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Westminster High · Westminster

Westminster High: Most kids here clear the bar, year after year. The question is what happens after that.

Westminster posts 56% meeting the standard, and 31.0% going well past it. Most kids here keep up. Fewer get pushed further. Ask the school what it does for a child who already finds the work easy.

2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope5944
% Exceeded31%16%
% Met+56%36%
Grad rate95.4%87.6%
College readiness60.2%35.4%
Absence17.0%30.2%
Suspension3.3%3.6%
Scope Score
59
💪 Strong All-Around · Solid
ranked #365 statewide · #5 of 8 in Huntington Beach Union High

Westminster High scores 59 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 83rd percentile of 2,160 California high schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

💪 Strong All-Around — Ask about what we don't score — class size, electives, the feel of a classroom — strong numbers everywhere on paper don't mean every classroom feels the same.

Most rating sites would stop at “56% proficient” and call it done. Westminster deserves a closer read. The school sits in Westminster, where four in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

Westminster's low-income kids hit 71.0% proficiency in ELA — a number the same group reaches at 38.2% statewide. If you're trying to read past zip-code-driven test scores, that's the signal worth weighing.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,160 high schools statewide

Has held the 83rd-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAGreen(Increased Significantly)MathBlue(Increased Significantly)

Proficiency here is back to its pre-pandemic level — 56% meet the standard, about where the school stood in 2019.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1169%67%67%64%72%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1139%39%37%38%41%

The story this school is actually telling

Proficient by 11th grade
56%
State 36%
Graduate
95%
State 88%
Pass an AP exam
60%
State 35%

Of 100 students here: 56 are proficient by 11th grade → 95 graduate → 60 pass an AP exam. The gaps between those bars are the questions to ask.

71.0%
Low-income · ELA · met standard

Westminster's most underrated number

71.0% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide. That's the strongest kind of signal a school can post: it holds across income lines.

Westminster low-income: 71.0%State low-income: 38.2%

The 7 things our score weighs

Graduation rate
95.4%
State 87.6%
7.8pp above state avg
Exceeded standard
31.0%
State 15.8%
15.2pp above state avg
College readiness
60.2%
State 35.4%
AP exam pass rate above state avg
Met or exceeded
56.3%
State 35.7%
20.6pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
17.0%
State 30.2%
13.2pp below state avg
Suspension rate
3.3%
State 3.6%
0.3pp below state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
15.4%
State 18.0%
2.6pp below state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask how the school challenges kids who clear the standard early. The gap between meeting and exceeding is where pacing shows.

  • Ask whether extra support — tutoring, counseling, small groups — reaches kids across income lines, not just the students already ahead.
  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Westminster High in Westminster, 71.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 60.2% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Westminster High outperforms its district average for low-income students by 10.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (38.0% Math proficient); Hispanic students (61.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 51.6 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 505 students tested.

All students at this school: 56% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 56%, district —, state 36%56%
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 55%, district 49%, state 32%55% · −2 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 56%, district 60%, state 44%56% · −1 vs school
MaleMale: this school 57%, district 54%, state 42%57% · +1 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 42%, district 38%, state 32%42% · −15 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 75%, district 77%, state 72%75% · +18 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 16%, district 11%, state 11%16% · −40 vs school
HomelessHomeless: this school 29%, district 23%, state 22%29% · −27 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 16%, district 14%, state 15%16% · −41 vs school
WhiteWhite: this school 44%, district 56%, state 56%44% · −13 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: this school 40%, district 61%, state 56%40% · −16 vs school
Military-ConnectedMilitary-Connected: this school 38%, district 57%, state 46%38% · −18 vs school
Black/African AmericanBlack/African American: too few students to report‹11
FilipinoFilipino: too few students to report‹11
Pacific IslanderPacific Islander: too few students to report‹11
Foster YouthFoster Youth: too few students to report‹11
this school district, same group California, same group

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 17.0%, district 24.5%, state 30.2%17.0% · −13.2pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 3.3%, district —, state 3.6%3.3% · −0.3pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 9–1216.6%

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 23:1, district 23:123:1
Teaching staff114 teachers
Avg. experience14.9 years
Fully credentialed84%
First-year teachers3%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$68,649 – $145,704
Principal salary$0 – $193,370
Superintendent salary$377,761

