Original Research by School Decision on Hillside High
Hillside High is an alternative high school serving grades 11 and 12 in Upland, a residential city in the San Gabriel Mountain foothills of San Bernardino County. The school enrolls a small population, almost entirely in grade 12, with an overwhelming majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller representation from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
As an alternative school, Hillside serves students whose academic trajectories or circumstances differ from traditional comprehensive high schools. State testing data from the most recent year shows proficiency rates well below what students and families would typically see in traditional settings. Across subjects, performance is substantially constrained: English language arts proficiency reached a small proportion of students, mathematics proficiency was even lower, and science proficiency was minimal. These numbers reflect the population the school enrolls and the complex barriers many alternative-school students face, but they also mean that a family considering this school should recognize that state-measured academic proficiency is not the environment here. A parent may want to ask the school directly what outcomes it tracks instead, what support services exist, what pathways students follow after graduation, and how the school works to help students gain skills and credentials that matter in their local labor market.
The school's location in Upland places it in a community with strong residential character, mature neighborhoods, and a commercial sector anchored by healthcare, education, and retail. The city has been investing in downtown revitalization and new housing over recent years, and the Upland Unified School District has restructured its elementary schools around themed academies, offering families choice-based enrollment. For high school, the district is adding an early-college charter option beginning in Fall 2026, which will provide a college-credit pathway not previously available. Hillside itself is not part of this signature-school movement, and it remains a traditional alternative pathway for students in grades 11 and 12.
Housing in Upland is moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks, with a mix of classic bungalows, Tudor, and Spanish Colonial Revival homes alongside newer construction downtown. The city is car-dependent overall, though downtown Upland has higher walkability and a cluster of locally owned shops, restaurants, and antique businesses. Parks, a paved trail system, and Metrolink rail service to Los Angeles and San Bernardino are available civic amenities.
State testing data was the only academic measure available for this school. Graduation rate data, chronic absenteeism, and other district comparison metrics were not reported, which is not uncommon for alternative schools that serve nontraditional student populations and may track outcomes differently than traditional schools do. Families exploring this option should contact the school and district directly to understand its mission, support model, and what success looks like for its students.
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