Modesto City High, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Modesto City High

Modesto City High School District serves students in grades nine through twelve across high schools in Modesto and nearby communities in Stanislaus County's central valley. The district enrollment is substantial, with students distributed across its seven high schools and one alternative education center.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with meaningful representation of white, Asian, and multiracial students. The ethnic composition reflects the broader Central Valley demographic profile. Free and reduced price lunch eligibility data was not available, so a parent seeking to understand the economic circumstances of the student population would need to contact the district directly.

State testing results from the most recent school year show proficiency in English language arts approaching the lower half of the range, while proficiency in mathematics and science falls into the lower portion. These results indicate that students are meeting state standards at modest rates across core academic subjects. A parent reviewing these scores may want to discuss with individual schools what support structures exist for students not yet meeting proficiency and what acceleration or intervention pathways are available.

Chronic absenteeism in the district sits below the midpoint compared to other districts in Stanislaus County, suggesting attendance challenges are somewhat more pronounced here than in many neighboring districts. This is a metric worth exploring further with school leaders when evaluating the learning environment.

Housing values across the Modesto area and surrounding communities served by the district fall below the state benchmark, making homeownership more accessible than in much of California, though prices have remained relatively stable. Rental costs are moderate for the region. The affordability profile suggests families can find housing in this area at prices closer to the national benchmark than to coastal California, though mortgage and rental costs still require solid household income.

The district has undergone several parent-relevant changes. In 2022, voters approved a general obligation bond to repair and modernize high school facilities. Bond-funded projects are currently underway, including solar installations over parking lots, upgraded cafeterias, new science classrooms, and renovated restrooms across campuses. Modesto High School is undergoing a substantial restructuring expected to last several years, which may involve temporary classroom spaces during construction. These projects represent a lasting commitment to physical infrastructure but also mean families should anticipate some disruption and changing campus conditions over the coming years.

Beginning in fall 2025, all freshmen are required to take a semester-long ethnic studies course, a shift reflecting broader state direction and incorporating local Modesto history. Simultaneously, the district is phasing out its long-standing world religions course as a graduation requirement, converting it to an elective. World religions had been a distinctive and required element of the Modesto curriculum for over two decades, so this represents a meaningful change to the graduation pathway.

The district operates schools at different performance levels and with different focuses. Families should review individual school profiles within the district to understand program offerings and results at the specific campuses their students would attend, as outcomes and environments vary across the high schools and the alternative education center serves students with different needs.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

15,540

Grades

06–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 63%

Black 3%

White 18%

Asian 6%

Two+ 9%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

40%

—

Gr 11

40%

—

Math

Gr ALL

15%

—

Gr 11

15%

—

Science

Gr ALL

17%

—

Gr 10

—

Gr 11

22%

—

Gr 12

14%

—

Gr HS

19%

—

Gr UG_SEC

19%

—

Schools in this District

8 schools are officially reported under this district.

Peter Johansen High

Fred C. Beyer High

Robert Elliott Alternative Education Center

Joseph A. Gregori High

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$458,419

Year-over-year change-0.5%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$358K to $526K

vs. state typical0.59x

vs. national typical1.25x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95358	Modesto	$435K	-0.2%	46.2%
95357	Modesto	$509K	-0.4%	15.4%
95356	Modesto	$526K	-1.0%	13.4%
95355	Modesto	$492K	-0.7%	5.6%
95350	Modesto	$430K	-0.6%	5.3%
95354	Modesto	$400K	-0.6%	4.6%
95351	Modesto	$381K	-0.1%	4.3%
95368	Salida	$492K	-3.1%	1.8%
95319	Empire	$358K	-1.9%	1.5%
95367	Riverbank	$486K	-0.4%	1.5%
95386	Waterford	$432K	+0.8%	0.4%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,969/mo

Year-over-year change+1.0%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$1,703 to $2,103/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95356	Modesto	$2,089	+0.0%	13.4%
95355	Modesto	$2,103	-0.8%	5.6%
95350	Modesto	$1,916	+1.9%	5.3%
95354	Modesto	$1,768	+5.1%	4.6%
95351	Modesto	$1,703	—	4.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,313/mo

Home price / national median income5.5x

Annual rent / national median income28.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$344/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Academic Performance
Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.