Whittier Union High, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Whittier Union High

Whittier Union High School District serves a large body of students across the greater Los Angeles area, with schools in Whittier, La Habra, La Mirada, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Downey, and Hacienda Heights. The district operates seven schools serving grades nine through twelve: five comprehensive high schools, one alternative school, and one continuation school.

The student population is predominantly Hispanic, reflecting the region's demographics. The district enrolls roughly evenly across all four high school grades, with a total enrollment that is substantial for this region. Data on free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner counts were not available, so families seeking a fuller picture of economic or language backgrounds at the district should contact the schools directly.

In the most recent state testing cycle, the district's proficiency in English Language Arts was near two-thirds of students meeting grade-level standards. Mathematics and science proficiency were significantly lower, with just over a third of students meeting standards in each subject. Only one year of testing data was available, so it is not possible to assess whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. A parent may want to ask the district about longer-term trends and any targeted initiatives in math and science, where the gap between ELA and other subjects is substantial.

Among Los Angeles County's districts, Whittier Union's chronic absenteeism rate falls just below the county median, meaning attendance is an area where the district's performance is broadly typical. Per-pupil current spending in the district is in the upper range among county districts, reflecting investment beyond the minimum required.

The district has not reported an overall graduation rate; this metric is sometimes unavailable when reporting systems are incomplete or in transition, and families should seek this information directly from district leadership. The absence does not reflect a gap in performance but rather a data-reporting question worth clarifying.

The region's housing market is moderately expensive for Southern California. Home values center in the mid-range, with substantial variation across the multiple zip codes the district spans. Rental costs have risen modestly over the past year. Mortgage affordability, measured against median household income, sits above the national benchmark, meaning housing requires a larger share of household resources here than in much of the country. Families relocating to the area should factor this into their planning.

In November 2020, district voters approved Measure AA, a facilities bond designed to modernize aging school campuses. The measure did not raise tax rates; instead, it replaced an expiring levy and will fund upgrades through the early 2050s with independent citizen oversight and annual audits. For families weighing a move into the district, this means sustained, audited investment in campus infrastructure is already committed and funded.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

10,223

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 90%

Black 1%

White 6%

Asian 2%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

60%

—

Gr 11

60%

—

Math

Gr ALL

33%

—

Gr 11

33%

—

Science

Gr ALL

27%

—

Gr 11

34%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

33%

—

Gr UG_SEC

33%

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Sierra Vista High (Alternative)

Frontier High (Continuation)

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$827,258

Year-over-year change+0.7%

Range across 15 ZIP codes$753K to $966K

vs. state typical1.07x

vs. national typical2.25x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (15 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
90601	Whittier	$865K	+0.7%	26.3%
90605	Whittier	$799K	+0.8%	15.9%
90670	Santa Fe Springs	$784K	-0.1%	14.9%
90606	Whittier	$777K	+1.3%	9.4%
90602	Whittier	$854K	+1.1%	9.3%
90604	Whittier	$835K	+1.2%	7.9%
90603	Whittier	$892K	+0.7%	5.7%
90650	Norwalk	$765K	+0.2%	5.5%
90638	La Mirada	$891K	+1.6%	1.4%
90631	La Habra	$942K	-0.0%	1.3%
91746	La Puente	$763K	+0.6%	0.9%
90241	Downey	$932K	+2.2%	0.6%
90660	Pico Rivera	$753K	+0.5%	0.5%
91745	Hacienda Heights	$966K	+1.4%	0.2%
90240	Downey	$946K	+1.7%	0.2%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,362/mo

Year-over-year change+3.3%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$2,172 to $3,283/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
90601	Whittier	$2,331	+2.7%	26.3%
90605	Whittier	$2,273	+3.1%	15.9%
90602	Whittier	$2,172	+5.3%	9.3%
90604	Whittier	$2,385	—	7.9%
90650	Norwalk	$2,799	+2.9%	5.5%
90638	La Mirada	$2,938	+4.6%	1.4%
90631	La Habra	$2,646	+3.4%	1.3%
90241	Downey	$2,295	+3.8%	0.6%
90660	Pico Rivera	$2,324	+3.6%	0.5%
91745	Hacienda Heights	$3,283	+1.1%	0.2%
90240	Downey	$2,897	+9.6%	0.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$4,174/mo

Home price / national median income9.9x

Annual rent / national median income33.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,813/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.