Public school · Sweetwater Union High

Sweetwater High — Rating & test scores

2900 Highland Avenue, National City · 2,290 students · Grades 9–12

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Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

Scope Score 69

Needs SupportScope Score · 19th percentile. Higher than 19 in 100 of the 1,498 California public high schools we score.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How the score is built

In 2024–25, 89% of the class graduated in four years (561 of 627); across California, 89%.

Source for this line
Source
CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students
students who started 9th grade together: 627
Comparison
California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

Overview

Is Sweetwater High a good high school?

Needs Support. Sweetwater High is higher than most California high schools on attendance. Sweetwater High is lower than most on test results.

Test results, spring 2025

English, Proficient or Advanced1641%
Math, Proficient or Advanced3118%
English, Advanced1914%
Math, Advanced224%

Showing up, 2024–25

Attendance5320 in 100
Sweetwater High’s place among California high schools, out of 100Sweetwater Union High’s other high schoolsBar colour, from the lowest quarter of schools to the highest

One more thing to know

339 of 2,252 students missed 10% or more of school days in 2025–26, against 21 in 100 at the average high school in the Sweetwater Union High district.

Each bar is Sweetwater High’s place among 1,498 California public high schools we score. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, updated October 15, 2026.

How to read these bars, and their sources

A place counts the schools out of 100 with a lower figure. The dashed line is the middle. Test results are from spring 2025, grade 11, the latest year with a high school Scope Score. That year the state called these levels Met or exceeded and Exceeded. Attendance counts students who missed 10% or more of school days; fewer is better, so a higher place means fewer such students.

Source for the sentence
CDE chronic absenteeism file, 2025–26. All students counted for chronic absence (CDE’s eligible enrollment): 2,252. District and California figures are averages of school rates (13 Sweetwater Union High schools; 1,492 scored California high schools), our calculation.

In its own words

What does Sweetwater High say about itself?

We haven’t read Sweetwater High’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.

Open suh.sweetwaterschools.org (opens in a new tab)

Nearby

How does it compare with schools nearby?

6 of the 7 high schools nearby have a higher Scope Score than Sweetwater High. Each school is compared with every California high school.

Scope Score

8 high schools within 3.3 miles, highest score first. Under each name is how the school takes students.

  1. Chula Vista Learning Community CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8790th
  2. San Diego SCPASan Diego Unified · by addressScope Score 8586th
  3. The O'Farrell CharterCharter · its own lotteryScope Score 8279th
  4. Mueller Charter (Robert L.)Charter · its own lotteryScope Score 7863rd
  5. HilltopNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 7548th
  6. Chula VistaNeighborhood school · by addressScope Score 7127th
  7. SweetwaterScope Score 6919th
  8. LincolnSan Diego Unified · by addressScope Score 6815th
Sweetwater Union HighA neighborhood school in another districtCharter

A neighborhood school in another district takes students who live in its area. Ask that district about a transfer. A charter school takes applications from any family and holds a lottery when it has more applicants than seats.

Scope Score from California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Distance is a straight line from this campus and is not an attendance boundary. See these schools on the map

Scores and family income

Further right, more students are from low-income families. Higher up, more students met or exceeded the standard in English.

25%50%75%0%25%50%75%100%

6 of 8 schools are named on the chart. Point at a dot or tap it to read any school.

English results: California Department of Education state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, grade 11. Low-income is the share of students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals, 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes.

Schools like it

How does Sweetwater High compare with schools like it?

Sweetwater High’s Scope Score is 69. 334 California high schools, counting Sweetwater High, have a similar share of students from low-income families. Their typical score is 72. Sweetwater High’s result is higher than 84 of them.

The five schools with the highest results of the 334

  1. Students from low-income families: 86%

    Scope Score 93Strong · 96th percentile

  2. Students from low-income families: 89%

    Scope Score 92Strong · 96th percentile

  3. Students from low-income families: 85%

    Scope Score 91Strong · 95th percentile

  4. Students from low-income families: 91%

    Middle College High

    San Bernardino

    Scope Score 90Strong · 93rd percentile

  5. Students from low-income families: 91%

    Scope Score 88Strong · 91st percentile

334 California public high schools where 83% to 95% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. The chart compares results, not causes. Our calculation from California Department of Education records, spring 2025.

