Original Research by School Decision on Frontier High (continuation)
Frontier High is a continuation high school in Whittier serving grades 10 through 12. As an alternative school, it serves a distinct role within Whittier Union High School District: it enrolls students who have struggled in a traditional high school setting and need a more tailored academic environment to earn their diploma.
The school is small. Most students are in grade 12, with a smaller cohort in grade 11 and very few in grade 10. A substantial majority of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, reflecting Whittier's demographics.
Academically, state testing data shows very low proficiency rates. In English language arts, proficiency sits in the single digits. Mathematics proficiency is zero. Science proficiency is also in the low single digits. These numbers are striking and warrant direct conversation with the school. A parent considering Frontier should understand clearly what these results mean: either very few students tested, tested students did not meet the state's proficiency benchmarks, or some combination of both. The school should be able to explain whether testing is part of the standard pathway at a continuation school, how the student population's prior academic history factors into these results, and what supports exist to help students progress toward diploma completion.
Continuation schools by design serve students who have fallen behind in traditional settings. The academic baseline when students arrive is typically quite low. The school's role is usually focused on credit recovery and completion rather than moving students to high proficiency levels on state tests. However, state testing data alone does not tell a parent whether Frontier is helping students catch up, move forward, or graduate. Graduation rate data, completion timelines, and information about post-secondary outcomes would be more telling for this school type. That information was not available.
Whittier itself is a Southern California city with a strong, active community anchored by healthcare and education employers. Housing values in the area are moderate to above the national median, with rental costs also moderate. The district recently passed a facilities bond to modernize aging school buildings, which means physical plant improvements are underway across the district without a tax-rate increase.
A family considering Frontier should look at it as a second-chance pathway, not a traditional college-prep route. They should ask the school directly about completion rates, what academic supports are in place, the daily schedule and structure, how credit recovery works, and where graduates go after they earn their diploma. The state test results deserve explanation in that context.
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