 students. The school is part of the Irvine Unified School District, which is ranked 108 out of 1,568 districts in California and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

University High has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in California, with a statewide ranking that has ranged from 43rd to 125th over the past several years. The school has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating its exceptional performance across various metrics. University High students consistently outperform the state and district averages in Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics, as well as the California Science Test (CAST). The school also maintains an exceptionally high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 93.5% to 96.3% over the past five years, significantly higher than the state and district averages.

While University High's performance across various student subgroups is generally strong and often exceeds state and district averages, the school's performance for Hispanic and low socioeconomic status students, while still strong, is not as dominant compared to other subgroups. Additionally, the school has experienced a gradual increase in chronic absenteeism, from 7.7% in 2017-2018 to 10.7% in 2021-2022, which is still lower than the state and district averages but warrants attention. Compared to nearby Irvine High and Creekside High, University High's academic performance and key metrics significantly outpace those of the other Irvine Unified schools.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 4771 Campus Dr.
       Irvine, CA  92612-3298


(949) 936-7600

District: Irvine Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
97th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,427 Help


Feeder schools for University High:

Elementary:    Alderwood Elementary
    Bonita Canyon Elementary
    Turtle Rock Elementary
    University Park Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Rancho San Joaquin Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  26.5 Help
Number of students:  2,164

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
42.5%
White:
32.9%
Hispanic:
12.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  21% Help


 See top rated California high schools

 Compare University High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details University High ranks better than 95.8% of high schools in California. It also ranks 2nd among 6 ranked high schools in the Irvine Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.97. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at University 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
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Compare Details Student population at University High is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (42.5%), White (32.9%), Hispanic (12.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 21% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at University High is 26.5. 3 high schools in the Irvine Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare University High employs 81.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at University High is $6,427. 3 high schools in the Irvine Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

University High:

SchoolDigger ranks University High 97th of 2323 California public high schools. (See University 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:


Irvine Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Irvine Unified 108th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for University High

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Rank History for all students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 94.63 6th 1653 99.6%
2005 96.30 5th 1901 99.7%
2006 94.95 7th 1968 99.6%
2007 93.23 14th 2063 99.3%
2008 92.97 8th 2117 99.6%
2009 87.91 23rd 2238 99.0%
2010 86.00 67th 2281 97.1%
2011 88.17 47th 2367 98.0%
2012 89.94 34th 2354 98.6%
2013 88.34 42nd 2426 98.3%
2015 93.65 110th 1994 94.5%
2016 94.44 90th 2039 95.6%
2017 94.66 92nd 2021 95.4%
2018 93.87 117th 2017 94.2%
2019 93.51 125th 2133 94.1%
2021 95.71 43rd 1290 96.7%
2022 96.62 80th 2123 96.2%
2023 95.89 70th 2348 97.0%
2024 93.97 97th 2323 95.8%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.02 64th 366 82.5%
2019 85.06 44th 422 89.6%
2022 87.34 35th 515 93.2%
2023 86.51 54th 786 93.1%
2024 84.75 65th 804 91.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.75 37th 938 96.1%
2019 96.49 20th 941 97.9%
2022 85.94 44th 1044 95.8%
2023 70.41 67th 1323 94.9%
2024 73.49 78th 1350 94.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 89.40 53rd 1547 96.6%
2024 80.99 109th 1534 92.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.77 229th 1862 87.7%
2019 89.86 135th 1937 93.0%
2021 91.43 70th 1126 93.8%
2022 87.59 179th 1943 90.8%
2023 89.08 155th 2247 93.1%
2024 80.15 274th 2235 87.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 92.40 112th 1760 93.6%
2019 94.12 92nd 1833 95.0%
2021 94.77 43rd 1054 95.9%
2022 94.75 93rd 1858 95.0%
2023 95.20 77th 2118 96.4%
2024 92.13 109th 2098 94.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.33 43rd 1052 95.9%
2019 95.25 44th 1117 96.1%
2022 99.28 15th 1161 98.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 54.30 76th 168 54.8%
2023 77.06 44th 233 81.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.11 115th 1834 93.7%
2019 89.46 169th 1880 91.0%
2021 96.28 41st 1122 96.3%
2022 97.29 65th 1916 96.6%
2023 95.37 83rd 2207 96.2%
2024 94.65 90th 2172 95.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.99 137th 581 76.4%
2019 80.46 92nd 582 84.2%
2022 83.49 72nd 581 87.6%
2023 84.84 67th 731 90.8%
2024 82.09 85th 712 88.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.83 73rd 582 87.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.57 183rd 1742 89.5%
2019 82.02 234th 1814 87.1%
2022 91.79 114th 1861 93.9%
2023 88.45 132nd 2142 93.8%
2024 73.00 346th 2125 83.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at University High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.50 232nd 1173 80.2%
2019 85.05 128th 1222 89.5%
2022 79.89 207th 1204 82.8%
2023 84.66 123rd 1434 91.4%
2024 72.68 259th 1406 81.6%
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.