How the group is chosen

The group is every California public high school we score where 83% to 95% of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. That is within 6 points of Sweetwater High’s share. The count includes Sweetwater High. Typical means the median: half are higher and half are lower. Schools differ in more than family income, and no score is changed for it. Our calculation from California Department of Education records: state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025, and school meal eligibility, 2024–25.

Over time

Have results changed?

English results were higher than in 2025; math results were lower. English went from 41% to 47% and math from 18% to 13%.

Share at the state’s top two test levels, 2017 to 2026

Grade 11. Point at a year, tap it or use the arrow keys to read its figures.

English

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202661%53%61%Sweetwater Union HighDistrict57%CaliforniaCalifornia47%Sweetwater HighThis school

Math

No comparable testsNo tests25%50%75%2017201820192022202320242025202629%19%32%CaliforniaCalifornia30%Sweetwater Union HighDistrict13%Sweetwater HighThis school

The lines break where a year has no comparable state test results. Each spring tests a different group of students. Sweetwater Union High’s line combines its 13 high schools we score (our calculation). Faint lines are its other schools. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Each year’s results

The top two levels were called Met or Exceeded before 2026 and are called Proficient or Advanced now. Sweetwater Union High’s figure weights each school by the students it tested.

English, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSweetwater HighSweetwater Union HighCaliforniaTested here
201753%61%60%727
201852%60%56%668
201956%59%57%669
202238%57%55%664
202328%54%55%658
202444%60%56%601
202541%61%57%539
202647%61%57%560
Math, grade 11: share at the top two levels
SpringSweetwater HighSweetwater Union HighCaliforniaTested here
201719%29%32%722
201818%30%31%658
201924%29%32%664
202213%24%27%645
20238%24%27%644
202411%25%28%603
202518%29%30%537
202613%30%32%546

Tests

How did students here do on state tests?

Well below California in both subjects.

English

47%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

27262819
Sweetwater Union High59%California57%

Math

13%

scored Proficient or Advanced.

68199
Sweetwater Union High29%California32%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced

In grade 11, spring 2026, 47% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 13% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 11 combined. From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”). Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 34 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

All four test levels, with the number of students tested
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026. The state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal.
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grade 11 · This school19%28%26%27%560
English, grade 11 · California27%30%21%22%414,559
English, grade 11 · Sweetwater Union High28%31%21%20%5,355
Math, grade 11 · This school4%9%19%68%546
Math, grade 11 · California16%16%20%48%413,523
Math, grade 11 · Sweetwater Union High13%16%22%49%5,355

Spring 2026, grade 11 combined: 560 tested in English, 546 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Who goes here

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here, at 81% of students. 339 of 2,252 students missed 10% or more of school days.

Missing school, 2025–26

15in 100

students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (339 of 2,252 students).

At the average high school in the Sweetwater Union High district: 21 in 100. At the average California high school: 22 in 100.

Suspensions: 4.0% of students were suspended at least once (94 of 2,334). Average California high school 2.9%.

Students, 2024–25

2,290

students in grades 9–12.

Hispanic or Latino 81%Filipino 11%White 3%Black or African American 2%Asian 1%Two or more races 1%Pacific Islander <1%

Family income

89%

of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 2,042 of 2,290. California: 63%.

Teachers, 2024–25

93

teachers, with 17 years of experience on average.

1% were in their first year.

85% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.

English learners

41%

of English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026 (197 of 475 students).

Sweetwater Union High: 43%. California: 47%.

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Sources: California Department of Education and the California School Dashboard. Each tile names its year.

Full student mix, 2025–26
StudentsHere
Hispanic or Latino81%
Filipino11%
White3%
Black or African American2%
Asian1%
Two or more races1%
Pacific Islander<1%
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Not reported—
Where these figures come from

Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. English learner progress: California School Dashboard, 2026 . Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.

Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 99.2 of 116.8 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.

Student groups

How do kids like mine do here?

Four student groups scored below the same groups across California in math.

