Original Research by School Decision on Foothill High
Foothill High is an alternative school serving grades eleven and twelve in San Jose, operated by the East Side Union High School District. It serves a small, highly concentrated cohort of students: enrollment sits at about the scale you would expect for an alternative program, with the vast majority of students in grade twelve.
The school's student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Student demographics suggest this is a program serving economically vulnerable populations. Data on special populations such as students with IEPs or English learners was not available in the school's reported profile.
State assessment data for the spring of 2025 shows proficiency rates that are markedly low across tested subjects. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was very small. In mathematics, the proficiency rate was zero. In science, the proficiency rate was also very small. These results are far below what typical high schools report and warrant a direct conversation with the school about the context: alternative schools often serve students who have struggled in conventional settings, are catching up, or are pursuing a different pathway to graduation, and testing data alone may not reflect the program's actual aims or outcomes. A parent considering this school should ask the school directly about its mission, the population it is designed to serve, graduation outcomes, and what a typical trajectory looks like for its students.
A graduation rate for this school was not available in the data provided. Parents should ask Foothill and the district about completion and graduation data, since this is a key measure of how well the program moves students toward a diploma.
Foothill sits within a district that is navigating significant structural challenges. The East Side Union High School District has experienced sharp enrollment decline, falling from higher numbers over the past several years and continuing to drop. In response, the district laid off more than eighty staff members effective in 2026-27 and faces a projected budget deficit in the coming years. This context matters: it may affect the breadth and depth of programs, course offerings, and staffing continuity available to students.
The district has also recently passed two major measures aimed at shoring up schools: a general obligation bond approved by voters in 2022 that generates annual revenue through the early 2030s for facility upgrades and career and technical programs, and a parcel tax passed in 2024 that provides flexibility to spend locally on instruction and staff. These investments signal commitment to the schools, but they exist alongside real budget pressure and workforce reductions.
San Jose itself is a dense, car-dependent city dominated by the technology industry, with downtown undergoing sustained residential development and an economy anchored in engineering, manufacturing, and professional services. The city is a patchwork of neighborhoods ranging from walkable historic districts like Japantown and Willow Glen to sprawling suburban areas. Housing costs are well above national norms. The school's location on Pala Avenue places it in the East San Jose area, one of the city's residential neighborhoods.
Foothill's role appears to be as an alternative pathway for students in their final years of high school. A parent or student considering it should request a clear picture of the school's intended population, completion rates, post-secondary outcomes, and how the program works in practice, since state testing metrics do not capture the full scope of what an alternative program aims to achieve.
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