Original Research by School Decision on King (martin Luther) High (continuation)
Martin Luther King High (Continuation) is an alternative school serving grades nine through twelve in Davis, California. It is a small school—the enrollment is very modest, with the vast majority of its students in grade twelve. The school operates as a continuation program, meaning it is designed for students who may have struggled in a traditional high school setting or face barriers to graduation in the standard environment.
Academically, the school's reported performance is markedly low. The most recent state testing data show that in English language arts, a small portion of students met proficiency standards, while in mathematics and science, no students met proficiency. These are real gaps that reflect the population the school serves: students facing significant academic challenges, often working toward a diploma through an alternative pathway. A parent may want to look into the specific support structures, credit recovery options, and graduation timeline the school offers, as continuation schools typically prioritize completion over traditional grade-level benchmarks. The school does offer at least one career and technical education pathway in business, which may provide vocational grounding for students oriented toward work.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic and White, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic need. The demographic composition and the school's explicit mission as a continuation program mean this is not a school designed to match a traditional college-preparatory trajectory. Instead, it serves students who need a different structure, often with flexible scheduling, individualized pacing, and a focus on earning a diploma and transitioning to work or other pathways.
Davis is a small, university-oriented city anchored by UC Davis, with a highly educated population and a culture of civic engagement and environmental leadership. Housing in the area is expensive relative to state and national benchmarks, and the community is characterized by strong bike infrastructure and pedestrian-oriented downtown life. The broader Davis Joint Unified School District is managing significant enrollment decline and is actively planning school consolidations; the district passed a parcel tax in 2024 to secure ongoing funding for academics and teacher retention, but the enrollment pressure remains a backdrop to all school decisions.
For students who have found traditional high school unsustainable or who need an accelerated path to graduation, King High offers an alternative structure. Parents and students should visit the school, speak with staff about credit recovery, diploma timelines, and post-secondary supports, and understand this as a different model from the traditional comprehensive high school.
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