Whittier City
Whittier City has 11 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 43.9/100 — 0.2 points near the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Daniel Phelan Language Academy at 61/100, where 33.4% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $13,985 per student (below the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 20.9%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 45.0/100 | 9 | 22.6% | 20.8% |
| Middle | Developing 39.1/100 | 2 | 15.6% | 21.6% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Whittier City, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Whittier City's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 45.0.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +1.3pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.
Consistency: Score range of 32.0 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 20.9%, 2.8pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.1%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Daniel Phelan Language Academy leads the district at 61 with 33.4% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Whittier City
Hidden gems: 5 schools in Whittier City are classified as On the Rise (4) or Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Whittier City spends $13,985 per student in current expenditures — $829 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (9)
Whittier City has 9 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.0 — 1.2 points near the state average of 43.8.
District-wide growth averages +1.3pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Daniel Phelan Language Academy with a Scope Score of 61 and 33.4% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Phelan Language Academy Whittier City Growth Engine | 33.4% | Solid 61/100 |
| 2 | Wallen L. Andrews Whittier City On the Rise | 30.8% | Solid 52/100 |
| 3 | Mill School and Technology Academy Whittier City Building Momentum | 28.6% | Developing 47/100 |
| 4 | Longfellow Elementary Whittier City Building Momentum | 28.1% | Developing 46/100 |
| 5 | West Whittier Elementary Whittier City Building Momentum | 19.6% | Developing 44/100 |
| 6 | Lou Henry Hoover School of Fine Arts Whittier City Building Momentum | 19.4% | Developing 41/100 |
| 7 | Christian Sorensen Science Academy Whittier City On the Rise | 17.3% | Developing 41/100 |
| 8 | Lydia Jackson College Preparatory Academy Whittier City On the Rise | 14.9% | Developing 39/100 |
| 9 | Orange Grove Elementary Whittier City On the Rise | 11.3% | Developing 33/100 |
Middle Schools (2)
Whittier City has 2 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.1 — 1.3 points near the state average of 40.5.
Growth is essentially flat at -0.3pp.
The highest-scoring middle school is Katherine Edwards Middle School STEAM & Dual Immer with a Scope Score of 49 and 22.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katherine Edwards Middle School STEAM & Dual Immer Whittier City Culture First | 22.0% | Developing 49/100 |
| 2 | Walter F. Dexter Middle Whittier City Building Momentum | 9.2% | Needs Support 29/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Whittier City
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology