Location: Fresno, CA
Are you a student or parent at Washington High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to Washington High available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe Washington High is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Washington High students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at Washington High
- Every sports team you can join at Washington High
Let's get started!
Basic Information
Washington High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Fresno, CA in Fresno County.
Based on its location, Washington High is classified as a school in a large suburb. Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Washington High School6041 S. Elm Ave. Fresno, CA 93706-6018
Phone number: 5594858805
Washington High School homepage: http://www.pantherslive.net/pages/Washington_Union_High_School
Principal: Derek CruzEmail the principal: [email protected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at Washington High School is 1044 students, making it a somewhat large high school, in the top half of all California high schools by size.
As a mid-sized high school, Washington High strikes the balance between size and comfort. There will be enough students to provide a diversity of experiences, like clubs and sports, for you to join. But it'll be small enough that you'll likely get to know most people in your class.
Growth in Student Body Size
Is Washington High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at Washington High has increased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.
| Male Students | Female Students | All Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th grade | 159 | 143 | 302 |
| 10th grade | 149 | 117 | 266 |
| 11th grade | 124 | 110 | 234 |
| 12th grade | 114 | 128 | 242 |
As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 60 students larger than the senior class. This suggests that the school is growing in size and taking on more students.
There are a few reasons this could be happening. The city of Fresno could be growing in population, thus sending more students into Washington High. Alternatively, Washington High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at Washington High School?
From our statistics, Washington High has a 53:47 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
Washington High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Fresno County. Since the student body is roughly half and half, it should feel like there are equal numbers of boys and girls in your classes.
This usually means that Washington High doesn't strongly select for either males or females, unlike other schools that have a large majority of males or females.
Ethnicity Breakdown
What's the racial diversity at Washington High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, Washington High has a somewhat homogenous student body, with the majority of students identifying as one ethnicity, but not representing over 70% of the student body. Most schools in California fit this profile, so Washington High isn't out of the ordinary. Most students attending class with you will be of the predominant ethnicity, but there will be meaningful diversity from other races.
The majority of students at Washington High are Hispanic. In California, Hispanic students make up the majority of all students at 51.5%, and are thus the most common ethnicity. Predominantly Hispanic schools are the most common type of homogenous school, and Washington High fits within this category.
| Percentage | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.4% | 5 |
| Asian | 13.2% | 138 |
| Hispanic | 69.6% | 727 |
| Black | 6.7% | 70 |
| White | 9.3% | 98 |
| Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0 |
| Two or more races | 0.5% | 6 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Fresno. If you'd like to see how other nearby schools look in diversity, just google "[name of school] prepscholar" to find our guide to that specific school.
Income Level of Washington High Families
What are the family incomes of students at Washington High School? To determine this, we look at the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches, a classification by the US federal government.
To qualify for a reduced price meal, family income needs to be below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $45,000 or below.
To qualify for a free meal, family income needs to be below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $32,000 or below.
The lower the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price meals, the higher the income levels are likely to be.
At Washington High, 8.5% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 84.6% qualify for free lunches.
This means Washington High has a high percentage of students at or near poverty. Almost a third of all schools in California show this level of poverty, and by National Center for Education Statistics standards, Washington High can be classified as a high poverty school. The income level of families in Fresno is thus likely to be low.
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced-price lunches | 89 | 8.5% |
| Free lunches | 884 | 84.6% |
| Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches | 71 | 6.8% |
As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Fresno and doesn't speak much about the school itself.
Unfortunately, schools in areas of lower income levels are likely to be more poorly funded. As a result, they might feature less advanced coursework like AP/IB classes, and you may not have a full range of sports and extracurriculars to draw from. Because Washington High is an especially high poverty-level school, it might not have the resources you need to meet your full potential.
You definitely don't have control over the city, the school, or other families, but you can structure your own learning to be more productive. If you'd like to open yourself to more opportunities, you can look into whether it's possible to transfer to a nearby school with higher income levels.
If not, don't be alarmed - it's possible that Washington High has all that you need for your ambition. And you can definitely be proactive about learning outside of your school, looking to your community or to the Internet to find more resources.
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
School Safety
How safe is Washington High School to attend? Can you expect a lot of conflict as a student here?
To study this, we look at disciplinary data for two types of incidents at Washington High: referrals to law enforcement (when incidents are reported to police), and arrests.
