Original Research by School Decision on Westmoor High
Westmoor High is a mid-sized public high school in Daly City, a densely populated residential community in San Mateo County. The school draws from a distinct student body: roughly six in ten students are Asian, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller shares of White, multiracial, and other students. About a third qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting moderate economic diversity within a generally mixed-income area. The student population is well-distributed across the four grades.
The school's academic profile shows uneven performance across subjects. English language arts proficiency sits at a solid level, but mathematics proficiency is substantially lower, around four in ten students meeting grade-level standards. Science proficiency falls between those two. The school reported results only for the most recent year, so trends over time are not available. A parent should look into whether these gaps in math align with broader patterns in the district or reflect particular challenges at this school, and what supports the school offers in mathematics and sciences.
Daly City itself is a working and middle-class community mixed with significant diversity. It is largely built out, though infill development is now underway along corridors and at shopping centers, including a major new mixed-use apartment project that broke ground in 2025. The housing market is expensive; median home values are well above state and national benchmarks, and rents have continued to rise, though not as steeply as home prices in recent months. The employment base centers on healthcare, retail, and small business, with many residents commuting into San Francisco. Transit access is good, anchored by the Daly City BART station, and the city has multiple library branches and parks distributed across its neighborhoods.
The parent district, Jefferson Union High, has made notable investments in teacher retention and facilities. In 2022 it opened workforce housing exclusively for staff, a measure aimed at reducing the high turnover that historically affected classroom stability. Voters have also approved bond funding for campus improvements including science labs, technology, and accessibility work. The district is introducing ethnic studies into the curriculum, with ninth-grade material already in development to align with California's ethnic studies graduation requirement beginning in 2030. These changes create a steadily evolving academic landscape for students.
State testing data specific to Westmoor's graduation rate and chronic absenteeism were not available in the data provided, so a parent would want to request those metrics directly from the school or district. Similarly, information on English learner and special education enrollment was not included. The school's course offerings, staffing, discipline practices, and detailed attendance patterns were also not in the available data. With those gaps, a parent considering Westmoor should plan to seek additional detail on how the school supports its mathematics and science students, what the graduation and attendance rates are, and what range of courses and programs are available in the junior and senior years.
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