University 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%

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0%

0%

  

Reviews:
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Enrollment information for University High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1522 73 458 111 5 n/a n/a 0 2169
1989 1365 64 499 75 2 n/a n/a 0 2005
1990 1326 58 542 77 2 n/a n/a 0 2005
1991 1220 86 620 97 3 n/a n/a 0 2026
1992 1173 80 672 89 4 n/a n/a 0 2018
1993 1076 66 714 86 3 n/a n/a 0 1945
1994 1040 61 732 87 5 n/a n/a 0 1925
1995 1101 58 824 111 4 n/a n/a 0 2098
1996 1101 58 824 111 4 n/a n/a 0 2098
1997 1167 69 918 110 5 n/a n/a 0 2269
1998 1182 64 949 119 5 n/a n/a 0 2319
1999 1152 48 980 114 5 n/a n/a 0 2299
2000 1127 38 984 88 7 n/a n/a 22 2266
2001 1108 39 967 94 5 n/a n/a 10 2223
2002 1010 43 984 96 5 n/a n/a 13 2151
2003 1010 43 984 96 5 n/a n/a 13 2151
2004 976 49 985 109 6 n/a n/a 26 2151
2005 980 42 1008 99 8 n/a n/a 45 2182
2006 960 38 1020 99 8 n/a n/a 51 2176
2007 939 30 1123 105 8 n/a n/a 57 2262
2008 892 41 1181 113 9 n/a n/a 0 2236
2009 867 46 1201 137 8 7 101 0 2367
2010 876 46 1246 157 8 7 107 0 2447
2011 839 50 1219 165 10 5 114 0 2402
2012 944 48 1248 163 11 4 59 0 2477
2013 874 44 1285 174 11 8 67 0 2463
2014 846 54 1208 190 10 5 89 0 2402
2015 868 62 1289 195 7 8 98 0 2527
2016 917 60 1282 229 7 7 115 0 2617
2017 888 57 1269 215 6 6 117 0 2558
2018 870 51 1196 233 5 7 130 0 2492
2019 789 45 1106 212 4 8 148 0 2312
2020 743 35 1056 200 3 7 167 0 2211
2021 627 25 726 176 1 3 150 0 1708
2022 694 55 918 217 3 1 203 6 2097
2023 713 55 919 265 2 3 200 7 2164

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 University High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2169 88.3 24.5 n/a
1989 2005 86.3 23.2 n/a
1990 2005 79.6 25.1 n/a
1991 2026 81.1 24.9 n/a
1992 2018 82.4 24.4 4.9
1993 1945 75.5 25.8 6.7
1994 1925 83.8 23.0 7.6
1995 2098 84.9 24.7 9.2
1996 2098 84.9 24.7 9.2
1997 2269 93.2 24.3 8.9
1998 2319 94.2 24.6 8.4
1999 2299 94.5 24.3 8
2000 2266 90.2 25.1 6.6
2001 2223 89.2 24.9 5.9
2002 2151 82.2 26.2 5.7
2003 2151 82.2 26.2 5.7
2004 2151 86.8 24.8 4.8
2005 2182 92.6 23.6 5
2006 2176 84.6 25.7 5.6
2007 2262 91.2 24.8 6.8
2008 2236 105.4 21.2 7.2
2009 2367 93.4 22.4 6.8
2010 2447 90.2 27.1 10.3
2011 2402 n/a n/a 12.1
2012 2477 90.3 27.4 n/a
2013 2463 90.3 27.2 11.4
2014 2402 85.5 28.0 14
2015 2527 84.0 30.0 15.2
2016 2617 97.0 26.9 16.9
2017 2558 99.5 25.6 14.5
2018 2492 95.2 26.1 21.2
2019 2312 87.4 26.4 20.5
2020 2211 n/a n/a 20.5
2021 1708 66.5 25.6 19.1
2022 2097 84.4 24.8 19.9
2023 2164 81.5 26.5 21

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 University High

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2169 88.3 24.5 n/a
1989 2005 86.3 23.2 n/a
1990 2005 79.6 25.1 n/a
1991 2026 81.1 24.9 n/a
1992 2018 82.4 24.4 4.9
1993 1945 75.5 25.8 6.7
1994 1925 83.8 23.0 7.6
1995 2098 84.9 24.7 9.2
1996 2098 84.9 24.7 9.2
1997 2269 93.2 24.3 8.9
1998 2319 94.2 24.6 8.4
1999 2299 94.5 24.3 8
2000 2266 90.2 25.1 6.6
2001 2223 89.2 24.9 5.9
2002 2151 82.2 26.2 5.7
2003 2151 82.2 26.2 5.7
2004 2151 86.8 24.8 4.8
2005 2182 92.6 23.6 5
2006 2176 84.6 25.7 5.6
2007 2262 91.2 24.8 6.8
2008 2236 105.4 21.2 7.2
2009 2367 93.4 22.4 6.8
2010 2447 90.2 27.1 10.3
2011 2402 n/a n/a 12.1
2012 2477 90.3 27.4 n/a
2013 2463 90.3 27.2 11.4
2014 2402 85.5 28.0 14
2015 2527 84.0 30.0 15.2
2016 2617 97.0 26.9 16.9
2017 2558 99.5 25.6 14.5
2018 2492 95.2 26.1 21.2
2019 2312 87.4 26.4 20.5
2020 2211 n/a n/a 20.5
2021 1708 66.5 25.6 19.1
2022 2097 84.4 24.8 19.9
2023 2164 81.5 26.5 21

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 University High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $6,427

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

Impact of COVID-19 on University 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 125th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 70th of 2348 High schools
 2.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (University High)77.974.9
 3%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Irvine Unified)76.277.1
 0.9%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (University High)75.173
 2.2%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Irvine Unified)70.766.1
 4.6%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (University High)66.771.2
 4.5%
   11th Grade Science (Irvine Unified)66.561.9
 4.7%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (University High)37.544.4
 6.9%
   12th Grade Science (Irvine Unified)26.143.2
 17.1%
   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 Students23122164
 6.4%
African American4555
 22.2%
American Indian42
 50%
Asian1106919
 16.9%
Hispanic212265
 25%
Pacific Islander83
 62.5%
White789713
 9.6%
Two or More Races148200
 35.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients20.5%21%
 0.4%


Schools Near University High









Frequently Asked Questions about University High

Students at University High are 42% Asian, 33% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races, 3% African American.

Yes! University High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 97th of 2323 California high schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,164 students attended University High.

University High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Alderwood Elementary
Elementary : Bonita Canyon Elementary
Elementary : Turtle Rock Elementary
Elementary : University Park Elementary
Elementary : Vista Verde
Middle : Rancho San Joaquin Middle


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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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