These are the most serious disciplinary actions available to school administration and are more severe than suspensions or expulsions. Suspensions are often discretionary and can be given just for being disruptive in class. In contrast, law enforcement referrals and arrests often indicate incidents that put the safety of other Washington High students at risk.
Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:
Washington Unified School District Safety
| School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easton Continuation High | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| W. E. B. Dubois Public Charter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Easton Community Day | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elm High | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| River City High | 936 | 0 | 1963 |
| Yolo High | 70 | 0 | 142 |
Academic Performance
Now we get to a major aspect of assessing a high school: academic performance. How good of an education will you get at Washington High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about Washington High's academics here.
Standardized Testing
Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for Washington High School students. These are tests that are administered to large populations of students for comparison purposes.
Let’s start by taking a look at the data for nationally administered standardized tests.
SAT Scores
As you probably know, the SAT is a critical test used for college admissions. The higher the score you get, the better your academic performance compared to students nationwide, and the easier it is to get into top colleges.
We did in-depth research and found the average Washington High School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1180 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 150 at Washington High take the SAT.
This is a very low SAT score, putting Washington High in the bottom 25% of all California schools, and well below the national average. Only 6% of SAT takers here score above the national average. Unfortunately, this suggests that most students attending Washington High are not high-achieving, and may find it difficult to be admitted to a good college.
Note, however, that an average is just an average - you still have the potential to rise above expectations. If you work hard and earn an SAT score well above Washington High's average, you'll have a great shot at entering a good college.
Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)
| Source | Critical Reading | Math | Writing | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High | 390 | 399 | 392 | 1180 |
| California | 498 | 510 | 496 | 1504 |
| United States | 495 | 511 | 484 | 1490 |
Note that the SAT has since changed to a 1600 scale, but the trends above for your high school are likely to continue. Just use this guide to convert between the old 2400 scale and the new 1600 scale.
To learn more about SAT percentile rankings, read our guide on what SAT percentiles really mean.
How good is 1180 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1180 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1180 or any other SAT score!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
ACT Scores
In California, the ACT is less popular than the SAT. Fewer students take the ACT, and typically these students are more motivated and academically prepared for college. Therefore, it's harder to compare Washington High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At Washington High, the average ACT composite score was 16, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 87 out of 1044 total students take the ACT.
Unfortunately, this is well below average performance, putting Washington High in the bottom 25% of high schools in California. Most students who take the ACT here are well below the national average.
Since the ACT tests what you learn in school, this may be a warning sign that the quality of education you'll receive at Washington High may be lacking compared to other schools.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Washington High compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
| Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington High | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
| California | 21.8 | 22.8 | 22.3 | 21.7 |
| United States | 20.3 | 20.9 | 21.3 | 20.8 |
Scores provided are for the 2013-14 school year.
Find out more about percentile rankings and the ACT in this article.
Every individual is different. What counts as a good ACT score for you? Learn more with this article!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give Washington High School students credit for college.
Here's what we're looking for: high average AP test scores as well as high AP passing rates.
AP Scores
Every year, roughly 126 students in grades 9-12 at Washington High take 161 AP exams. It's important to understand how students score on the AP - earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test means passing the test and often earning college credit.
The average score of all AP exams taken at Washington High is 1.8 out of 5.
Compared to schools across California, this score puts Washington High at below average performance. On AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and unfortunately the number of students who don't pass is greater than the number of do. This performance places Washington High School in the bottom 25 % of schools for AP tests.
This isn't all bad news for you, though. It's still good that Washington High offers AP classes so you have the opportunity to take courses at a college level. Your school might be new to offering AP courses, and typically teachers get better at preparing students for AP tests over time. Finally, as you'll see below, there are still students who earn a passing grade of 3 or above - and with hard work, you can be one of them.
We have specific data on how many students got a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) on AP exams in the chart below:
To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Washington High School, you'll have to talk to your guidance counselor (who can then help you find that information). For instance, one AP Calculus teacher may have an above-90% passing rate, while another might only have a 50% passing rate. If you can, you'll want to take the class with the teacher who has more students get a 3 or above on the AP exam.
Find out more about the average score for each AP subject here.
State Tests
As of 2014, eleventh graders attending Washington High School must take standardized tests in English/Language Arts and Math as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These align with the new Common Core standards and are called the "Smarter Balanced" tests.
If Washington High students meet or exceed state standards, they're academically prepared to graduate high school and go to college. Specifically, we care about the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards. The larger this number, the higher the preparation of students at Washington High.
