Location: Victorville, CA
Are you a student or parent at University Preparatory School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to University Preparatory available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe University Preparatory is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by University Preparatory students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at University Preparatory
- Every sports team you can join at University Preparatory
Let's get started!
Basic Information
University Preparatory School is a public school, supporting grades 7 to 12 . It's located in Victorville, CA in San Bernardino County.
Based on its location, University Preparatory is classified as a school in a midsized city. Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
University Preparatory School16925 Forrest St. Victorville, CA 92395
Phone number: 7602435940
University Preparatory School homepage: http://up.vvuhsd.org/
Principal: Valerie HatcherEmail the principal: [email protected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at University Preparatory School is 1092 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, University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at University Preparatory 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 | 72 | 113 | 185 |
| 10th grade | 71 | 99 | 170 |
| 11th grade | 64 | 108 | 172 |
| 12th grade | 60 | 108 | 168 |
As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 17 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 Victorville could be growing in population, thus sending more students into University Preparatory. Alternatively, University Preparatory could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at University Preparatory School?
From our statistics, University Preparatory has a 39:61 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
There is a large female majority at University Preparatory, and the imbalance is greater than you would expect from the general population in San Bernardino County. As a result, it'll feel like there are a lot more girls than boys in your classes.
Sometimes this imbalance can result from random chance and may not suggest anything about University Preparatory. In other cases, the school might preferentially select for females (if it has its own admissions criteria), or parents with female kids might prefer to send them to University Preparatory. In yet other cases, other neighboring schools might attract male students, drawing them away from University Preparatory.
If this gender imbalance is a concern for you, we suggest contacting University Preparatory administration and asking if they have any thoughts about why there's a female majority. Their phone number is 7602435940.
Ethnicity Breakdown
What's the racial diversity at University Preparatory School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory fits within this category.
| Percentage | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.7% | 8 |
| Asian | 10.5% | 115 |
| Hispanic | 64.0% | 699 |
| Black | 7.1% | 78 |
| White | 16.3% | 179 |
| Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 0.5% | 6 |
| Two or more races | 0.6% | 7 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Victorville. 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 University Preparatory Families
What are the family incomes of students at University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory, 1.7% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 64.0% qualify for free lunches.
This means University Preparatory has a moderate percentage of students at or near poverty. About half of all schools in California show this level of poverty or greater. The income level of families in Victorville is likely to be relatively low.
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced-price lunches | 19 | 1.7% |
| Free lunches | 699 | 64.0% |
| Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches | 374 | 34.2% |
As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Victorville and doesn't speak much about the school itself.
University Preparatory is in the middle 50% of schools by income level. Generally, higher income level schools are better-funded and have a higher quality range of classes and activities. University Preparatory is likely in the middle of the pack in this regard and will give you a good set of options to try.
If you have any interests that University Preparatory doesn't cover, look to your local community for activities, or to the Internet for self-study AP classes.
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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory: 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 University Preparatory students at risk.
In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 0 referrals to law enforcement, and 0 school-related arrests. This is out of a total enrollment of 871 students.
To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.
Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:
Victor Valley Union High School District Safety
| School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options For Youth-victorville Charter | 2 | 2 | 3400 |
| Excelsior Charter | 0 | 0 | 1321 |
| Silverado High | 0 | 0 | 292 |
| Goodwill High | 0 | 0 | 450 |
| Victor Valley High | 0 | 0 | 2665 |
| Cobalt Institute Of Math And Science Academy | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 University Preparatory School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about University Preparatory's academics here.
Standardized Testing
Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1470 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 249 at University Preparatory take the SAT.
This is an average SAT score, putting University Preparatory School right around the national average. Because the SAT measures academic achievement, this suggests that University Preparatory will offer a fairly standard high school education, neither strongly lacking or outperforming.
Note, however, that this is just an average - the top students can still exceed the average significantly. If you can rise far above your school average, you'll have a great shot at entering a strong college.
Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)
| Source | Critical Reading | Math | Writing | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Preparatory | 488 | 497 | 491 | 1470 |
| 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 1470 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1470 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1470 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 University Preparatory School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At University Preparatory, the average ACT composite score was 21, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 69 out of 695 total students take the ACT.
This is above average performance, putting University Preparatory in the top 50% of California high schools. Since the ACT tests what you learn in school, these ACT scores are a good indication that you'll get an above-average education at University Preparatory.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for University Preparatory compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
| Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Preparatory | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
| 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 University Preparatory 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 339 students in grades 9-12 at University Preparatory take 624 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 University Preparatory is 2.2 out of 5.
Unfortunately, this score puts University Preparatory at below average performance. For AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and the majority of students who take AP tests at University Preparatory don't pass. This performance places University Preparatory School in the bottom 50% of schools for AP tests in California.
This isn't all bad news. It's already good that University Preparatory offers an AP program, so you can start dipping your toes into college-level courses. Some schools are new to offering AP courses, and teachers often get better at preparing students for AP tests. Furthermore, a good number of students still earn a passing grade of 3 or above. With hard work throughout the year, you'll still be able to beat your school's average.
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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory.
English/Language Arts
At University Preparatory School, 96% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered excellent and puts University Preparatory in the top 5% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. The vast majority of University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory School, 74% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts University Preparatory in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory. 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 University Preparatory. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.
Furthermore, many colleges will accept your University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory School offer?
AP Courses
University Preparatory School offers AP courses in 13 subjects.
This is a reasonable number of AP subjects, putting University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory, 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory during 2015-2016:
| Course Title |
|---|
| Biology |
| Calculus AB |
| Calculus BC |
| English Language and Composition |
| English Literature and Composition |
| European History |
| Macroeconomics |
| Physics 1: 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 University Preparatory 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 University Preparatory.
By the way, the University Preparatory mascot is the Jaguars. Go Jaguars!
University Preparatory School fields 8 teams for girls' sports. This is a relatively number that puts University Preparatory in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer girls' sports. This is understandable - sports teams are expensive to support, and many schools would rather put those resources elsewhere. If you participate in a sport that University Preparatory doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.
And now for the boys: University Preparatory School fields 10 teams for boys' sports. This relatively number puts University Preparatory in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Sports teams are expensive to support, and University Preparatory may not be able to offer the full range of options. If you participate in a sport that University Preparatory doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.
| Boys Teams | Girls Teams |
|---|---|
| Basketball
Var
JV
|
Basketball
Var
|
| Golf
Var
|
Golf
Var
|
| Fieldhockey
Var
|
|
| Tennis
Var
|
|
| Wrestling
Var
|
|
| Volleyball
Var
|
Volleyball
Var
|
| Baseball
Var
|
|
| Softball
Var
|
|
| Trackfield
Var
|
Trackfield
Var
|
| Crosscountry
Var
|
|
| Soccer
Var
|
Soccer
Var
|
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