This schoolThe same group, California
  • Filipino72 tested26%California 49%
  • Low-income440 tested14%California 23%
  • Hispanic or Latino429 tested11%California 21%
  • Students with disabilities63 tested5%California 8%
  • English learners135 tested2%California 8%

11% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in math (grade 11, spring 2026), against 21% for the same group across California. Low-income and Filipino students and English learners also scored below the same groups across California; the chart gives their figures. Every group’s English results are in the table below.

Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11 math, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).

Every group’s results, with the district

Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026
Group and subjectHerevs Sweetwater Union Highvs California
Low-income · 452 tested in English, 440 in math
English46%−652%−349%
Math14%−721%−923%
Hispanic or Latino · 443 tested in English, 429 in math
English44%−1054%−549%
Math11%−1223%−1021%
Filipino · 72 tested
English67%−1683%−1077%
Math26%−2652%−2349%
English learners · 140 tested in English, 135 in math
English8%−412%08%
Math2%−68%−68%
Students with disabilities · 67 tested in English, 63 in math
English17%−926%−219%
Math5%−27%−38%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Sweetwater Union High, and across California. No group that is behind across California does 10 or more points better here.

Black or African American and White students: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students, students of two or more races and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

After high school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

89% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25. That compares with 89% across California. 43% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 57% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

ready for college or career (state measure), 2024–25

43%

Across California: 52%.

of graduates finished the UC/CSU course list, 2024–25

38%

At the average California high school: 56%.

Graduation, college and university records

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

89%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 561 of 627 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

43%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 269 of 627 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

38%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 212 of 561 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

57% enrolled in college within 12 months · 686 students who finished high school

  • University of California UC detail ↓44 · 6%
  • California State University CSU detail ↓66 · 10%
  • California community college248 · 36%
  • In-state private17 · 3%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year8 · 1%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year6 · 1%
  • Not enrolled297 · 43%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

Where the class of 2023 went
57%enrolled in college within a year

686 completers, class of 2023

  • University of California44 (6%)
  • California State University66 (10%)
  • California community college248 (36%)
  • In-state private17 (3%)
  • Out-of-state, 4-year8 (1%)
  • Out-of-state, 2-year6 (1%)
  • Not enrolled297 (43%)

Source: CDE’s college-going rate for the class of 2023 (enrolled in college within 12 months). Shares are our arithmetic: count ÷ completers, rounded together so they total 100. A dash means we have no figure for that row; it isn’t zero.

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 561 of 627 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 269 of 627 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 212 of 561 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
144
Admitted
117
Enrolled
42

By campus · fall 2025

  • UC San DiegoApplied 128 · Admitted 46 · Enrolled 26
  • UC IrvineApplied 104 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled under 3
  • UCLAApplied 84 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled 3
  • UC RiversideApplied 68 · Admitted 63 · Enrolled 3
  • UC BerkeleyApplied 61 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled 3
  • UC MercedApplied 54 · Admitted 53 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa BarbaraApplied 43 · Admitted 20 · Enrolled 3
  • UC DavisApplied 35 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled under 3
  • UC Santa CruzApplied 25 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

  • Fall 2025Applied 144 · Admitted 117 · Enrolled 42
  • Fall 2024Applied 136 · Admitted 101 · Enrolled 33
  • Fall 2023Applied 136 · Admitted 81 · Enrolled 50
  • Fall 2022Applied 118 · Admitted 73 · Enrolled 32
  • Fall 2021Applied 100 · Admitted 75 · Enrolled 38
  • Fall 2020Applied 116 · Admitted 86 · Enrolled 51
  • Fall 2019Applied 89 · Admitted 59 · Enrolled 37
  • Fall 2018Applied 108 · Admitted 57 · Enrolled 27
  • Fall 2017Applied 94 · Admitted 57 · Enrolled 28
  • Fall 2016Applied 77 · Admitted 53 · Enrolled 37

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied
200
Admitted
185
Enrolled
59

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

  • San Diego StateApplied 793 · Admitted 478 · Enrolled 218
  • Cal State Long BeachApplied 319 · Admitted 105 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San MarcosApplied 277 · Admitted 260 · Enrolled 28
  • Cal State FullertonApplied 195 · Admitted 169 · Enrolled 6
  • San Francisco StateApplied 140 · Admitted 130 · Enrolled 10
  • Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 113 · Admitted 36 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly PomonaApplied 111 · Admitted 78 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State LAApplied 106 · Admitted 99 · Enrolled 6
  • San José StateApplied 87 · Admitted 74 · Enrolled under 6
  • Chico StateApplied 67 · Admitted 56 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 53 · Admitted 42 · Enrolled —
  • Sacramento StateApplied 45 · Admitted 43 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 42 · Admitted 35 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State NorthridgeApplied 41 · Admitted 36 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal State San BernardinoApplied 39 · Admitted 39 · Enrolled —
  • CSU BakersfieldApplied 34 · Admitted 29 · Enrolled under 6
  • Fresno StateApplied 33 · Admitted 30 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State East BayApplied 26 · Admitted 23 · Enrolled —
  • CSU Channel IslandsApplied 22 · Admitted 20 · Enrolled under 6
  • Sonoma StateApplied 17 · Admitted 16 · Enrolled —
  • Cal State Monterey BayApplied 16 · Admitted 15 · Enrolled —
  • Stanislaus StateApplied 11 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled under 6
  • Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

  • Fall 2025Applied 200 · Admitted 185 · Enrolled 59
  • Fall 2024Applied 179 · Admitted 167 · Enrolled 58
  • Fall 2023Applied 188 · Admitted 173 · Enrolled 70
  • Fall 2022Applied 145 · Admitted 137 · Enrolled 51
  • Fall 2021Applied 138 · Admitted 126 · Enrolled 48
Advanced courses on record

AP courses the school is approved to teach

The College Board approved this school to teach 21 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

  • Math & Computer Science5
  • Sciences4
  • English2
  • History & Social Science7
  • World Languages & Cultures2
  • Arts1
Every approved AP course21 courses in 6 subjects
Math & Computer Science 5
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science Principles
  • Precalculus
  • Statistics
Sciences 4
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics 1
English 2
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
History & Social Science 7
  • Human Geography
  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Psychology
  • U.S. Government and Politics
  • United States History
  • World History: Modern
World Languages & Cultures 2
  • Spanish Language and Culture
  • Spanish Literature and Culture
Arts 1
  • Art History

What other courses and pathways are on record?

College courses in high school (dual enrollment)
39 students took one

2023–24

Students taking a college course for credit while in high school, often through a community college. Federal Civil Rights Data Collection, school-reported.

Family and staff answers

What would families and staff tell you?

Families and staff can answer a short set of questions about Sweetwater High. These are not star ratings or reviews.

  1. Staff answers show once 5 people have answered.Until then this page shows no staff answers.
  2. Family answers show once 20 families have answered.Until then this page shows how many have answered.
  3. The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
  4. Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.
  5. Staff confirm a work email.Staff answers come only from people who confirmed an email address at Sweetwater Union High.

Families

No family answers yet

0 of 20 needed before answers show

  • Does the school tell you how your child is doing, in a way you understand, before report cards arrive?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • When you contact the school with a question, do you hear back within two school days?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely · Haven’t contacted them
  • Can you get school information in the language you read best?Yes · Mostly · No
  • And 4 more questions.

Answer the family questionsResponder en españolHow family answers work

Staff

No staff answers yet

5 answers needed before they show

  • Would you send your own child to this school?Yes · Maybe · No
  • Do you plan to work at this school next year?Yes · Not sure · No
  • Do you have the materials and supplies you need to teach?Usually · Sometimes · Rarely
  • And 5 more questions.

Answer the staff questionsHow staff answers work

Money

Where does the money go?

$3,685 for each student in 2024–25. California’s high schools spent $20,309 for each student. Sweetwater Union High’s plan for 2026–27 covers $431 million.

$3,685

for each student at this school, 2024–25
Spent at the school
$3,193
The school’s share of district office costs
$492
Of the total, from federal funds
$1,294
  • Sweetwater High$3,685
  • Sweetwater Union High high schools$3,649
  • California high schools$20,309

The district and California figures combine their high schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 1,655 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓

Sweetwater Union High’s yearly plan

$431million

in the district’s plan for 2026–27

$106million

planned for services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth

This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 6 goals. The district’s page lists each one. The plan covers $431 million of $712 million in total budgeted spending. Source: Sweetwater Union High Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27. Read the district’s plan →

The neighborhood

What is the area around Sweetwater High like?