English/Language Arts
At Washington High School, 40% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered below average and puts Washington High in the bottom 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. The majority of Washington High students do not pass state standards, and only a small percentage pass.
This specific percentage isn't much cause for concern - because the Common Core is new, the pass rate at Washington High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects Washington High's below average standing among California high schools.
English/Language Arts Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each ELA area score here.
Math
The other major test taken for state assessments is Math. Across the state, Math performance is generally lower than English/Language Arts performance, so it's natural for this number to be lower.
At Washington High School, 13% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Washington High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Washington High students don't meet state standards, and only a small percentage pass.
Math Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each Math area score, go here.
Academic Offerings
In addition to the standard high school curriculum, many high schools like Washington High School offer advanced coursework as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Brief Intro to AP/IB
AP and IB courses are designed at the difficulty level of college introductory classes. There are several important benefits to taking advanced coursework at Washington High. First, taking more advanced classes shows colleges that you're committed to challenging yourself academically, and that you're one of the more advanced students at Washington High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.
Furthermore, many colleges will accept your Washington High AP/IB coursework as college coursework. In some cases, you'll be able to skip introductory-level classes and move to more advanced classes. In other cases, you'll be able to avoid having to take required courses and might even be able to graduate earlier than the standard 4 years. Often this will require you to pass the AP test, getting a score of 3 or above.
So what advanced courses does Washington High School offer?
AP Courses
Washington High School offers AP courses in 11 subjects.
This is a reasonable number of AP subjects, putting Washington High School in the top 50% of California schools that offer AP courses. You'll likely have access to some of the most popular math and humanities AP subjects, as well as a few others.
The total number of AP subjects is 38, so Washington High is missing a large number of subjects, including some popular ones. If there are any AP courses you want to take that aren't being offered at Washington High, ask your counselor for ideas on how to cover the gap.
Of course, keep in mind that quality matters even more than quantity - even if Washington High doesn't offer every AP course under the sun, the classes might still be taught very well. You can see student performance in the AP score analysis section above.
The following AP courses were offered at Washington High during 2015-2016:
| Course Title |
|---|
| Calculus AB |
| Calculus BC |
| Chemistry |
| Computer Science A |
| English Language and Composition |
| English Literature and Composition |
| Environmental Science |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
| Statistics |
| United States History |
| World History |
Sports Teams
Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at Washington High School. Sports are an integral part of many students' high school experiences. The more sports that are available, and the more levels supported (Frosh, JV, Varsity), the more likely you'll be able to participate in a sport at Washington High.
By the way, the Washington High mascot is the Panthers. Go Panthers!
Washington High School fields 16 teams for girls' sports. This is a sizable number that puts Washington High in the top 50% of California schools that offer girls' sports. You won't get the full range of sports and levels, but you'll be able to try out for a few options. If you participate in a sport that Washington High doesn't offer, consider looking for a local non-school team that you can join.
And now for the boys: Washington High School fields 17 teams for boys' sports. This puts Washington High in the top 50% of California schools that offer boys' sports. You won't get every sport and level possible here, but you'll have a decent number of options. If you participate in a sport that Washington High doesn't offer, consider looking for a local non-school team that you can join.
| Boys Teams | Girls Teams |
|---|---|
| Basketball
Var
JV
|
Basketball
Var
JV
|
| Golf
Var
|
Golf
Var
|
| Tennis
Var
JV
|
Tennis
Var
JV
|
| Football
Var
JV
Fr
|
|
| Wrestling
Var
JV
|
|
| Volleyball
Var
|
Volleyball
Var
JV
Fr
|
| Baseball
Var
JV
|
|
| Softball
Var
JV
|
|
| Crosscountry
Var
|
Crosscountry
Var
|
| Soccer
Var
JV
Fr
|
Soccer
Var
JV
|
What’s Next?
Want to get more useful information about high school classes and preparing for colleges? Our blog has a ton of articles and advice on topics ranging from coursework and GPA to letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and much more!
Ready to bulk up your schedule and maximize your college preparedness? Read all about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
Not quite in high school yet, but eager to get started? We've also got information for younger students interested in advanced learning opportunities, both in and out of school.
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Sources
The data on this page is drawn from a variety of sources, including (but not limited to):
- National Center for Educational Statistics CCD 2013-2014
- "Free or reduced price lunch: A proxy for poverty?", NCES Blog
- CRDC 2011-2012 school year data
- California Department of Education SAT, ACT, and AP Test Results
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System Results
- AP Course Ledger
- IBO.org