Western Center Academy

Summary:

Western Center Academy is a public charter high school located in Hemet, California, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 746 students. This exceptional school consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and a 100% four-year graduation rate that far exceeds the district and state averages.

Western Center Academy has maintained a statewide ranking between 7th and 78th out of over 2,000 high schools in California over the past several years, demonstrating consistently high academic performance. The school's student subgroups, including traditionally underserved populations, have all consistently ranked among the top performers in the state, indicating the school's ability to provide an equitable and inclusive learning environment. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 97.47% of 11th-grade students at Western Center Academy were proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, compared to 46.26% in the Hemet Unified School District and 55.73% statewide.

When compared to other high schools in the Hemet Unified School District and the surrounding area, Western Center Academy stands out as a clear academic leader, with significantly higher test scores, graduation rates, and lower dropout and chronic absenteeism rates. For instance, Tahquitz High School, the closest high school to Western Center Academy, has a statewide ranking between 1,395th and 1,483rd, significantly lower than Western Center Academy's exceptional performance.


Detail:

Public, Charter 6-12

 2345 Searl Pkwy.
       Hemet, CA  92543-9706


(951) 766-9030

District: Hemet Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
77th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,989 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  24.4 Help
Number of students:  741

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
45.1%
White:
35.1%
Asian:
8.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  61.7% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Western Center Academy ranks better than 93.4% of middle schools in California. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.98. (See more...)
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Compare Details Western Center Academy ranks better than 96.7% of high schools in California. It also ranks first among 6 ranked high schools in the Hemet Unified School District! (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 95.21. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Western Center Academy who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (45.1%), White (35.1%), Asian (8.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 61.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Hemet Unified School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Western Center Academy is 24.4, which is the highest among 6 high schools in the Hemet Unified School District! (See more...)
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Compare Western Center Academy employs 30.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Western Center Academy is $9,989, which is the 3rd highest among 6 high schools in the Hemet Unified School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Western Center Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Western Center Academy 183rd of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Western Center Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:

SchoolDigger ranks Western Center Academy 77th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Western Center Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Hemet Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Hemet Unified 1185th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Western Center Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2011 88.93 114th 2236 94.9%
2012 94.29 15th 2259 99.3%
2013 94.01 15th 2379 99.4%
2015 97.74 29th 2477 98.8%
2016 97.46 26th 2497 99.0%
2017 96.48 69th 2508 97.2%
2018 96.94 57th 2480 97.7%
2019 97.68 49th 2715 98.2%
2022 93.33 191st 2740 93.0%
2023 96.17 117th 2802 95.8%
2024 93.98 183rd 2777 93.4%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.90 19th 2230 99.1%
2019 99.49 13th 2369 99.5%
2022 97.07 46th 2458 98.1%
2023 98.85 25th 2549 99.0%
2024 96.27 76th 2575 97.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.01 149th 2262 93.4%
2019 95.47 83rd 2380 96.5%
2022 92.29 182nd 2509 92.7%
2023 95.29 120th 2547 95.3%
2024 90.51 230th 2546 91.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.47 23rd 2273 99.0%
2019 98.36 34th 2407 98.6%
2022 93.17 172nd 2527 93.2%
2023 95.96 109th 2558 95.7%
2024 95.44 123rd 2547 95.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.84 20th 2072 99.0%
2019 99.24 14th 2213 99.4%
2022 97.35 41st 2359 98.3%
2023 98.91 19th 2391 99.2%
2024 97.58 36th 2383 98.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.15 26th 1496 98.3%
2019 93.27 34th 1602 97.9%
2022 82.11 203rd 1555 86.9%
2023 87.64 112th 1552 92.8%
2024 85.58 142nd 1535 90.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Western Center Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all high school students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2013 92.59 16th 2426 99.3%
2016 98.11 16th 2039 99.2%
2017 98.35 7th 2021 99.7%
2018 97.73 31st 2017 98.5%
2019 99.08 13th 2133 99.4%
2021 97.27 28th 1290 97.8%
2022 98.44 30th 2123 98.6%
2023 95.63 78th 2348 96.7%
2024 95.21 77th 2323 96.7%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Multi-racial students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 89.55 40th 786 94.9%
2024 84.75 64th 804 92.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.97 18th 1862 99.0%
2019 99.27 15th 1937 99.2%
2021 99.07 10th 1126 99.1%
2022 99.34 18th 1943 99.1%
2023 98.37 34th 2247 98.5%
2024 96.88 43rd 2235 98.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.23 18th 1760 99.0%
2019 98.67 9th 1833 99.5%
2021 96.41 30th 1054 97.2%
2022 98.24 25th 1858 98.7%
2023 93.91 96th 2118 95.5%
2024 93.71 84th 2098 96.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Military Connected students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 86.59 26th 233 88.8%
2024 96.12 5th 234 97.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.14 72nd 1834 96.1%
2019 98.85 26th 1880 98.6%
2021 97.54 30th 1122 97.3%
2022 98.00 51st 1916 97.3%
2023 96.21 70th 2207 96.8%
2024 95.92 72nd 2172 96.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school Asian students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 86.41 44th 731 94.0%
2024 83.68 78th 712 89.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 99.89 1st 720 99.9%
2024 99.74 6th 721 99.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 99.44 4th 1742 99.8%
2019 99.80 4th 1814 99.8%
2022 99.31 17th 1861 99.1%
2023 98.24 24th 2142 98.9%
2024 97.39 33rd 2125 98.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Western Center Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.33 28th 1173 97.6%
2019 93.88 41st 1222 96.6%
2022 94.50 35th 1204 97.1%
2023 88.90 75th 1434 94.8%
2024 90.07 62nd 1406 95.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Western Center Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 









Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, September 8, 2018

Open Quote I have had two students attend Western Center Academy, including one already graduated from their program. It is rigorous and incredibly rewarding at the same time. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Western Center Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2011 115 3 2 45 1 0 3 0 169
2012 207 10 10 79 2 0 11 0 319
2013 243 13 12 89 2 1 14 0 374
2014 237 13 12 100 7 2 11 0 382
2015 260 14 20 157 3 2 15 0 471
2016 257 16 25 220 3 1 19 0 541
2017 278 18 41 243 6 1 31 0 618
2018 286 21 44 274 7 1 38 0 671
2019 287 21 49 275 9 1 36 0 678
2020 290 24 60 285 12 2 39 0 712
2021 296 26 57 296 12 1 40 0 728
2022 296 27 62 300 10 1 44 1 741
2023 283 34 66 313 7 0 42 1 746
2024 260 38 61 334 6 0 41 1 741

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Western Center Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 169 n/a n/a 24.3
2012 319 10.5 30.3 n/a
2013 374 12.6 29.6 19
2014 382 12.6 30.1 24.6
2015 471 17.0 27.7 24.4
2016 541 20.0 27.0 28.3
2017 618 22.7 27.2 27.5
2018 671 23.4 28.6 33.7
2019 678 25.9 26.1 29.4
2020 712 n/a n/a 44.7
2021 728 28.2 25.7 55.8
2022 741 29.7 24.9 52.1
2023 746 29.7 25.0 56.3
2024 741 30.3 24.4 61.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Western Center Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 169 n/a n/a 24.3
2012 319 10.5 30.3 n/a
2013 374 12.6 29.6 19
2014 382 12.6 30.1 24.6
2015 471 17.0 27.7 24.4
2016 541 20.0 27.0 28.3
2017 618 22.7 27.2 27.5
2018 671 23.4 28.6 33.7
2019 678 25.9 26.1 29.4
2020 712 n/a n/a 44.7
2021 728 28.2 25.7 55.8
2022 741 29.7 24.9 52.1
2023 746 29.7 25.0 56.3
2024 741 30.3 24.4 61.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Western Center Academy

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $9,989

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Western Center Academy

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 49th of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 117th of 2802 Middle schools
 2.4%
Ranks 13th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 78th of 2348 High schools
 2.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Western Center Academy)82.886.2
 3.4%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Hemet Unified)33.725.2
 8.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.544.2
 4.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Western Center Academy)7863.4
 14.5%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Hemet Unified)20.214.6
 5.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (California)38.533.2
 5.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Western Center Academy)88.290.1
 1.8%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Hemet Unified)37.629
 8.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Western Center Academy)74.357.6
 16.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Hemet Unified)20.714.1
 6.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Western Center Academy)96.285
 11.1%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Hemet Unified)3729.8
 7.1%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Western Center Academy)73.359.1
 14.2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Hemet Unified)18.912.2
 6.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (Western Center Academy)68.765.9
 2.8%
   8th Grade Science (Hemet Unified)18.816.4
 2.3%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Western Center Academy)96.494.9
 1.5%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Hemet Unified)45.539.5
 6%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Western Center Academy)82.163.3
 18.9%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Hemet Unified)1813.9
 4.2%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Western Center Academy)71.875.6
 3.8%
   11th Grade Science (Hemet Unified)22.339.6
 17.3%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (Western Center Academy)56.473.5
 17.1%
   12th Grade Science (Hemet Unified)9.816
 6.1%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students678746
 10%
African American2134
 61.9%
American Indian97
 22.2%
Asian4966
 34.7%
Hispanic275313
 13.8%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White287283
 1.4%
Two or More Races3642
 16.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients29.4%56.3%
 26.9%


Schools Near Western Center Academy









Frequently Asked Questions about Western Center Academy

Students at Western Center Academy are 45% Hispanic, 35% White, 8% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 5% African American.

In the 2023-24 school year, 741 students attended Western Center Academy.

Yes! Western Center Academy is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 77th of 2323 California high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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