These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 91950. They are not figures for the families at Sweetwater High.

Typical household income in a year

$66,426

Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 91950.

Typical home value
$612,200
People who live in this ZIP code
59,891
Typical age
35.9 years
Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
18%

What you can do

Who can act on Sweetwater High’s results?

Sweetwater Union High’s board decides Sweetwater High’s plan.

How to take part

  1. Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  2. Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  3. Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  4. Read the midyear report, due by February 28.

State support

The state hasn’t placed Sweetwater High in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

Extra state help for the district

The state is giving Sweetwater Union High extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 California School Dashboard. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.

Extra help for Sweetwater Union High: CDE’s assistance status file for the 2025 California School Dashboard. Source 

Questions to ask

What should I ask, and when?

Bring these 7 questions to Sweetwater High. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.

On a tour

  1. What extra help do English learners get, and how do you know it’s working?2% of English learners scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grade 11, spring 2026 (135 students tested); the same group across California: 8%
  2. What help do students get in math?13% in math and 47% in English scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 11, spring 2026 (546 tested in math, 560 in English)
  3. Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
  4. How do counselors help students plan for college, training or work?
  5. What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

At the office

  1. What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
  2. Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?

Getting in

Which schools feed into Sweetwater High, and how do I get in?

Ask Sweetwater Union High which school serves your address. From Granger Junior High and National City Middle.

Boundaries split some neighborhoods. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level.

Middle · assigned
Granger Junior High Scope Score 73Developing · 39th percentile · 2026

Fed by 6 elementary schools

Middle · assigned
National City Middle Scope Score 71Developing · 28th percentile · 2026

Fed by 6 elementary schools

High · this school
Sweetwater High

Both middle schools are assigned here.

From the district’s 2025 attendance boundaries. Shares are our estimate of where the zone’s children live. We use 2020 Census child counts, or land area where few children were counted. A share counts children living in the zone, not a school’s enrolled students. A boundary doesn’t guarantee a place. Transfers, permits, magnets and other programs can change the path. Check your child’s address and current assignment with the district. Explore schools on the map

All feeding elementary schools (10)Grouped by the middle school each one feeds, with each school’s standing

Into Granger Junior High

  • El Toyon ElementaryScope Score 68Needs Support · 10th percentile · 2026
  • Las PalmasSome of its area goes to National City MiddleScope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile · 2026
  • Palmer WayScope Score 74Developing · 41st percentile · 2026
  • Rancho de la NacionSome of its area goes to National City MiddleScope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile · 2026
  • Ira HarbisonSome of its area goes to another high schoolScope Score 76Solid · 56th percentile · 2026
  • Lincoln AcresSome of its area goes to another high schoolScope Score 73Developing · 36th percentile · 2026

Into National City Middle

  • Central ElementaryScope Score 71Developing · 25th percentile · 2026
  • John A. Otis ElementaryScope Score 72Developing · 30th percentile · 2026
  • KimballScope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile · 2026
  • Las PalmasSome of its area goes to Granger Junior HighScope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile · 2026
  • Rancho de la NacionSome of its area goes to Granger Junior HighScope Score 74Developing · 44th percentile · 2026
  • OlivewoodSome of its area goes to another high schoolScope Score 73Developing · 39th percentile · 2026
All recorded links and nearby alternatives

Elementary links

  • Central Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 71 · Developing · 25th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • El Toyon Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 68 · Needs Support · 10th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • John A. Otis Elementary

    Assigned

    Scope Score 72 · Developing · 30th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Kimball

    Assigned

    Scope Score 74 · Developing · 46th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Las Palmas

    Assigned

    Scope Score 70 · Needs Support · 17th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Palmer Way

    Assigned

    Scope Score 74 · Developing · 41st percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Rancho de la Nacion

    Assigned

    Scope Score 74 · Developing · 44th percentile · elementary · 2026

  • Ira Harbison

    Assigned for part of the zone

    Scope Score 76 · Solid · 56th percentile · elementary · 2026

    98% of the zone’s children

  • Olivewood

    Assigned for part of the zone

    Scope Score 73 · Developing · 39th percentile · elementary · 2026

    97% of the zone’s children

  • Lincoln Acres

    Assigned for part of the zone

    Scope Score 73 · Developing · 36th percentile · elementary · 2026

    95% of the zone’s children

Middle-school links

Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking.

