Original Research by School Decision on Park West High (continuation)
Park West High is a continuation school serving grades eleven and twelve in Pomona, operating as an alternative pathway within the Pomona Unified School District. A continuation school is designed for students who have fallen behind in credit accumulation or attendance at a traditional high school and need a different structure to earn a diploma.
The school serves a small enrollment of students in those upper grades. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller numbers of Black, white, and other students. Specific data on students with disabilities or English learners was not available.
On state assessments administered in 2024-25, proficiency rates were low across all tested subjects. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was in the single digits. Mathematics proficiency was lower still, also in the single digits. Science proficiency was similarly low. These figures reflect the student population this school serves: students who have experienced academic difficulty or interruption and are working to recover credits and complete graduation requirements. A parent may want to look into further with the school what academic support, credit recovery options, and pathway structures exist to help students reach proficiency and graduate.
No four-year graduation rate was reported for Park West High, which is typical for continuation schools. These schools often serve students part-time or on accelerated schedules and track completion rates differently than traditional schools report them. The district and school can provide specifics on how students progress toward earning their diploma once enrolled.
The school is located on West Holt Avenue in Pomona's western residential area. Pomona itself is a densely populated city anchored by education, healthcare, and manufacturing, with Cal Poly Pomona and Western University of Health Sciences as major institutions. The downtown area has genuine civic and cultural infrastructure, including the Pomona Arts Colony, the Pomona Public Library, museums, and a downtown Metrolink and Amtrak station. In September 2025, the Metro A Line light rail extension opened to Pomona-North, connecting the city by rail to Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles. The city is actively pursuing residential infill and mixed-use development tied to this new transit connection.
The housing market in Pomona's zip code is mid-range for Los Angeles County. Home values are below the state median, and rents are moderate compared to the broader region. Rental costs run somewhat lower than the estimated mortgage payment for a median-priced home in the area.
In March 2024, Pomona Unified reached a salary agreement with its teachers union that included an ongoing increase plus a one-time retroactive boost, aimed at bringing teacher pay closer to surrounding districts. In November 2024, voters approved Measure UU, a bond measure funded through a property-tax increase that will provide funds for classroom upgrades, facility repairs, safe drinking water, asbestos removal, and other infrastructure improvements across district schools over the coming years. These changes affect families both through ongoing funding for schools and, for homeowners, through higher property taxes.
Park West High is one option for students in the district who need credit recovery or a more flexible school structure to graduate. Its low proficiency numbers reflect the academic starting point of its population, and families considering enrollment should discuss directly with the school the specific support, instruction, and completion pathways it offers.
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