Original Research by School Decision on Savanna High
Savanna High is a comprehensive high school in central Anaheim serving grades nine through twelve. The school draws an enrollment centered in the lower-middle range for a full-size four-year campus, with a student body that is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with smaller Asian, white, and Black populations. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the neighborhoods the school serves.
The 2024-25 state testing data shows proficiency in English language arts at the lower-middle range for the state, proficiency in science at roughly one-fifth of students, and proficiency in mathematics at a low level. These results rest on a single year of reported data, so trends are not yet visible. A parent reviewing whether this school's academic outcomes fit their family should understand that mathematics proficiency is the area of most concern. The school does not have a reported four-year graduation rate in the available data, and state testing results at individual schools do not always capture the full picture of college and career readiness. The school website and direct conversation with administration would provide clarity on graduation outcomes and on what support structures exist for students working toward postsecondary success.
Anaheim Union High School District, which operates Savanna, is navigating significant structural changes. In 2024, voters approved Measure K, a major facilities bond to fund construction, science labs, career-tech learning spaces, and campus safety upgrades. This investment comes after Measure B failed in 2020, leaving facilities needs unfunded for years. Families moving into the district should know that Measure K will carry a property tax obligation through the mid-2050s. The district is also managing enrollment decline; in 2024, the district issued mass reduction in force notices for teachers, citing expired federal pandemic funding and dropping enrollment, though all notices were rescinded by May 2024 after community pressure. This signals fiscal strain that families may want to monitor.
Savanna is located in central Anaheim, a large, diverse city with distinct neighborhoods. The school sits in an area with mixed commercial and residential character. Downtown Anaheim, the historic Packing District, and the nearby Colony Historic District form a walkable core with civic amenities including the Central Library, parks, and dining and cultural venues. Other parts of central and west Anaheim are more car-dependent. The broader city is in active growth, with the OCVibe development near Honda Center and ARTIC (the intermodal transit hub) adding housing, retail, and entertainment around the Platinum Triangle, and Disney announcing a major expansion plan. Housing in the Anaheim area is substantially more expensive than the national median and rents are a significant share of household income, reflecting Orange County's broader real estate market.
Savanna offers dual enrollment and access to a course catalog. For a student not yet sure of direction, and particularly for one whose family values lower cost and wider accessibility, dual enrollment can open pathways to community college and four-year degrees. The school's programs section in available data is limited; the school website would detail AP offerings, electives, career-technical pathways, and counseling resources.
A parent evaluating Savanna should weigh the mathematics proficiency results seriously, ask the school directly about graduation rates and college-going data by cohort, and understand that the school is part of a district managing both facility investments and enrollment pressures. The peer composition is heavily Latino and low-income, which reflects both the neighborhood and the broader city's demographics. The school is open and operating; whether it aligns with a student's and family's academic needs and goals is best determined through direct inquiry with the school.
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