Original Research by School Decision on Estrellita Continuation High
Estrellita Continuation High is an alternative high school in Galt serving grades nine through twelve. The school occupies a specialized niche within the Sacramento County high school landscape as an option for students who have left or been referred away from traditional high school settings. Its small enrollment reflects its role: the student body is predominantly junior and senior students, with only a handful of ninth and tenth graders.
The student population is economically stretched, with a substantial majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller white population and very limited racial diversity otherwise. No data on students with disabilities or English learners was available in the records reviewed.
Academically, the school's state testing results are far below county and state norms. In the most recent data available, proficiency in English language arts sat in the low double digits, while proficiency in mathematics and science each fell below five percent. These figures reflect both the school's alternative mission—continuation schools by design serve students who have encountered significant academic or behavioral disruption—and a population facing compounded challenges. A parent should understand that these numbers do not signal a school that is failing to serve its students well within its role, but rather that the students Estrellita serves are starting from steep deficits. The school's core function is re-engagement and credit recovery rather than acceleration toward college readiness.
The school sits on Marengo Road on Galt's east side, part of the newer suburban area where Liberty Ranch High School and newer residential subdivisions have expanded the city's footprint. Galt itself is a small, growing Sacramento County city between Sacramento and Stockton, functioning primarily as a residential community for workers who commute elsewhere in the region. The city is actively expanding through large master-planned subdivisions and pursuing downtown revitalization, though employment remains concentrated in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Housing costs are moderately elevated for the region, and unemployment sits near the broader state average.
The Galt Joint Union High School District, which operates Estrellita alongside traditional comprehensive high schools, has adopted a new local ethnic studies curriculum that will become a graduation requirement for future classes, built by district teachers rather than purchased off-the-shelf. The district also approved budget reductions in early 2026 to address projected structural deficits, with enrollment decline creating pressure on future operations and staffing. While no layoffs were required under the plan approved at that time, families considering the district should be aware that the system is navigating fiscal constraint alongside growth in the community.
Continuation schools serve a specific population of students: those who have become disengaged from traditional high school, who have fallen behind academically or behaviorally, or who benefit from a smaller, more intensive setting. Estrellita's very low proficiency numbers should not deter families whose students fit that profile; rather, they reflect the reality of whom the school enrolls. A parent considering Estrellita should speak directly with staff about how the school approaches credit recovery, classroom size, and the specific academic and behavioral supports students receive, none of which appear in the state data.
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