Is Taft Union High a good school?

Taft Union High ranks 1188 th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Taft Union High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,045 students attended Taft Union High.

What is the racial makeup of Taft Union High?

Students at Taft Union High are 62% Hispanic, 35% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Taft Union High?

Taft Union High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Conley Elementary Elementary : Elk Hills Elementary Elementary : Jefferson Elementary Elementary : McKittrick Elementary Elementary : Midway Elementary Elementary : Parkview Elementary Elementary : Roosevelt Elementary Elementary : Taft Primary Middle : Lincoln Junior High

Taft Union High

Summary:

Taft Union High is a public high school located in Taft, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,102 students. The school is part of the Taft Union High School District, which is ranked 1168 out of 1568 districts in California and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Taft Union High consistently performs below the state average in academic assessments, with only 46.22% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 14.64% proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 55.73% and 27.9%, respectively. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as White students and Disabled students, who rank in the bottom 20% of California high schools in their respective categories. While Taft Union High maintains a relatively high four-year graduation rate, its dropout rate has fluctuated, ranging from 2.1% to 5.4% in recent years, which is higher than the state's average. Additionally, the school has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 13.4% in 2018-2019 to 48.7% in 2020-2021, much higher than the state average.

Interestingly, when compared to nearby schools, Cuyama Valley High outperforms Taft Union High in some areas, such as graduation rates and academic achievement in certain subjects, while Maricopa High, which has a similar student population and socioeconomic status, demonstrates higher academic performance and lower chronic absenteeism. Additionally, Buena Vista High (Continuation), a school within the same district, performs significantly worse than Taft Union High across various metrics.

Detail:

Public 9-12

701 Wildcat Way
Taft, CA 93268-2319

(661) 763-2300

District: Taft Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
1188^th of 2,323 California High Schools

Feeder schools for Taft Union High:

Elementary:	Conley Elementary
	Elk Hills Elementary
	Jefferson Elementary
	McKittrick Elementary
	More...
	Midway Elementary
	Parkview Elementary
	Roosevelt Elementary
	Taft Primary
Middle:	Lincoln Junior High

Student/teacher ratio: 18.3

Number of students: 1,045

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

61.6%

White:

35.0%

Two or more races:

1.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 81.3%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Taft Union High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Taft Union High ranks worse than 51.1% of high schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 38.04. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Taft Union High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (61.6%), White (35%), two or more races (1.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 81.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Taft Union High is 18.3. (See more...)

Compare Taft Union High employs 56.8 full-time teachers.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Taft Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Taft Union High 1188^th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Taft Union High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Migrant students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Taft Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Taft Union High 1168^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Taft Union High?

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Rank History for Taft Union High

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Rank History for all students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	48.16	529^th	1653	68.0%
2005	54.42	514^th	1901	73.0%
2006	47.68	677^th	1968	65.6%
2007	47.94	703^rd	2063	65.9%
2008	43.57	829^th	2117	60.8%
2009	51.53	703^rd	2238	68.6%
2010	67.85	335^th	2281	85.3%
2011	66.01	379^th	2367	84.0%
2012	66.91	367^th	2354	84.4%
2013	67.48	354^th	2426	85.4%
2015	41.77	1135^th	1994	43.1%
2016	44.20	1120^th	2039	45.1%
2017	40.73	1228^th	2021	39.2%
2018	40.66	1201^st	2017	40.5%
2019	35.86	1322^nd	2133	38.0%
2021	33.93	852^nd	1290	34.0%
2022	29.47	1441^st	2123	32.1%
2023	27.05	1503^rd	2348	36.0%
2024	38.04	1188^th	2323	48.9%

See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2019	3.15	409^th	422	3.1%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	25.40	739^th	938	21.2%
2019	28.42	815^th	941	13.4%
2021	21.70	414^th	467	11.3%
2022	27.15	945^th	1044	9.5%
2023	41.68	430^th	1323	67.5%
2024	35.04	625^th	1350	53.7%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	25.85	1142^nd	1547	26.2%
2024	42.43	657^th	1534	57.2%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	43.31	1117^th	1862	40.0%
2019	37.64	1217^th	1937	37.2%
2021	36.11	751^st	1126	33.3%
2022	31.53	1326^th	1943	31.8%
2023	32.24	1359^th	2247	39.5%
2024	44.68	993^rd	2235	55.6%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	28.64	70^th	89	21.3%
2024	11.83	95^th	100	5.0%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Female students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	36.18	1175^th	1760	33.2%
2019	30.35	1268^th	1833	30.8%
2021	27.32	796^th	1054	24.5%
2022	28.71	1304^th	1858	29.8%
2023	26.11	1431^st	2118	32.4%
2024	35.45	1213^th	2098	42.2%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	24.11	839^th	1052	20.2%
2019	18.18	1062^nd	1117	4.9%
2021	38.77	306^th	555	44.9%
2022	25.69	962^nd	1161	17.1%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	39.63	1108^th	1834	39.6%
2019	36.36	1154^th	1880	38.6%
2021	34.82	733^rd	1122	34.7%
2022	26.55	1371^st	1916	28.4%
2023	26.11	1443^rd	2207	34.6%
2024	37.89	1102^nd	2172	49.3%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	42.89	1050^th	1742	39.7%
2019	36.80	1155^th	1814	36.3%
2022	27.75	1361^st	1861	26.9%
2023	24.87	1490^th	2142	30.4%
2024	40.33	1109^th	2125	47.8%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Taft Union High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	21.92	940^th	1173	19.9%
2019	21.68	984^th	1222	19.5%
2022	17.69	1017^th	1204	15.5%
2023	16.34	1147^th	1434	20.0%
2024	21.47	1038^th	1406	26.2%

