Salinas Union High School District

431 West Alisal St.
Salinas, CA 93901-1624
(District boundaries shown in map)
4/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Salinas Union High School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 6 public middle schools serving 4,786 students in Salinas Union High School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in California.
Public Middle Schools in Salinas Union High School District have an average math proficiency score of 17% (versus the California public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public middle school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
12 Schools
3,496 Schools
# Students
16,095 Students
1,852,978 Students
# Teachers
733 Teachers
87,768 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
22:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Salinas Union High School District, which is ranked #1220 of all 1,908 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 86% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (CA)
#1181 out of 1932 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
17%
34%
42%
47%
20%
29%
82%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.16
0.64
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
11%
% Hispanic
92%
55%
% Black
1%
5%
% White
4%
22%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,356 in this school district is less than the state median of $19,978. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,256 is less than the state median of $18,399. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (CA)
Total Revenue
$295 MM
$116,387 MM
Spending
$246 MM
$107,188 MM
Revenue / Student
$18,356
$19,978
Spending / Student
$15,256
$18,399

Best Salinas Union High School District Public Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Carr Lake Community Day
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
10 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Gr: 7-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #22.
Washington Middle School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
560 Iverson St.
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 796-7100
Gr: 7-8 | 1,068 student Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #33.
El Sausal Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1155 East Alisal St.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7200
Gr: 7-8 | 1,051 student Student-teacher ratio: 22:1
Rank: #44.
La Paz Middle School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1300 North Sanborn Rd.
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 796-7900
Gr: 7-8 | 1,160 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1
Rank: #55.
Harden Middle School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1561 Mckinnon St.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7300
Gr: 7-8 | 1,127 student Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #66.
El Puente
Alternative School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
20 Sherwood Pl.
Salinas, CA 93906
(831) 796-7700
Gr: 7-12 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 96%

Recent Articles

2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
2025 Classroom Size Trends: Are Classes Still Growing?
A 2025 update on U.S. classroom sizes, policy battles, student outcomes, and whether class sizes continue to expand.
Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Personalized Learning in 2025: Revolutionizing Education
Explore how personalized learning is reshaping education in 2025—insights, policy, impact, and real-world models for students, parents, and educators.
How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
How Bullying Impacts Student Academic Performance in 2025
Explore how bullying harms student achievement, attendance, and well-being — and strategies schools use in 2025 to mitigate its effects.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 12 schools
  • Grades: 07-12
  • Enrollment: 16,095 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 96%
  • : 82% (Top 50% in CA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 17% (Btm 50%)
  • : 42% (Top 50%)
  • : 20% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education

Quick Links