Original Research by School Decision on Ben Lomond High
Ben Lomond High is a public high school in Ogden, Utah, serving grades 10 through 12. It is one of the older high schools in the city, and with an enrollment that is large for an upper-grades-only school, it operates as a single-site comprehensive campus for its juniors, seniors, and sophomores. The school sits within the Ogden City District, a district that covers the core of the city and its adjacent neighborhoods.
The student body is notably diverse and economically varied. A substantial majority of students identify as Hispanic, and the remainder is largely White, with small shares of students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, or multiracial. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is well above the national average, indicating that a considerable portion of families have lower household incomes. Data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs or who are English learners was not reported in the available records, so the level of specialized instruction or language support at the school is not clear from the data.
State testing results for Ben Lomond High were not available in the data provided, so there is no measure of how the school’s academic performance compares to other Utah high schools or to state averages. Similarly, the four-year graduation rate and chronic absenteeism rate were missing. This absence makes it difficult to evaluate the school’s academic outcomes or student engagement from a quantitative standpoint. Because the data does not explain why these figures are missing, a parent interested in academic accountability may want to ask the school directly about its most recent state test scores and graduation rates.
The school sits in Ogden, a city that has undergone notable revitalization in recent years. The downtown area, centered on Historic 25th Street, has been reinvigorated with new businesses, housing, and public gathering spaces. The city functions as an economic hub for northern Utah, with government offices, a large IRS regional facility, McKay Dee Hospital, Weber State University, and the Ogden City School District itself among its major employers. Industry clusters include outdoor recreation, IT and software, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. The former Defense Depot Ogden has been converted into the Business Depot Ogden, a commercial and industrial park, and the city has been recognized in national rankings for economic performance.
Within the Ogden City District, a significant recent development is a voter-approved general obligation bond, the largest in district history, passed in late 2024. The bond funds two new elementary schools, renovations and additions at several existing campuses, district-wide security upgrades, and a new transportation hub. The bond was structured so that the property tax rate would remain flat, rather than declining as prior debt is retired. While this bond primarily targets elementary facilities, it signals ongoing investment in the district’s physical infrastructure. How the bond’s projects affect Ben Lomond High specifically was not detailed in the data.
Housing in the area around Ben Lomond High is relatively more affordable than the statewide average, reflecting Ogden’s position as a city with a mix of older homes and newer development. Rental costs are moderate compared to national trends, and home values have seen modest year-over-year growth.
In sum, Ben Lomond High is a large, upper-grades-only high school serving a predominantly Hispanic and economically diverse student body in a city that has been actively revitalizing its downtown and attracting new industry. The school’s academic performance data is not available in the public records reviewed here, which leaves a significant gap for any family trying to gauge student achievement or graduation rates. The district is investing in facilities, though those projects are focused on elementary schools. A parent considering this school would benefit from seeking out the school’s own academic reports, program offerings, and graduation outcomes directly from the school or district.
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