Original Research by School Decision on La Paloma High (continuation)
La Paloma High is a continuation school serving students in grades nine through twelve in Brentwood. Continuation schools are designed to serve high school students who have struggled in a traditional setting, and this one operates as a small, direct-access school of approximately that enrollment size within the Liberty Union High School District.
The academic profile here is shaped by the school's population and mission. The most recent state testing data show proficiency rates well below typical benchmarks across all tested subjects. In English language arts, a small portion of students met proficiency; in mathematics, the rate was markedly lower; and in science, fewer still. These numbers reflect the challenges continuation school populations typically face. State testing data for continuation schools often differs substantially from traditional high schools because students arrive with prior academic gaps, unstable schooling, or other barriers. A parent considering this school should understand that state testing scores at continuation schools do not translate to the same context as they would at a traditional high school. The school's purpose is different: to offer students who have fallen behind or faced disruption a pathway to complete their high school diploma.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is heavily weighted toward seniors, with most students in grade twelve. The presence of many seniors suggests the school serves students working to complete their diplomas after time away from school or after struggling in a traditional environment. Graduation rate data were not available, likely because graduation outcomes at continuation schools are tracked through different state reporting mechanisms than traditional schools.
La Paloma sits in Brentwood, a rapidly growing suburban city in eastern Contra Costa County with deep agricultural roots. The city has shifted from a small farming town to a bedroom community, with most residents owning their homes and commuting to Bay Area employers. Housing values in the area are moderate to high for the Bay Area, and renters can expect significant cost burden. Downtown Brentwood retains a small-town character with local shops and a farmers market, but the surrounding landscape is spread-out, car-dependent subdivisions. The city is one of the fastest-growing in the region, with ongoing conversion of agricultural land to housing. Civic anchors include an extensive park and trail system and the downtown library; public transit connects residents to nearby BART but there is no rail station in the city itself.
The Liberty Union High School District serves secondary students across Brentwood and Oakley. The district operates multiple high schools serving different populations and purposes. The specific district-wide changes or initiatives over recent years could not be confirmed through available sources, though the district has noted examining effects of continued population growth in the region.
For families considering La Paloma, the essential question is fit. This school is designed to serve students who need an alternative structure to complete their high school diploma. It is not a choice school in the traditional sense; students are typically referred here after struggling elsewhere. If a student arrives at this school, the mission is clear: provide a smaller environment, more individualized attention, and a pathway to graduation. The very low state test scores should not surprise a parent familiar with how continuation schools work; they reflect the population served, not a measure of the school's effectiveness at its actual purpose. A parent should ask the school directly about its graduation rate, diploma completion timeline, supports for students who arrive with gaps, and any career or technical pathways available to students.
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