Original Research by School Decision on Mojave High
Mojave High is an alternative school in Hesperia serving grades nine through twelve. Alternative schools operate outside the traditional comprehensive high school model, typically serving students whose needs—whether attendance patterns, prior course failure, behavioral history, or life circumstances—are not met in a standard setting. The school enrolls a small cohort, with the vast majority of students in grades eleven and twelve.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic need among families. Demographic data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.
State testing data for the most recent year shows proficiency in English language arts, mathematics, and science all well below what would typically be expected in a high school setting. A parent reviewing these numbers should understand that alternative school populations often enter with significant academic gaps, and measurement on the standard state assessment may not capture the full scope of what the school is working toward, such as completion, attendance recovery, or behavioral stability. That said, the results as reported are very low, and a parent may want to look into what specific academic supports, course sequences, and skill-building focus the school offers, particularly if their student needs help in foundational areas.
A graduation rate was not available; state reporting often does not include alternative schools in standard graduation-rate calculations because their student populations, timelines, and completion pathways operate differently. Learning whether Mojave tracks completion, credential attainment, or exit outcomes directly from the school would be necessary to understand what outcomes are actually happening.
The parent district, Hesperia Unified, recently underwent significant change. In January 2025, Encore Junior/Senior High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, a charter operating locally, closed mid-year after years of declining enrollment and financial trouble, displacing students and eliminating an arts-focused option. The same district has also invested in career technical education and dual-enrollment pathways at the high school level, with recent classes showing strong participation in A-G college-entrance completion, CTE pathway finishing, and Associate's Degree attainment while still enrolled. That infrastructure exists in the district even if Mojave's own academic profile is constrained.
Hesperia itself sits in San Bernardino County's Inland Empire region. Housing costs are moderate for the state, with both purchase and rental markets below the California benchmark, making it more affordable than much of the coastal state. The local job market and median household income data suggest a working-class to middle-income community, though economic context information specific to Hesperia was not available.
Mojave High appears designed for students who need an alternative to mainstream high school—students who may have fallen behind, experienced instability, or require a different pace or environment. The very low proficiency numbers underscore that this is a remedial or recovery pathway, not a college-preparatory one. A family considering this school should be clear about whether their student needs completion support, a second chance, or behavioral restructuring, and should ask directly what the school's curriculum pathways, graduation timeline, and post-secondary options look like.
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