Original Research by School Decision on Taft Charter High
Taft Charter High is a mid-sized charter high school in Woodland Hills that serves grades nine through twelve within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school's enrollment spans roughly equal cohorts across the four grades, with about half the student body qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student composition reflects the broader Los Angeles County demographic profile: roughly equal shares of white and Hispanic students, with meaningful populations of Asian students and smaller groups of Black, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. One student identifies as American Indian or Alaska Native.
The school's state test results from the most recent school year show proficiency in English language arts that sits above the threshold of basic competency, while math and science proficiency both fall below that line. State testing data for prior years was not available, so there is no visible trajectory. A graduation rate was not provided in the available data; parents may want to contact the school directly to understand this metric. Enrollment data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available.
Woodland Hills itself blends commercial and residential character. The Warner Center district, a master-planned business hub anchored by corporate offices, hotels, and retail, sits within the broader area and offers walkable concentrations of shops and dining near transit stops on the Metro Orange Line. Surrounding neighborhoods lean more suburban, with spacious homes and family-oriented amenities. The area is home to major employers including Warner Bros. Studios, Bank of America, and several financial and technology firms. Housing values in the 91364 zip code are substantially above both the California and national benchmarks. Rents are also elevated, and affordability measures suggest significant housing costs relative to median household income in the region. Families relocating to the area should expect to factor both purchase prices and rental costs well above regional and national medians.
Los Angeles Unified faces several parent-relevant changes. The district approved a major school facilities bond that will be paid through property tax increases extending over a long-term period; families moving into the district will absorb these tax obligations. Beginning in February 2025, the district implemented a full-day cellphone and smartwatch ban for all students, including during lunch and breaks, enforced through lockable storage pouches at most high schools. This shifts daily communication patterns and school-day routines. The district also oversees a Black Student Achievement Plan that funds culturally responsive curriculum and additional counseling and psychiatric support at targeted schools; this program was restructured in 2024 and its 2025-26 funding was increased.
A parent considering Taft Charter High should verify the school's graduation rate, the availability of AP and dual-credit pathways, and staffing levels in math and science support, since proficiency in those subjects trails language arts. The charter status and performance data, combined with Woodland Hills' affluent suburban setting and proximity to major employment centers, position this as a school serving a diverse, mid-income-to-affluent community with active local development. The school operates within a large district managing systemwide policy shifts, so individual school policies and cultures may or may not align with those broader changes.
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