Where it is

Where is Sweetwater High?

Address
2900 Highland Avenue, National City 91950Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Administrator
Joe LaraAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated September 18, 2025.

A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map

Short answers to 8 common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Sweetwater Union High which school serves your address. See the details ↓

Is Sweetwater High a good high school?

Sweetwater High has a Scope Score of 69. It scored higher than 19 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools (Needs Support, 19th percentile, spring 2025). See the details ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 15 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 21 in 100 at the average high school in the Sweetwater Union High district. 4.0% of students (94 of 2,334) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. See the details ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 34 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. See the details ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 46% of low-income students in grade 11 at Sweetwater High in National City scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 49% for the same group across California. See the details ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 21 AP courses in 6 subjects for 2025–26.

  • 39 students took a college course for credit in 2023–24, by the federal Civil Rights Data Collection

See the details ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

57% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. See the details ↓

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Questions to ask, ready to copy. See the details ↓

The full record

Source records

This page is built from 17 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.

Data updated

October 15, 2026

Record sets on this page
17
Sources
California Department of EducationU.S. Census BureauUniversity of CaliforniaCollege BoardU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil RightsNational Student Clearinghouse
State test years
2017–2026

Results

Students

After high school

Money and staff

Place, downloads and method

Score factorssource values, index and weights · 2024–25 · ranked #1,207 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #12 of 13 in Sweetwater Union High
Score factors, 2024–25
FactorSchoolIndexWeight
Graduation rate90%5325%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math9%4222%
Ready for college or career (state measure)43%4920%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math29%4518%
Chronically absent20 in 100585%
Suspension rate3.4% (83 of 2,462)515%
English learners: top level17%515%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2024–256919#1207California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspension
2018–1912 in 1005.0% (142 of 2,865)
2021–22not on filenot on file
2022–23not on filenot on file
2023–2421 in 1005.7% (148 of 2,613)
2024–2520 in 1003.4% (83 of 2,462)

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 11 · spring 2026 · % of tested students

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
EnglishTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 1156019%28%26%27%47%57%−10

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math · 2025–26 results by grade

Share of students tested, spring 2026
MathTestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalProficient or AdvancedCaliforniaDifference
Grade 115464%9%19%68%13%32%−19

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English56019%47%
2026 · Math5464%13%
2025 · English53914%41%
2025 · Math5374%18%
2024 · English60117%44%
2024 · Math6032%11%
2023 · English6587%28%
2023 · Math6442%8%
2022 · English66411%38%
2022 · Math6454%13%
2019 · English66922%56%
2019 · Math6646%24%
2018 · English66820%52%
2018 · Math6584%18%
2017 · English72719%53%
2017 · Math7225%19%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 11 · English53941%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math53718%
2024 · Grade 11 · English60144%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math60311%
2023 · Grade 11 · English65828%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math6448%
2022 · Grade 11 · English66438%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math64513%
2019 · Grade 11 · English66956%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math66424%
2018 · Grade 11 · English66852%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math65818%
2017 · Grade 11 · English72753%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math72219%

Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide5965%21%59%15%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California
Group · EnglishTestedProficient or Advancedvs districtvs California
Low-income45246%−6−3
Hispanic or Latino44344%−10−5
English learners1408%−40
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 20 in 100 → 2025–26 · 15 in 100 · −5 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 3.4% (83 of 2,462) → 2025–26 · 4.0% (94 of 2,334) · +0.6 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female10 in 10015 in 100+5 in 100
Male13 in 10015 in 100+2 in 100
Asian1 of 166 of 29—
Black or African American7 of 385 of 38—
Filipino7 in 1006 in 100−1 in 100
Hispanic or Latino12 in 10016 in 100+4 in 100
Pacific Islander3 of 132 of 11—
Two or more races3 of 506 of 25—
White6 of 4114 of 76—
Students with disabilities19 in 10026 in 100+7 in 100
English learners18 in 10017 in 100−1 in 100
Homeless21 of 5121 of 47—
Low-income12 in 10016 in 100+4 in 100
All students12 in 10015 in 100+3 in 100

