Original Research by School Decision on Everest Public High District
Everest Public High District served grades nine through twelve and operated a single high school, Everest Public High, located in Redwood City. The district has undergone a major operational change: Everest Public High, which operated as a charter school under Summit Public Schools, permanently closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year. The board cited insufficient funds and low enrollment as reasons for the closure. Students who were enrolled were guaranteed placement at Summit Prep, the district's sister campus, also in Redwood City.
Prior to closure, the district served a student body of modest size. Enrollment across grades nine through twelve was distributed fairly evenly, with slightly more students in tenth grade than in the other three grades. The student population was predominantly Hispanic, representing the vast majority of the school. The remaining enrollment comprised small numbers of students identifying as White, two or more races, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Asian, and Black students. No students identified as American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, as was information on the percentages of students receiving special education services or identified as English learners.
State academic proficiency data for the district was not reported and therefore cannot characterize achievement levels. Similarly, four-year graduation rate data was not available, making it impossible to assess completion outcomes. The absence of these measures is notable for a reader evaluating school performance; a parent may want to contact the district or the successor school, Summit Prep, to inquire directly about academic results and completion data if that information is important to their decision-making.
Among San Mateo County's districts, Everest Public High District reported a chronic absenteeism rate in the bottom quartile, meaning absenteeism was substantially higher than the median across the county's school systems. Per-pupil current spending fell in the middle range, lower half, compared to other county districts, suggesting the school operated with more modest resources than some of its neighbors but not among the lowest-spending systems in the region.
The closure of Everest Public High represents a significant change in the landscape of Redwood City secondary education. Families who were considering enrollment or who had children at the school during its final year needed to navigate a transition to alternative high school options. The guaranteed placement at Summit Prep provided a pathway for displaced students, though this shift meant the loss of a distinct school identity and potential changes to program offerings, peer groups, and school culture. Anyone exploring high school options in the area now should direct their inquiry toward the remaining charter and traditional public high schools serving Redwood City and surrounding communities.
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