Original Research by School Decision on Calico Continuation High
Calico Continuation High is an alternative public school in Yermo serving students in grades six through twelve. The school is part of Silver Valley Unified, a geographically expansive district covering the Mojave Desert with a significant population of military-connected families. Yermo sits in this remote setting, and the district's context shapes how this school functions.
The enrollment is small, with roughly three dozen students total. The vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, placing them in families facing economic hardship. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with substantial representation of white, Black, and Native American students, and a smaller number of Asian students. Most of the enrollment is concentrated in the upper grades, with the school serving only a handful of middle-grade students.
State testing data for this school is largely suppressed or missing, which is typical for small alternative schools where group sizes fall below the threshold required for public reporting. On the one test result available, English language arts proficiency was well below the state norm, while mathematics proficiency was zero. These numbers reflect the population this school serves: students who have not succeeded in traditional settings and who often face significant academic, behavioral, or life challenges requiring a different approach. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about its support model, course offerings, and how it addresses credit recovery and graduation pathways.
The school's alternative designation signals that it is designed to serve students who do not fit standard high school structures. This might include students who are behind on credits, students who work or have caregiving responsibilities, students with behavioral histories, or students referred by the district for intensive intervention. The alternative model typically emphasizes smaller class sizes, more individualized pacing, and direct focus on graduation requirements over breadth of electives.
Within Silver Valley Unified, the district has built and now operates a permanent district-wide virtual learning program (Silver Valley Academy) using a digital curriculum paired with state-certified teachers. That program, which became a formal option after the 2020 pandemic closures, serves students across the grade span and offers families in this remote, military-connected area an online pathway. Calico Continuation High operates as a separate brick-and-mortar alternative school and sits apart from the virtual option.
For families considering this school, the key question is fit rather than competitive standing. Calico Continuation serves a very specific population: students who need a small, alternative setting to complete their high school diploma or recover credits. It is not a school for students seeking advanced coursework or broad program offerings. It is a school aimed at removing barriers to graduation for students in crisis, behind, or redirected by the district. The low test scores reflect that mission and that population, not a failure of the school to educate. Parents should ask the school directly about its support services, staffing ratios, course sequencing, and paths to graduation, since those are the measures that matter for this student group.
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