Original Research by School Decision on Mountain High
Mountain High is a small alternative high school serving grades nine through twelve in Lake Arrowhead, a quiet mountain resort community in the San Bernardino Mountains. The school operates within Rim of the World Unified, a district that covers six campuses spread across the mountain communities of Lake Arrowhead, Blue Jay, Crestline, and Running Springs.
The school's enrollment is very small, concentrated heavily in grade twelve, with only a handful of juniors and no ninth- or tenth-graders. About two-thirds of the student body qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The population is predominantly Hispanic, with a smaller share of white students and one student identifying as multiracial. Data on special populations such as students with individualized education plans or English learners was not available.
State testing data for the school shows proficiency in English language arts at less than half the student body. In mathematics, zero students achieved proficiency. In science, proficiency was in the low single digits. These are notably low results. A parent considering this school would want to ask the school directly about the population it serves, the alternative approaches it uses to support students, and whether these state test results reflect students' actual readiness or instead reflect the particular challenges of the population and setting. It is also worth understanding whether the school serves students who have struggled in traditional high school settings, as that context would shape how to read the performance data.
The school operates as an alternative school, a designation that often means it serves students who have not thrived in conventional programs, face behavioral or attendance challenges, or need a different pace or structure. State assessment data was available but not comparable data on graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, or attendance, which are standard metrics for regular high schools. These gaps likely reflect the alternative nature of the setting.
Lake Arrowhead itself is a private-lake resort community with a quieter character than other California mountain destinations. Housing is in the middle range for the region, with an active second-home and vacation rental market. The local economy centers on tourism, hospitality, and retirees, with few manufacturing or research employers on the mountain itself. Many working residents commute down the mountain daily. The Lake Arrowhead Village serves as the community's commercial and social center and recently launched renovations. Daily life outside the village is car-dependent, spread across forested, winding roads.
The district recently passed Measure E, a school facilities bond approved by voters in November 2024, its first successful bond in several years. This brings a new property tax tied to assessed home value for multiple years and funds modernization of aging systems and classrooms across the district's six schools, including plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, and science labs. An earlier facilities measure failed in 2020, so families should understand that the district has been working through funding constraints and is now in the early stages of a multi-year facilities upgrade cycle.
The district itself is small and geographically dispersed across mountain communities, which shapes the character of each school and the limits on programs and services. Mountain Transit provides fixed-route bus service connecting major community points, but the setting remains car-dependent for most families.
See more original research from School Decision →