Hesperia High School: Full Guide

Location: Hesperia, CA

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

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

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

Let's get started!

Basic Information

Hesperia High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Hesperia, CA in San Bernardino County.

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

Contact Information

Mailing address:

Hesperia High School
9898 Maple Ave.
Hesperia, CA 92345-3643

Phone number: 7602449898

Hesperia High School homepage: http://www.scorpioncountry.com/

Principal: Michelle Estrada
Email the principal: [email protected]

Student Demographics

Student Enrollment

The total enrollment at Hesperia High School is 1989 students, making it a large high school, in the top 25% of all California high schools by size.

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

From our calculations, the enrollment at Hesperia 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
9^th grade	282	246	528
10^th grade	277	262	539
11^th grade	233	236	469
12^th grade	222	231	453

As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 75 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 Hesperia could be growing in population, thus sending more students into Hesperia High. Alternatively, Hesperia High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.

Gender Split

Are there more boys or girls at Hesperia High School?

From our statistics, Hesperia High has a 51:49 split between male and female students in the high school grades.

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

From our statistics, Hesperia 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 Hesperia High does. When attending class, most students will be of the same ethnicity, with some variation.

The majority of students at Hesperia 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 Hesperia High fits within this category.

	Percentage	Number
American Indian/Alaska Native	0.3%	7
Asian	1.4%	29
Hispanic	72.3%	1439
Black	7.7%	155
White	16.5%	329
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander	0.4%	8
Two or more races	1.1%	22

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

What are the family incomes of students at Hesperia 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 Hesperia High, 11.5% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 62.1% qualify for free lunches.

This means Hesperia High 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 Hesperia is likely to be relatively low.

	Number	Percent
Reduced-price lunches	229	11.5%
Free lunches	1236	62.1%
Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches	524	26.3%

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

Hesperia 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. Hesperia 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 Hesperia High doesn't cover, look to your local community for activities, or to the Internet for self-study AP classes.

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School Safety

How safe is Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 1963 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:

Hesperia Unified School District Safety

School Name	Total Referred	Total Arrests	Enrollment
Sultana High	0	0	2200
Shadow Ridge	0	0	128
Hesperia Community Day	0	0	26
Mojave High	0	0	267
Summit Leadership Academy-high Desert	0	0	193
Mirus Secondary	0	0	226

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

We've compiled everything we could find about Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia High, 79% (of 436) Hesperia 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%.

Hesperia High is in the 42nd percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is below 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia High School SAT scores.

The average composite SAT score is a 1320 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 204 at Hesperia High take the SAT.

This is a below-average SAT score, putting Hesperia High School in the bottom 50% of all California schools. Only 19% of students here score the national average or higher. Because the SAT measures academic achievement, this suggests that Hesperia High may offer a somewhat lacking high school education, compared to schools with higher SAT averages.

Note, however, that an average is just an average - top performers will still be able to impress. If you work hard and get an SAT score well above Hesperia 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
Hesperia High	449	441	439	1320
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 1320 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1320 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1320 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 Hesperia High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.

At Hesperia High, the average ACT composite score was 18, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 101 out of 1989 total students take the ACT.

This is below average performance, putting Hesperia High in the bottom 50% of California high schools. Most students who take the ACT are below the national average.

Since the ACT tests what you learn in school, this is a pretty strong indicator that you'll get an average or below average education at Hesperia High.

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

Average ACT Scores

Source	English	Math	Reading	Science
Hesperia High	17	19	19	18
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 Hesperia 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 201 students in grades 9-12 at Hesperia High take 399 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 Hesperia High is 2.0 out of 5.

Compared to schools across California, this score puts Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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:

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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia High, there is a total enrollment of 249 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).

Of AP-taking students, 0 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 166 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 96 took AP courses but took NO tests.

It seems that most students at Hesperia High School who take AP courses do not take any AP exams at the end of the year. This is quite unusual, and it's possible that there is a reporting error from the high school to the government (where we got this information). Another possibility is that Hesperia High offers an AP course to students, but don't expect them to take the actual AP exam.

You may want to ask your school counselor about whether AP course students usually sign up for the test. If not, ask why that is.

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 Hesperia 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, 34 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 82 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 90 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 Hesperia High School fail all the AP exams they take.

Overall, this points to a fairly strong AP program at Hesperia 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 Hesperia High may be stronger at some subjects and weaker in others.

If you attend Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia High.

English/Language Arts

At Hesperia High School, 40% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.

This is considered below average and puts Hesperia High in the bottom 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. The majority of Hesperia 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 Hesperia High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects Hesperia 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 Hesperia High School, 8% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Hesperia High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.

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

AP Courses

Hesperia High School offers AP courses in 15 subjects.

This is a reasonable number of AP subjects, putting Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia 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 Hesperia High during 2015-2016:

Course Title
Biology
Calculus AB
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
European History
Macroeconomics
Physics 1: Algebra-Based
Psychology
Spanish Language and Culture
Spanish Literature and Culture
Statistics
Studio Art: 2-D Design
Studio Art: Drawing
United States Government and Politics
United States History

Sports Teams

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

By the way, the Hesperia High mascot is the Scorpions. Go Scorpions!

Hesperia High School fields 13 teams for girls' sports. This is a sizable number that puts Hesperia 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 Hesperia High doesn't offer, consider looking for a local non-school team that you can join.

And now for the boys: Hesperia High School fields 15 teams for boys' sports. This relatively number puts Hesperia High in the bottom 50% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Sports teams are expensive to support, and Hesperia High may not be able to offer the full range of options. If you participate in a sport that Hesperia High doesn't offer, consider joining a local non-school team to get practice and compete.

Boys Teams	Girls Teams
Basketball Var JV Fr	Basketball 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
Baseball Var JV Fr
	Softball Var JV Fr
Trackfield Var JV Fr	Trackfield 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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