Original Research by School Decision on Live Oak High
Live Oak High is a regular public high school serving grades nine through twelve in Morgan Hill, a residential community with a defined commercial core in south Silicon Valley, roughly ten miles south of San Jose. The school enrolls roughly a thousand students, about two-thirds of whom are Hispanic and one-quarter white, with a fifth of the student body Asian. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the school's draw from families across a broad economic range in the area.
The 2024-25 state assessment results show proficiency below the midpoint in English language arts and substantially below midpoint in mathematics and science. English language arts proficiency stands around the low-to-mid fifty percent range; mathematics proficiency is in the mid-twenty percent range; science proficiency is at roughly the thirty percent mark. These results sit the school below the position of most districts in Santa Clara County on these measures, and a parent may want to look into what academic support the school offers and what trajectory the school is working toward with instruction in these core areas.
The school's enrollment is stable across grades, with roughly balanced cohorts from ninth through twelfth grade. No data on graduation rate, attendance, chronic absenteeism, or students with disabilities were available in the provided records, so parents cannot see how many students complete the program or what supports are in place for students needing specialized services.
Morgan Hill itself is in an active growth phase, with a downtown core being revitalized around Monterey Road and Monterey Street and new residential subdivisions coming online across the city. The area is anchored by advanced manufacturing, bioscience, and retail employers such as Specialized Bicycle Components, Anritsu, and Toray Advanced Composites, alongside medical and R&D firms. The downtown has over thirty restaurants, boutiques, and historic buildings, and the city operates a Caltrain station, though service is limited to weekday peak hours. Housing values are substantial, with median home prices well above the state benchmark, and monthly rents reflect significant cost relative to median household income in the region. The city retains agricultural roots, with vineyards and orchards surrounding the developed areas.
The Morgan Hill Unified School District is navigating significant budget pressure. The district has been cutting millions of dollars as one-time COVID relief funds have ended, and staff have received layoff notices affecting teaching positions, support staff, and programs. A facilities bond was defeated in 2020, leaving major repairs and renovations across all fourteen schools unfunded. The district declined to place another bond on the November 2024 ballot but is preparing a bond and parcel tax measure for November 2026, which would represent a future property-tax increase if approved.
Live Oak High's academic standing warrants attention from families choosing among high schools in the area. The state assessment results suggest students are not reaching proficiency benchmarks in core subjects at rates the district or school would target. Families should contact the school directly to understand what curriculum changes, tutoring, or other supports are being implemented and what accountability measures the school and district have in place to improve these outcomes.
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