Original Research by School Decision on Natomas High
Natomas High is a traditional public high school serving four grades in the Natomas Unified district, which operates in and around Sacramento. The school enrolls a substantial number of students, with a balanced cohort across grades nine through twelve.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a large Black population and notable Asian representation as well. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with significant economic need. The school does not currently report data on students with individualized education plans or English learners, so parents seeking clarity on those populations would benefit from contacting the school directly.
Academically, Natomas High faces substantial headwinds. Performance on California's state assessment tests is weak across subjects. In English language arts, less than half of students demonstrated proficiency on the most recent test. In mathematics and science, proficiency rates were markedly lower still. These results sit below the midpoint of districts across Sacramento County. The school has reported results only for the current year, so we cannot chart whether these measures are moving or holding steady. A parent would want to understand what academic interventions the school has in place to address these outcomes and to ask the school directly what supports exist for students not yet meeting grade-level standards.
The housing market in the school's zip code reflects moderate values for the Sacramento region, with monthly rents substantially lower than the mortgage cost for purchase. The area is more affordable than California as a whole but less so than the national median. Unemployment in the area is moderate.
At the district level, Natomas Unified has made visible curricular moves worth noting. Ethnic Studies is now a graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2030, aligned to state mandate. The district has added AP African American Studies and a Race and Social Justice course as part of a multi-year diversity, equity, and inclusion plan. These courses reflect a pedagogical direction toward culturally responsive teaching that some families will welcome and others may want to examine more closely. The district has also invested in new campus facilities, including a dual-immersion elementary school opened in recent years, driven by a bond measure voters approved to handle district growth.
Counterbalancing those curricular investments, the district's literacy outcomes have declined notably in recent years, a trend the district has publicly acknowledged and says it is working to reverse. Parents considering Natomas High should view that broader trajectory alongside the school's current test results and ask what specific reading and writing supports the school offers to ninth-graders entering the system.
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