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

Course Breadth
AP courses offered44
AP exam qualifiers219 students
CTE pathway completers125 students

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $19,040, CA average $14,815$19,040 · spent at this school
Federal share$225 per student

$225 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,559 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction57%
Instruction support12%
Student services9%
Administration9%
Buildings & maintenance10%
Other2%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$13,062 per pupil
2019$12,471 per pupil
2018$12,816 per pupil
2017$12,190 per pupil
2016$11,795 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

Hispanic52.0%
District 32.1% · CA 56.1%
Asian41.0%
District 28.1% · CA 10.2%
White3.5%
District 31.0% · CA 19.9%
Other2.8%
District 8.1% · CA 9.0%
Black0.7%
District 0.7% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 85.9% (22pp above CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$86K · CA $85K
Median home value$858K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+26% · CA 35%
ZIP population89,833
Median age43 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

At 2,529 students, this school is well above the typical California high school (≈1450).

On the state's science test (CAST), 43% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Westminster High a good high school?

Westminster High has a Scope Score of 59 out of 100, placing it in the 83rd percentile of California high schools and ranked #365 statewide. 31.0% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 15.2 percentage points above the California average of 15.8%. The Scope Score weights 7 dimensions for high schools: graduation rate (25%), exceeded standard (22%), college/career readiness (20%), met or exceeded (proficient) (18%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Westminster High's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 56.3% of students at Westminster High met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 31.0% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 25.3% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 31.0% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 1,180 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Westminster High rank in California?

Westminster High ranks #365 among California high schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 83rd percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Westminster High?

17.0% of students at Westminster High are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 30.2%. The suspension rate is 3.3%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Westminster High compare to other schools in Westminster?

Westminster High scores 59/100 (83rd percentile) among California high schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 2,529 students. Use the schools in Westminster page or the map view to compare all high schools nearby.

How does Westminster High serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Westminster High in Westminster, 71.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 60.2% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Westminster High outperforms its district average for low-income students by 10.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (38.0% Math proficient); Hispanic students (61.7% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 51.6 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 505 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.


For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Graduation rate · 25%
95.4%
↑ vs CA 87.6% · 59th pctile
Exceeded standard · 22%
31.0%
↑ vs CA 15.8% · 66th pctile
College readiness · 20%
60.2%
↑ vs CA 35.4% · 64th pctile
Met or exceeded · 18%
56.3%
↑ vs CA 35.7% · 65th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
17.0%
↑ vs CA 30.2% · 61th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
3.3%
↑ vs CA 3.6% · 51th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
15.4%
↓ vs CA 18.0% · 49th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1159138%34%14%14%72%+24
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1158924%17%23%36%41%+18
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/1160814%29%49%8%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged50571.0%+11+33
Hispanic/Latino28361.7%+11+23
Asian26485.2%+1+11
03Peer comparison · nearest high schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Westminster High ←5931.0%56.3%3.3%
Pacifica High1.9 mi6437.4%65.9%1.5%
Marina High1.9 mi6233.0%59.8%2.5%
Ocean View High2.8 mi4013.2%31.4%3.9%
California average4415.8%35.7%3.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Graduation Rate
95.4%
AP Exam Prepared
60.2%
A-G Completion
51.6%
A-G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-Going Rate
75.2%
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20196182#36726.0%54.3%11.0%1.8%
20225984#32728.5%53.1%20.4%2.8%
20235882#38326.4%51.9%18.1%3.7%
20245983#35528.6%50.9%15.6%3.6%
20255983#36531.0%56.3%17.0%3.3%
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female11.0%19.2%+8.2pp
Male10.4%14.2%+3.8pp
Asian4.9%8.5%+3.6pp
Black/African American15.0%23.5%+8.5pp
Filipino23.5%26.7%+3.2pp
White11.5%11.1%-0.4pp
Hispanic/Latino15.0%22.1%+7.1pp
Pacific Islander0.0%
Two or More Races15.2%17.4%+2.2pp
Students with Disabilities20.6%25.4%+4.8pp
English Learners14.5%21.2%+6.7pp
Foster Youth27.3%50.0%+22.7pp
Homeless19.8%28.5%+8.7pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged11.0%17.4%+6.4pp
All Students10.7%16.6%+5.9pp
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,160 high schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction