Saratoga High School: Full Guide

Location: Saratoga, CA

Are you a student or parent at Saratoga High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?

We've written the best guide to Saratoga High available. Here we'll cover:

Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
How safe Saratoga High is to attend
SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Saratoga High students
Which AP/IB classes you can take at Saratoga High
Every sports team you can join at Saratoga High

Let's get started!

Basic Information

Saratoga High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Saratoga, CA in Santa Clara County.

Based on its location, Saratoga High is classified as a school in a large suburb. Here's the location on a map:

Contact Information

Mailing address:

Saratoga High School
20300 Herriman Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070-4950

Phone number: 4088673411

Saratoga High School homepage: http://www.saratogahigh.org/

Principal: Paul Robinson
Email the principal: [email protected]

Student Demographics

Student Enrollment

The total enrollment at Saratoga High School is 1428 students, making it a large high school, in the top 25% of all California high schools by size.

Attending Saratoga High will feel like attending a small college. You'll have a few hundred students in your class, enough to provide an interesting set of activities, sports, and classes to try. But compared to the largest high schools in California, the student body size won't be overwhelming.

Growth in Student Body Size

Is Saratoga High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.

From our calculations, the enrollment at Saratoga High has decreased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.

	Male Students	Female Students	All Students
9^th grade	166	179	345
10^th grade	171	169	340
11^th grade	188	182	370
12^th grade	200	155	355

As you can see in the table above, the senior class is 10 students larger than the freshman class. This suggests that Saratoga High is shrinking in size and taking on fewer students.

There are a few reasons this can happen. The population of Saratoga could be decreasing, thus sending fewer students into Saratoga High. Alternatively, other schools (like charter or private schools) might be appearing, drawing students away.

Gender Split

Are there more boys or girls at Saratoga High School?

From our statistics, Saratoga High has a 52:48 split between male and female students in the high school grades.

Saratoga High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Santa Clara 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?

From our statistics, Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga High are Asian. Across all of California, Asian students make up 11.5% of enrollment, but it's rare for a school to be majority Asian. Thus Saratoga High is notable in California for having such a strong Asian presence.

	Percentage	Number
American Indian/Alaska Native	0.1%	2
Asian	56.2%	803
Hispanic	4.5%	65
Black	0.0%	1
White	31.3%	447
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander	0.0%	0
Two or more races	7.7%	110

High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Saratoga. 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 Saratoga High Families

What are the family incomes of students at Saratoga 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 Saratoga High, 0.0% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 0.4% qualify for free lunches.

This means Saratoga High has a very low poverty level. Nearly no students at Saratoga High qualify for free or reduced price lunches. Saratoga is thus likely to have a very affluent community, and Saratoga High is in the top 10% of California schools in terms of family income.

	Number	Percent
Reduced-price lunches	0	0.0%
Free lunches	7	0.4%
Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches	1421	99.5%

As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Saratoga and doesn't speak much about the school itself.

Because Saratoga High is in the top quartile of schools by family income, it's likely to be well-funded relative to other high schools in California. This means you'll likely have access to advanced coursework like AP/IB classes and better-funded extracurriculars and sports.

It's still up to you, though, to take advantage of the resources Saratoga High has to offer. If you work hard and spend your time effectively, you'll likely be well positioned to succeed in college and beyond.

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School Safety

How safe is Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga High students at risk.

In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 4 referrals to law enforcement (4 male, 0 female), and 0 school-related arrests. This is out of a total enrollment of 1428 students.

To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.

This means that 0.2 Saratoga High is a safe school. For every 100 students, there is much fewer than 1 law-enforcement related action. It's not a perfect record, but it happens so infrequently that it might have just been a few bad apples.

With this record, is Saratoga High School significantly different from other schools in the area? It could be that Saratoga High has an especially bad record, or it could be that the local area shows a pattern.

Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:

Los Gatos-saratoga Joint Union High School District Safety

School Name	Total Referred	Total Arrests	Enrollment
Los Gatos High	7	2	1879

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 Saratoga High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?

We've compiled everything we could find about Saratoga High's academics here.

Graduation Rate

To start off, an important benchmark of academic achievement is graduation rate. For all students who start high school at Saratoga High, the state of California wants as many students to graduate as possible, since a high school diploma can mean a big difference in getting a job.

At Saratoga High, 97% (of 335) Saratoga High students graduated within four years of starting high school.

Here's how this stacks up to other schools. The California state government has defined 90% as a target rate. The state average is around 80-85%.

Saratoga High is in the 96th percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is extremely good. Generally, a graduation rate of above 90% is considered good and well above average, and below 75% is well below average.

Note: This data comes from a few years back, but the trends are likely to stay the same, since schools don't get significantly better or worse within a short period of time.

Standardized Testing

Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for Saratoga 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 Saratoga High School SAT scores.

The average composite SAT score is a 1920 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 436 at Saratoga High take the SAT.

This is an extremely high average SAT score, putting Saratoga High School in the elite top 2% of all California high schools. The average student at Saratoga High is already scoring in the 80th percentile nationwide or higher - indeed, 91% of students score above the national average. This means that the top students are likely scoring well in the top percentiles, and some may even be getting perfect scores every year.

Because you're surrounded by very talented students, this is a good sign that you'll receive a top-of-the-line education at Saratoga High. By following the trend at your school, you'll have a very strong chance at getting into some of the best colleges in the country.

Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:

Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)

Source	Critical Reading	Math	Writing	Composite
Saratoga High	624	663	640	1920
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 1920 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1920 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1920 or any other SAT score!

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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 Saratoga High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.

At Saratoga High, the average ACT composite score was 28, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 177 out of 1410 total students take the ACT.

This is excellent performance, putting Saratoga High in the top 5% of high schools in California by ACT score. Most students who take the ACT here are scoring well above average and in the top tier of the nation.

Since the ACT is meant to gauge what you learn in school, very high average ACT scores are a good indication that you'll get a high-quality education at Saratoga High and be surrounded by other high-achieving students.

Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Saratoga High compared to California and the US:

Average ACT Scores

Source	English	Math	Reading	Science
Saratoga High	29	30	28	28
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!

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Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give Saratoga 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 558 students in grades 9-12 at Saratoga High take 1282 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 Saratoga High is 4.2 out of 5.

This is a remarkable achievement showing top of the line performance. The overwhelming majority of students taking AP exams here earn a 5 or a 4, placing them well above the national average. Only a few dozen schools in all of California show this level of achievement, placing Saratoga High School in the top 1% of schools for AP tests.

It's safe to say that Saratoga High has an excellent AP program, with high quality teachers and classes that will thoroughly prepare students for AP exams. Furthermore, students at Saratoga High are likely to be highly academically motivated. By attending Saratoga High, you'll be in strong academic company.

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:

AP Test-Taking Statistics

Another way to gauge the quality of a school's AP program is to see how many AP students actually took AP exams at Saratoga High School. If a lot of students enroll in AP courses but don't actually take the AP tests, it can be a sign that students don't feel adequately prepared to take the test, or the school isn't encouraging students to take the exams enough.

At Saratoga High, there is a total enrollment of 572 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).

Of AP-taking students, 416 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 77 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 58 took AP courses but took NO tests.

This is good test participation. Most AP students at Saratoga High School take the AP test for every one of their AP courses, outnumbering the students who take some or no AP exams. This is a good sign that students feel confident enough to take tests for all AP courses available to them, which reflects well on the teachers and course material. Saratoga High can continue to improve by reducing the number of students who take AP exams for some or none of their courses, but it's in a good state.

Note: The most recent data we have available is from 2012, so the statistics may have changed since then. Most likely, however, the trends are likely to continue - above average schools are likely to stay above average, and below average schools are likely to stay below average.

AP Passing Rates

For AP students at Saratoga High School who take the exam, it's important to know how they do. Here we have specific data on how many students got a passing grade (a 3 or above) on all, some, or none of the AP exams that they took.

Of all AP test takers, 413 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 37 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 37 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.

This is very strong performance. The majority of Saratoga High School students pass ALL the AP tests they take - an impressive feat, especially if students take multiple AP exams each year!

Overall, this points to a strong AP program at Saratoga High: across all AP course offerings, teachers are able to prepare students well for the exam. There are still some students who fail some or all of their exams, but this is a good starting point to improve from. You'll have a strong foundation to learn from throughout high school.

To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga High.

English/Language Arts

At Saratoga High School, 95% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.

This is considered excellent and puts Saratoga High in the top 5% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. The vast majority of Saratoga High students easily meet state standards, and many of them are likely well above average. Students here are very well prepared academically.

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 Saratoga High School, 90% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Saratoga High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga 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 Saratoga High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.

Furthermore, many colleges will accept your Saratoga 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 Saratoga High School offer?

AP Courses

Saratoga High School offers AP courses in 18 subjects.

This is an impressive number of AP subjects, putting Saratoga High School in the top 25% of California schools in AP offerings. You'll likely have all of the most popular AP courses available to you, as well as some broader interests.

The total number of AP subjects is 38, so Saratoga High is missing a good number of subjects, but these are likely the least popular subjects, like less popular foreign languages. If there are any AP courses you want to take that aren't being offered at Saratoga High, ask your counselor for other options.

Of course, keep in mind that quality matters even more than quantity - it's important that your AP courses are taught well by engaging teachers. But the strong AP program at Saratoga High likely means you'll be in good hands.

The following AP courses were offered at Saratoga High during 2015-2016:

Course Title
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Chinese Language and Culture
Computer Science A
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
Environmental Science
French Language and Culture
Music Theory
Physics 1: Algebra-Based
Physics 2: Algebra-Based
Spanish Language and Culture
Spanish Literature and Culture
Statistics
United States Government and Politics
United States History

Sports Teams

Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at Saratoga 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 Saratoga High.

By the way, the Saratoga High mascot is the Falcons. Go Falcons!

Saratoga High School fields 20 teams for girls' sports. This is an impressively high number that puts Saratoga High in the top 10% of California schools that offer girls' sports. If you're a female, you'll have plenty of options of sports and levels to try out for. Furthermore, schools that offer more teams typically have a strong sports culture and field competitive teams.

And now for the boys: Saratoga High School fields 24 teams for boys' sports. Clearly Saratoga High has a strong sports culture - Saratoga High is in the top 10% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Boys will find plenty of options of sports at different levels to try out for. Because more teams usually also means more resources devoted to sports, you can also expect Saratoga High sports teams to be competitive.

Boys Teams	Girls Teams
Lacrosse Var JV Fr	Lacrosse Var JV Fr
Basketball Var JV Fr	Basketball Var JV Fr
Golf Var JV Fr	Golf Var JV Fr
Tennis Var JV Fr	Tennis Var JV Fr
Football Var JV Fr
Wrestling Var JV Fr
Volleyball Var JV Fr	Volleyball Var JV Fr
Badminton Var JV Fr	Badminton Var JV Fr
Baseball Var JV Fr
	Softball Var JV Fr
Waterpolo Var JV Fr	Waterpolo Var JV Fr
Crosscountry Var JV Fr
Soccer Var JV Fr	Soccer Var JV Fr
	Fieldhockey Var JV Fr

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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