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students
MeasureSource record
This school · CCI overall PreparedCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 43% · numerator 269 students classified Prepared · denominator 627 CCI students.
California · CCI overall PreparedCDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.
AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 79% · AP-pathway numerator 212 · denominator 269 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 269 of 627 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate
90%
AP route, among those ready for college or career
79%
2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings
Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)
38%
A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-going rate
57%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes
YearAppliedAdmittedEnrolledMean GPA (applied)Mean GPA (admitted)Mean GPA (enrolled)
2025144117423.803.894.09
2024136101333.753.894.11
202313681503.783.994.08
202211873323.794.044.23
202110075383.904.014.15
202011686513.894.034.16
20198959373.834.024.11
201810857273.673.904.00
20179457283.653.844.00
20167753373.643.793.82

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately
CampusYearAppliedAdmittedEnrolled
Berkeley20256183
Berkeley2024434under 3
Berkeley20235810under 3
Berkeley2022483under 3
Berkeley202134115
Davis2025359under 3
Davis2024278under 3
Davis20233213under 3
Davis2022197under 3
Davis20211910under 3
Irvine202510411under 3
Irvine20249211under 3
Irvine202310516under 3
Irvine20228410under 3
Irvine20216815under 3
Los Angeles20258473
Los Angeles202478under 3under 3
Los Angeles20239075
Los Angeles202285under 3under 3
Los Angeles2021577under 3
Merced20255453under 3
Merced20242825under 3
Merced20231412under 3
Merced20221411under 3
Merced20211111under 3
Riverside202568633
Riverside20244028under 3
Riverside20234025under 3
Riverside20223519under 3
Riverside202134303
San Diego20251284626
San Diego20241234222
San Diego20231134833
San Diego20221094226
San Diego2021834021
Santa Barbara202543203
Santa Barbara202437195
Santa Barbara202339194
Santa Barbara20221918under 3
Santa Barbara202126173
Santa Cruz20252517under 3
Santa Cruz20244328under 3
Santa Cruz20233514under 3
Santa Cruz2022145under 3
Santa Cruz20211510under 3
Universitywide202514411742
Universitywide202413610133
Universitywide20231368150
Universitywide20221187332
Universitywide20211007538

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations
SubjectAuthorization recorded for
Art Historythis school
Biologythis school
Calculus ABthis school
Calculus BCthis school
Chemistrythis school
Computer Science Principlesthis school
English Language and Compositionthis school
English Literature and Compositionthis school
Environmental Sciencethis school
Human Geographythis school
Macroeconomicsthis school
Microeconomicsthis school
Physics 1this school
Precalculusthis school
Psychologythis school
Spanish Language and Culturethis school
Spanish Literature and Culturethis school
Statisticsthis school
U.S. Government and Politicsthis school
United States Historythis school
World History: Modernthis school

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offeredoffered
AP course count15
AP enrollment (male/female)779
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentoffered · 39 enrolled
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections6
Physics sections6
Chemistry sections42
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)2,411

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California446%
California State University6610%
California community college24836%
In-state private173%
Out-of-state, 4-year81%
Out-of-state, 2-year61%
Not enrolled29743%

686 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 57% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$15,976 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 97,968 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$1,199 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 2,290

Central federal expenditures attributed here$95 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 2,290

District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,370 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 58%Instruction support 16%Student services 8%Administration 8%Buildings & maintenance 8%Other 2%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$329,672,20957.65%58%
Instruction support$91,151,79115.94%16%
Student services$45,979,5568.04%8%
Administration$45,077,1857.88%8%
Buildings & maintenance$48,207,9608.43%8%
Other$11,732,6442.05%2%
Total$571,821,344100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $571,821,344 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$15,976 per pupil
2020$14,540 per pupil
2019$14,457 per pupil
2018$11,416 per pupil
2017$11,708 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders1.5%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 91950 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 91950 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$66,426
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)18%
ZIP-area population59,891
Median age35.9 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 91950 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

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Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

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