Location: Long Beach, CA
Are you a student or parent at Wilson High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to Wilson High available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe Wilson High is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Wilson High students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at Wilson High
- Every sports team you can join at Wilson High
Let's get started!
Basic Information
Wilson High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Long Beach, CA in Los Angeles County.
Based on its location, Wilson High is classified as a school in a large city. Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Wilson High School4400 E. Tenth St. Long Beach, CA 90804-4310
Phone number: 5624330481
Wilson High School homepage: https://lbwilson.schoolloop.com/
Principal: Sandy BlazerEmail the principal: [email protected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at Wilson High School is 4067 students, making it a very large high school, in the top 10% of all California high schools by size.
Wow! Attending Wilson High might feel like attending a college. You'll be surrounded by a large group of students (over 500 per class) and have more options for activities and clubs to join, which can be exciting.
On the other hand, you may also find that resources like counseling are spread thin across so many students. Make sure that you can get enough teacher and counselor attention to succeed at Wilson High, which may require being proactive.
Growth in Student Body Size
Is Wilson High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at Wilson 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 | 495 | 518 | 1013 |
| 10th grade | 536 | 515 | 1051 |
| 11th grade | 513 | 490 | 1003 |
| 12th grade | 475 | 525 | 1000 |
As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 13 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 Long Beach could be growing in population, thus sending more students into Wilson High. Alternatively, Wilson High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at Wilson High School?
From our statistics, Wilson High has a 50:50 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
Wilson High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Los Angeles 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 Wilson 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 Wilson High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson High fits within this category.
| Percentage | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.2% | 12 |
| Asian | 10.2% | 415 |
| Hispanic | 50.3% | 2049 |
| Black | 12.4% | 505 |
| White | 24.1% | 984 |
| Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 0.6% | 28 |
| Two or more races | 1.8% | 74 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Long Beach. 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 Wilson High Families
What are the family incomes of students at Wilson 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 Wilson High, 9.0% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 46.5% qualify for free lunches.
This means Wilson High has a below average level of poverty. With most students not qualifying for free or reduced price lunches, Wilson High is below average among California schools in poverty level. The income level of families in Long Beach is thus likely to be relatively high.
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced-price lunches | 368 | 9.0% |
| Free lunches | 1895 | 46.5% |
| Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches | 1804 | 44.3% |
As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Long Beach and doesn't speak much about the school itself.
Wilson High 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. Wilson High 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 Wilson High 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 Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson High 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 4144 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:
Long Beach Unified School District Safety
| School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan High | 0 | 0 | 3589 |
| Lakewood High | 0 | 0 | 4051 |
| Millikan High | 0 | 0 | 4057 |
| Polytechnic High | 0 | 0 | 4732 |
| Reid High | 0 | 0 | 330 |
| Cabrillo High | 0 | 0 | 3163 |
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 Wilson High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson High, 84% (of 996) Wilson 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%.
Wilson High is in the 52nd percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is above average. 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 Wilson 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 Wilson High School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1480 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 640 at Wilson High take the SAT.
This is an average SAT score, putting Wilson High School right around the national average. Because the SAT measures academic achievement, this suggests that Wilson High 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson High | 496 | 498 | 493 | 1480 |
| 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 1480 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1480 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1480 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 Wilson High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At Wilson High, the average ACT composite score was 21, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 243 out of 4067 total students take the ACT.
This is above average performance, putting Wilson High 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 Wilson High.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Wilson High compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
| Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson High | 21 | 22 | 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 Wilson 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 1091 students in grades 9-12 at Wilson High take 2296 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 Wilson High is 2.8 out of 5.
This score puts Wilson High at average performance. For AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and the number of students who pass and don't pass are roughly even. This performance places Wilson High School in the top 50% of schools for AP tests.
It's great that Wilson High offers an AP program so you have the opportunity to take courses at a college level. Even though roughly half of all AP students here don't get a passing grade, half do - so with motivated studying throughout the year, you'll be able to beat the 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:
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 Wilson 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 Wilson High, there is a total enrollment of 1133 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).
Of AP-taking students, 812 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 90 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 234 took AP courses but took NO tests.
This is good test participation. Most AP students at Wilson 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. Wilson 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 Wilson 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, 433 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 152 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 307 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.
This is good performance. The majority of students pass SOME or ALL of the AP tests. Only a minority of students at Wilson High School fail all the AP exams they take.
Overall, this points to a fairly strong AP program at Wilson High. Most students are able to pass at least one of the AP tests they take, which means the teaching is likely of acceptable quality, and the students are motivated to do well. However, the program isn't strong across the board. Some teachers or courses may be better than others, and students at Wilson High may be stronger at some subjects and weaker in others.
If you attend Wilson High, this means you'll have a good starting point to work from - but if you want to pass all the AP tests you take, you'll need to work hard and use good study strategies.
To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson 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 Wilson High.
English/Language Arts
At Wilson High School, 56% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered above average and puts Wilson High in the top 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. Around half of Wilson High students pass state standards, and around half do not.
This specific percentage isn't much cause for concern - because the standards have gotten harder with the Common Core, the pass rate at Wilson High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects Wilson High's roughly average ranking 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 Wilson High School, 26% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Wilson High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Wilson 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.
Sports Teams
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