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.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Taft Union High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	827	0	13	38	2	n/a	n/a	0	880
1989	813	0	19	62	5	n/a	n/a	0	899
1990	726	1	16	77	1	n/a	n/a	0	821
1991	764	1	17	77	2	n/a	n/a	0	861
1992	837	1	19	88	3	n/a	n/a	0	948
1993	842	2	13	103	4	n/a	n/a	0	964
1994	826	2	17	114	5	n/a	n/a	0	964
1995	769	5	13	123	3	n/a	n/a	0	913
1996	769	5	13	123	3	n/a	n/a	0	913
1997	763	4	16	120	6	n/a	n/a	0	909
1998	728	5	11	127	8	n/a	n/a	0	879
1999	747	3	13	140	6	n/a	n/a	0	909
2000	704	4	21	136	5	n/a	n/a	0	870
2001	706	5	18	159	6	n/a	n/a	0	894
2002	675	6	23	187	11	n/a	n/a	0	902
2003	675	6	23	187	11	n/a	n/a	0	902
2004	705	5	27	217	6	n/a	n/a	0	960
2005	676	2	30	241	9	n/a	n/a	9	967
2006	605	4	28	259	11	n/a	n/a	5	912
2007	590	11	23	287	12	n/a	n/a	4	927
2008	590	9	25	318	14	n/a	n/a	0	956
2009	567	13	9	319	13	13	16	0	950
2010	539	7	4	356	7	10	40	0	963
2011	508	6	6	364	9	11	31	0	935
2012	519	7	6	379	16	12	21	0	960
2013	487	9	6	384	22	12	19	0	939
2014	512	8	7	399	23	10	15	0	974
2015	527	10	6	389	22	13	18	0	985
2016	512	9	4	402	20	12	21	0	980
2017	486	7	5	426	16	9	19	0	968
2018	462	6	9	428	15	9	25	0	954
2019	404	3	5	483	12	6	27	0	940
2020	394	6	7	533	7	5	24	0	976
2021	411	7	6	580	4	2	13	0	1023
2022	423	13	10	605	5	3	13	0	1072
2023	425	9	10	637	6	1	14	0	1102
2024	366	6	9	644	5	1	14	0	1045

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 Taft Union High

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	880	45.0	19.5	n/a
1989	899	42.2	21.3	n/a
1990	821	44.8	18.3	n/a
1991	861	44.2	19.4	n/a
1992	948	44.9	21.1	16.6
1993	964	52.4	18.4	23.7
1994	964	53.4	18.1	24
1995	913	51.0	17.9	26.9
1996	913	51.0	17.9	26.9
1997	909	51.0	17.8	29.7
1998	879	51.0	17.2	32.4
1999	909	50.8	17.9	34.5
2000	870	53.4	16.3	36
2001	894	54.2	16.5	38.6
2002	902	55.2	16.3	37.8
2003	902	55.2	16.3	37.8
2004	960	59.8	16.1	47.1
2005	967	61.9	15.6	49
2006	912	63.3	14.4	50.6
2007	927	63.0	14.7	47.3
2008	956	77.9	12.3	45.7
2009	950	64.0	12.8	43.4
2010	963	64.8	14.8	50.1
2011	935	n/a	n/a	48.4
2012	960	65.0	14.7	n/a
2013	939	62.8	14.9	53.5
2014	974	59.8	16.2	53.2
2015	985	62.0	15.8	55.2
2016	980	62.0	15.8	59.2
2017	968	67.3	14.3	58.3
2018	954	65.8	14.4	61.8
2019	940	50.0	18.7	64.4
2020	976	n/a	n/a	65.3
2021	1023	52.2	19.5	79.8
2022	1072	54.4	19.6	81.3
2023	1102	56.3	19.5	59.4
2024	1045	56.8	18.3	81.3

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 Taft Union High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	880	45.0	19.5	n/a
1989	899	42.2	21.3	n/a
1990	821	44.8	18.3	n/a
1991	861	44.2	19.4	n/a
1992	948	44.9	21.1	16.6
1993	964	52.4	18.4	23.7
1994	964	53.4	18.1	24
1995	913	51.0	17.9	26.9
1996	913	51.0	17.9	26.9
1997	909	51.0	17.8	29.7
1998	879	51.0	17.2	32.4
1999	909	50.8	17.9	34.5
2000	870	53.4	16.3	36
2001	894	54.2	16.5	38.6
2002	902	55.2	16.3	37.8
2003	902	55.2	16.3	37.8
2004	960	59.8	16.1	47.1
2005	967	61.9	15.6	49
2006	912	63.3	14.4	50.6
2007	927	63.0	14.7	47.3
2008	956	77.9	12.3	45.7
2009	950	64.0	12.8	43.4
2010	963	64.8	14.8	50.1
2011	935	n/a	n/a	48.4
2012	960	65.0	14.7	n/a
2013	939	62.8	14.9	53.5
2014	974	59.8	16.2	53.2
2015	985	62.0	15.8	55.2
2016	980	62.0	15.8	59.2
2017	968	67.3	14.3	58.3
2018	954	65.8	14.4	61.8
2019	940	50.0	18.7	64.4
2020	976	n/a	n/a	65.3
2021	1023	52.2	19.5	79.8
2022	1072	54.4	19.6	81.3
2023	1102	56.3	19.5	59.4
2024	1045	56.8	18.3	81.3

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.

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Taft Union High

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 1322^nd of 2133 High schools	Ranks 1503^rd of 2348 High schools	2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Taft Union High)	33.5	33.5	0%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Taft Union High)	32.6	29.9	2.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)	57.3	55.4	1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Taft Union High)	14.4	7.4	6.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Taft Union High)	13.5	6.3	7.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (California)	32.2	27.4	4.9%
11th Grade Science (Taft Union High)	12.4	18.7	6.3%
11th Grade Science (Taft Union High)	11.7	16.5	4.8%
11th Grade Science (California)	30.4	31.7	1.3%
12th Grade Science (Taft Union High)	20	0	20%
12th Grade Science (Taft Union High)	14.7	0	14.7%
12th Grade Science (California)	25.6	26.9	1.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	940	1102	17.2%
African American	3	9	200%
American Indian	12	6	50%
Asian	5	10	100%
Hispanic	483	637	31.9%
Pacific Islander	6	1	83.3%
White	404	425	5.2%
Two or More Races	27	14	48.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	64.4%	59.4%	4.9%

Schools Near Taft Union High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CAST Science (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2024)		Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2018)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics End of Course	Total
Taft Union High	Public	9-12	701 Wildcat Way	Taft	93268	Kern County	Taft Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 763-2300	1,045	57	18.3	81.3%	366 (35.0%)	6 (0.6%)	644 (61.6%)	9 (0.9%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	14 (1.3%)	38	1188^th of 2323 public high schools	48.9%		27	1503^rd of 2348 public high schools	36.0%	315		19.7		19.3	46.2	46.2	14.6	14.6
Buena Vista High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	900 North 10th St.	Taft	93268	Kern County	Taft Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 763-2383	93	6	16.9	87.1%	30 (32.3%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (65.6%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)	9.8	2032^nd of 2323 public high schools	12.5%		8.7	2147^th of 2348 public high schools	8.6%	115		9.7		8.6	2.9	2.9	0.0	0.0
Maricopa High	Public	9-12	955 Stanislaus St.	Maricopa	93252	Kern County	Maricopa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 769-8231	83	9	9.6	96.4%	42 (50.6%)	2 (2.4%)	37 (44.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43.3	1042^nd of 2323 public high schools	55.1%		39.5	1160^th of 2348 public high schools	50.6%	118	21.4			25.0	50.0	50.0	15.0	15.0	$15,320
Cuyama Valley High	Public	9-12	4500 Highway 166	New Cuyama	93254	Santa Barbara County	Cuyama Joint Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 766-2293	63	4	15.5	84.1%	13 (20.6%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (77.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.6%)	29.8	1432^nd of 2323 public high schools	38.4%		38.1	1204^th of 2348 public high schools	48.7%	228			7.1	7.1	46.7	46.7	6.7	6.7	$16,653
Sierra Madre High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	4500 Highway 166	New Cuyama	93254	Santa Barbara County	Cuyama Joint Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 766-2293	0	1	2.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)									$16,653

Taft Union High

Taft Union High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Taft Union High:

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Rank History for Taft Union High

Rank History for all students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Taft Union High

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Special Education students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Migrant students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Female students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Disabled students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Male students at Taft Union High

Rank History for Hispanic students at Taft Union High

Rank History for White students at Taft Union High

Enrollment information for Taft Union High

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Taft Union High

Student/Teacher Ratio Taft Union High

Impact of COVID-19 on Taft Union High

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Taft Union High

Taft Union High

Buena Vista High (Continuation)

Maricopa High

Cuyama Valley High

Sierra Madre High (Continuation)

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