Original Research by School Decision on Westside High
Westside High is a small alternative public high school in South Dos Palos, serving grades 9 through 12. The enrollment is small, concentrated heavily in the upper grades, with the majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with representation from White, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black students.
Alternative schools serve students who may not thrive in traditional high school environments, and Westside operates within that mission. The school's recent state assessment data shows very low proficiency rates across English language arts, mathematics, and science. A parent considering this school should understand that proficiency results in all three tested subjects fall well below typical district and state benchmarks. This is not uncommon in alternative school settings, where students often arrive with significant academic gaps or engagement challenges that take time to address. A parent may want to look into what specific interventions, support structures, and curriculum pathways the school offers to help students progress, and what the school's own goals are for student growth.
The school's graduation rate data was not available. For an alternative school, learning the graduation rate directly from the school would be important context for understanding student outcomes.
South Dos Palos sits in a region with modest housing costs relative to the state, and median household income is solid. The wider district, Dos Palos Oro Loma Joint Unified, has recently invested in physical improvements: HVAC and energy modernization across its three largest campuses is expected to improve classroom conditions and redirect savings to instruction. Dos Palos High School also reopened an expanded agricultural education farm, reflecting the district's roots in an agriculture-centered community. These are concrete investments in school facilities and career-technical pathways.
Westside High does not have detailed information available on specific course offerings, staffing ratios, attendance support, or discipline practices. A prospective parent should reach out to the school directly to understand its daily structure, what electives or career pathways it offers, how it supports credit recovery or acceleration, and what counseling or social services are on site. The alternative school model can be a strong fit for students who need smaller class sizes, more personalized attention, or a nontraditional schedule, but outcomes depend heavily on the particulars of how that school operates and what it prioritizes.
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