Original Research by School Decision on Monterey High (continuation)
Monterey High (Continuation) is an alternative school serving grades 11 and 12 in Burbank, sitting within the Burbank Unified School District. As a continuation school, it exists outside the traditional comprehensive high school pathway. Continuation schools in California serve students who have fallen behind, faced discipline, or struggled in conventional settings. This school's enrollment is small, with far more seniors than juniors, which is typical for continuation programs that draw students across multiple years and circumstances.
The academic picture is stark. On the most recent state assessments, proficiency was low across subjects: about a small portion of students met proficiency in English language arts, zero percent in mathematics, and a small portion in science. These numbers reflect the school's population and purpose. Continuation students often enter with significant academic gaps, and many are working toward completion or diploma alternatives rather than college readiness. A parent or student considering this pathway should understand that the school's primary goal is graduation and reentry into the education or workforce pipeline, not college-prep coursework or high test performance. The school's existence rests on serving a population that mainstream high schools have not retained successfully.
Enrollment sits at a low level, with students concentrated in grade 12, which aligns with continuation programs' role as a recovery mechanism. The student body reflects Burbank's overall diversity, with a slight majority identifying as Hispanic, and about a third as white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating moderate economic need within the enrollment.
Burbank itself is a compact, entertainment-industry-centered city with a small-town feel despite its location in Los Angeles County. The school sits on Monterey Avenue, part of a dispersed high school network rather than a clustered campus system. The city is relatively walkable in pockets like Downtown and Magnolia Park, and rail transit through the Downtown Burbank Metrolink station connects residents to the broader region. Housing in the zip code is expensive; home values are well above the state median, and rents are significant as a share of household income. The city is pursuing substantial downtown infill development, which may affect the local character and school enrollment patterns over time.
No graduation rate, chronic absenteeism data, special education rate, or English learner enrollment figures are available in the data provided. These metrics would help frame how this school is functioning relative to other continuation programs and how many students it successfully moves toward completion. A parent or student should reach out directly to the school to understand its specific support services, the diploma pathways it offers, and its completion and employment outcomes.
Monterey High (Continuation) is fundamentally different from a comprehensive high school: it is a second-chance pathway for students who need a smaller setting, more flexible pacing, or individualized support. Whether it is the right fit depends on a student's circumstances, how they learn best, and what they aim to accomplish after graduation. The low state test results should not be read as school failure; they reflect a student population with deep academic needs and the school's purpose, which is recovery and completion, not college-prep acceleration.
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