Original Research by School Decision on Foothill High
Foothill High is a comprehensive public high school in Sacramento serving grades nine through twelve. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly low-income and economically diverse, with a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is racially and ethnically mixed, with Hispanic students representing the largest single group, followed by white, Asian, and Black students, along with smaller numbers of Pacific Islander and multiracial students. The overall enrollment is typical for a suburban high school of its type.
The academic picture at Foothill requires direct attention. State testing results from the most recent year show proficiency rates that are notably weak across all tested subjects. In English language arts, about a third of students met state proficiency standards. Mathematics performance was substantially lower, with around one in eight students meeting the standard. Science proficiency was the lowest of the three, at a single-digit rate. These figures place the school well below the midpoint among districts across Sacramento County. The school's most recent data covers only one year, so trends over time are not available to assess whether performance is moving or stable.
The school is part of Twin Rivers Unified School District, which in the past few years has navigated significant structural change. Voters approved two facilities bonds in November 2022 to modernize aging school buildings across the district through property tax measures. More recently, the district experienced its first teacher strike, which lasted roughly two weeks in March 2026. The strike ended with a new contract that raised teacher compensation and expanded employer-paid health benefits, addressing what the union and district leadership identified as a staffing and retention crisis. During the strike, classroom instruction was largely halted while schools remained open for supervision. These events reflect broader staffing challenges that may affect classroom continuity going forward.
Housing in the Sacramento area where Foothill sits is moderately priced relative to state benchmarks, though affordability remains constrained. The median home value in the zip code is somewhat below the state average, and rents have ticked upward in recent months. For families considering the area, the estimated monthly housing costs, whether through mortgage or rent, consume a substantial portion of typical household income. The local economic context shows unemployment near the national midpoint, and median household income in the region is solid though not exceptionally high.
Data on the school's graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, student discipline, course offerings, and specialized programs were not available in the materials provided, limiting a fuller picture of how the school supports students through completion and what pathways it offers. A parent interested in understanding how the school addresses its academic performance gaps, what interventions or tutoring supports are in place, and what the school's approach to ninth-grade transition and upper-level academics looks like would benefit from speaking directly with school leadership or reviewing the school's improvement plans. The low proficiency results, especially in math and science, suggest these are areas where families should ask specific questions about curriculum, staffing, and support structures.
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