Location: Oakhurst, CA
Are you a student or parent at Yosemite High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to Yosemite High available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe Yosemite High is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Yosemite High students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at Yosemite High
- Every sports team you can join at Yosemite High
Let's get started!
Basic Information
Yosemite High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Oakhurst, CA in Madera County.
Based on its location, Yosemite High is classified as a school in a rural fringe area, near an urbanized area. Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Yosemite High School50200 Rd. 427 Oakhurst, CA 93644-9506
Phone number: 5596834667
Yosemite High School homepage: http://www.yosemiteusd.com/Yosemite/
Principal: Randy SealsEmail the principal: [email protected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at Yosemite High School is 698 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, Yosemite 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 Yosemite High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at Yosemite 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 | 89 | 85 | 174 |
| 10th grade | 85 | 95 | 180 |
| 11th grade | 79 | 92 | 171 |
| 12th grade | 93 | 79 | 172 |
As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 2 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 Oakhurst could be growing in population, thus sending more students into Yosemite High. Alternatively, Yosemite High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at Yosemite High School?
From our statistics, Yosemite High has a 50:50 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
Yosemite High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Madera 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, Yosemite High has a homogenous student body, with the overwhelming majority of students identifying as one ethnicity. Only a third of California schools show as little diversity as Yosemite High does. When attending class, most students will be of the same ethnicity, with some variation.
The majority of students at Yosemite High are white. In California, white students make up 26.3% of all California students, and are the second most common ethnicity after Hispanic students. Thus Yosemite High is one of hundreds of schools in the state that have a majority of white students.
| Percentage | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 3.8% | 27 |
| Asian | 1.5% | 11 |
| Hispanic | 15.7% | 110 |
| Black | 0.4% | 3 |
| White | 71.7% | 501 |
| Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0 |
| Two or more races | 6.5% | 46 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Oakhurst. 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 Yosemite High Families
What are the family incomes of students at Yosemite 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 Yosemite High, 11.3% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 34.3% qualify for free lunches.
This means Yosemite High has a below average level of poverty. With most students not qualifying for free or reduced price lunches, Yosemite High is below average among California schools in poverty level. The income level of families in Oakhurst is thus likely to be relatively high.
| Number | Percent | |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced-price lunches | 79 | 11.3% |
| Free lunches | 240 | 34.3% |
| Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches | 379 | 54.2% |
As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Oakhurst and doesn't speak much about the school itself.
Yosemite 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. Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High students at risk.
In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 50 referrals to law enforcement (36 male, 14 female), and 0 school-related arrests. This is out of a total enrollment of 816 students.
To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.
This means that 6.1 Yosemite High has major safety issues. For every 100 students, there were 6.1 law-enforcement related actions. This is a very high number that puts Yosemite High in the top 10% of schools with disciplinary actions.
With this record, is Yosemite High School significantly different from other schools in the area? It could be that Yosemite 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:
Yosemite Unified School District Safety
| School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View High (continuation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ahwahnee High | 2 | 0 | 24 |
| Raymond Granite High | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Foothill High (alternative) | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| Evergreen High | 2 | 0 | 38 |
| Glacier High School Charter | 0 | 0 | 99 |
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 Yosemite High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High, 96% (of 208) Yosemite 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%.
Yosemite High is in the 90th percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is well 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1560 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 106 at Yosemite High take the SAT.
This is an above-average SAT score, putting Yosemite High School in the top 25% of all California high schools and well above the national average (63% of students score above the national average). This is a notable academic achievement that distinguishes Yosemite High as a high-achieving school.
This is a good indication that you'll receive an above-average education at Yosemite High. While your school isn't in the very top echelon of all California public schools, you're still in a great environment.
Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)
| Source | Critical Reading | Math | Writing | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite High | 517 | 545 | 504 | 1560 |
| 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 1560 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1560 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1560 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 Yosemite High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At Yosemite High, the average ACT composite score was 24, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 39 out of 697 total students take the ACT.
This is very good performance, putting Yosemite High in the top 25% of high schools in California by ACT score. Nationwide, a 24 on the ACT is 74th percentile, so most ACT test takers at Yosemite High are well above average.
Since the ACT is designed to gauge what you learn in school, high ACT scores are are a good indication that you'll get a great education and be surrounded by other students who value academic achievements.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Yosemite High compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
| Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite High | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
| 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 Yosemite 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 33 students in grades 9-12 at Yosemite High take 49 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 Yosemite High is 2.2 out of 5.
Unfortunately, this score puts Yosemite High at below average performance. For AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and the majority of students who take AP tests at Yosemite High don't pass. This performance places Yosemite High School in the bottom 50% of schools for AP tests in California.
This isn't all bad news. It's already good that Yosemite High 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:
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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High, there is a total enrollment of 129 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).
Of AP-taking students, 39 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 50 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 65 took AP courses but took NO tests.
This is good test participation. Most students at Yosemite High School are taking some or all AP exams available to them, and only a minority of students end up taking zero AP tests. This means most students feel well enough prepared to take the nationwide AP tests for their courses.
There's still some room for improvement. Yosemite High could reduce the number of AP students who take zero AP exams, and encourage students to take all AP exams available to them. Some students may not feel confident that they'll pass, so they choose not to take the test. By building a better AP program Yosemite High could improve their AP exam participation.
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.
To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High.
English/Language Arts
At Yosemite High School, 63% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered above average and puts Yosemite High in the top 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. Around half of Yosemite 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 Yosemite High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects Yosemite 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 Yosemite High School, 25% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Yosemite High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite 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 Yosemite High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.
Furthermore, many colleges will accept your Yosemite 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 Yosemite High School offer?
IB Courses
The International Baccalaureate program is less popular in the United States than the Advanced Placement program (there are around 850 diploma schools in the country and 100 in California). But Yosemite High School is one of the lucky few to have an IB program!
For college application purposes, the IB and AP programs are basically equivalent. So don't worry about being advantaged or disadvantaged either way if you participate in IB vs AP. What colleges care about first is academic achievement, and AP and IB classes are seen as equally challenging.
Yosemite High School has been an IB school since 1/8/92. Questions about the IB program at Yosemite High? You can contact the IB Diploma Programme coordinator, Mrs Stephanie Samuels, by phone at (1) 559 683 4667 x31.
The following IB courses were offered at Yosemite High during 2015-2016:
| Course Title | HL/SL |
|---|---|
| Spanish B | HL + SL |
| Biology | HL + SL |
| Mathematical studies | SL |
| Psychology | HL + SL |
| Theory of Knowledge | |
| French B | HL + SL |
| English A Literature | HL + SL |
| History | HL + SL |
| Visual Arts |
You can find out more about the IB testing schedule by going here.
We've also written the best study and test guides to International Baccalaureate.
Sports Teams
Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at Yosemite 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 Yosemite High.
By the way, the Yosemite High mascot is the Badgers. Go Badgers!
Yosemite High School fields 18 teams for girls' sports. This is a high number that puts Yosemite High in the top 25% of California schools that offer girls' sports. If you're a female, you'll have lots of options of sports and levels to try out for.
And now for the boys: Yosemite High School fields 21 teams for boys' sports. This puts Yosemite High in the top 25% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Boys will have a large pick of sports to try out for.
| Boys Teams | Girls Teams |
|---|---|
| Basketball
Var
JV
Fr
|
Basketball
Var
JV
Fr
|
| 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
|
|
| Waterpolo
Var
JV
|
Waterpolo
Var
JV
|
| Crosscountry
Var
Fr
|
Crosscountry
Var
Fr
|
| Soccer
Var
JV
|
Soccer
Var
JV
|
| Swimming
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