Whittier Union Student Achievement at Record Levels According to CDE Data

Student achievement at Whittier Union High School District continues to rise to historic levels, with record highs throughout the District in graduation rates, A-G completion rates, and test scores in English language arts (ELA), math, and science, according to data provided by the California Department of Education (CDE), including results from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the California Dashboard.

Among 164 California school districts with more than 200 low-income Hispanic/Latino students tested, Whittier Union ranks first in math and science CAASPP test scores and seventh in ELA test scores. The California Dashboard reports that Whittier Union students are at target levels for math, science, ELA, and college and career readiness.

Additionally, all five Whittier Union comprehensive high schools earned a place on the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) 2026 Honor Roll, which aggregates CDE and CAASPP data from the last three years and compares results with schools of similar enrollment size and demographics.

“We are very proud of the great strides our students have made in all areas of achievement,” Whittier Union Director of Assessment and Accountability Tim Liggett said. “This reflects the hard work and dedication of teachers, counselors, support staff, and administrators who are all working together, sharing best practices, and creating spaces for students to learn and grow as they prepare themselves for college, career, and beyond.”

The most impressive gains by the District have come through CAASPP and California Science Test (CAST) scores. Data shows that in 2019, Whittier Union ELA scores were nearly identical to the California average, at 59% proficiency. Since then, the District’s test scores have risen to 67% proficiency, while the state average has remained the same.

A similar pattern is seen in District math scores, with Whittier Union and state proficiency rates nearly the same in 2019, at 33%. Whittier Union’s test scores have risen to 42%, while the state average has remained the same. District science scores have also increased considerably since 2022, reaching 44%, compared with the state average of 37%.

Whittier Union’s graduation rate in 2026 was 94.7%, an all-time high and up four percentage points from 2023.

This includes a combined 72.7% graduation rate at United Sierra Education Center (USEC) schools, which include Frontier and Sierra Vista, the District’s continuation and alternative education high schools respectively, and a 98.6% graduation rate for comprehensive high school graduates who attended Frontier or Sierra Vista before returning to their home school.

A-G completion rates are also at an all-time high, with two-thirds of Whittier Union Class of 2026 graduates eligible for admission to University of California or California State University schools.

The success in student achievement is the result of a series of District policies and practices designed to inspire, nurture, challenge, and ultimately prepare Whittier Union students for a bright and promising post-secondary future. These include data-informed, teacher-driven instruction, systematic academic interventions, alternative education strategies that allow students to return to their home school by their senior year, and comprehensive student well-being and mental health supports.

Teachers regularly meet to assess student achievement, discuss best practices, and identify students who may need extra assistance. Counselors review transcripts and coursework to see who may be falling behind in their graduation or A-G requirements, and try to steer these students into summer school, credit recovery programs, or referrals to USEC schools.

Every Whittier Union campus has a full complement of mental health professionals who monitor student groups – including at-promise students such as multilingual learners and unhoused or foster youth – and partnerships with community wellbeing organizations such as the Helpline Youth Counseling and Pacific Clinics.

“Student achievement is at an all-time high at Whittier Union, but numbers don’t tell the whole story,” Superintendent Dr. Monica Oviedo said. “Our students are highly motivated and extremely focused, with well-established academic goals and dreams for the future. Our job is to do Whatever It Takes to ensure they have the tools and resources to succeed, wherever their life path takes them.”

Photo: A Whittier Union Class of 2026 graduate celebrates her college plans during a college signing event in spring 2026. Student achievement across the District continues to reach historic highs, with record graduation and A-G completion rates.