El Dorado High School is a 9th–12th grade public high school located in Placentia, California. Established in 1966, El Dorado is one of four high schools in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, and serves the northern parts of Placentia, and Yorba Linda far eastern Fullerton, and a small portion of Brea.
Serving 2,009 students in grades 9-12, El Dorado High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in California for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 44% (which is higher than the California state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 71% (which is higher than the California state average of 47%).
The student:teacher ratio of 25:1 is higher than the California state level of 21:1.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the California state average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 2,009 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 25:1
- Minority Enrollment: 62%
- Graduation Rate: 96% (Top 10% in CA)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 20%
- Math Proficiency: 44% (Top 30%)
- Reading Proficiency: 71% (Top 20%)
- Science Proficiency: 35% (Top 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
El Dorado High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in California for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Graduation Rate
Diversity
School Overview
El Dorado High School's student population of 2,009 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 80 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Total Students
2,009 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
80 teachers
Year Founded
1966
School Rankings
El Dorado High School ranks within the top 20% of all 9,602 schools in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of El Dorado High School is 0.68, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#1835 out of 9602 schools
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
44%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
47%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
29%
Student : Teacher Ratio
25:1
21:1
American Indian
1%
1%
Asian
18%
12%
Hispanic
38%
56%
Black
1%
5%
White
38%
20%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
96%
87%
Eligible for Free Lunch
25%
54%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
11%
8%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CA Dept. of Education
School Notes
- School Mascot: Golden Hawk
- El Dorado High School is a 9th–12th grade public high school located in Placentia, California. Established in 1967, EDHS is one of four high schools in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. The schools first graduating class was the class of 1969. The campus received a major renovation in 2002. The gymnasium is dedicated to Joe Raya who was the original athletics director. The theatre is dedicated to Mrs. Gai Jones, who directed the theatre department from 1967 to 2002. The campus is located at 1651 Valencia Avenue. The school is approximately 29 miles from downtown Los Angeles, 30 miles from the California coastline, and 7 miles from Disneyland.
- El Dorado is a nationally acclaimed school whose staff has received many awards. In 2004, Athletic director Karen Reclusado was selected as the CIF Southern Section Athletic Director of the Year. Librarian Linda Birtler was awarded the Orange County Department of Education's Outstanding Contribution to Education Award. El Dorado has also won the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award.
- Notable Alumni: Bret Boone - Retired Major League Baseball player, Class of 1987.
- Janet Evans - Olympic medal winning swimmer, Class of 1989.
- Jason Freese - Touring member of the band Green Day.
- John Mykkanen - Olympic medal winning swimmer, class of 1991.
- Phil Nevin - Major League Baseball player, Class of 1989.
- Dan Petry - Retired Major League Baseball pitcher, Class of 1976.
- Brett Tomko - Major League Baseball pitcher, Class of 1992.
- Deborah Voigt - World renown soprano opera singer, Class of 1978.
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is El Dorado High School's ranking?
El Dorado High School is ranked #1835 out of 9,602 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in California.
What schools are El Dorado High School often compared to?
El Dorado High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Yorba Linda High School, Valencia High School, Esperanza High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
44% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 33% CA state average), while 71% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% CA state average).
What is the graduation rate of El Dorado High School?
The graduation rate of El Dorado High School is 96%, which is higher than the California state average of 87%.
How many students attend El Dorado High School?
2,009 students attend El Dorado High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
38% of El Dorado High School students are Hispanic, 38% of students are White, 18% of students are Asian, 4% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student:teacher ratio of El Dorado High School?
El Dorado High School has a student ration of 25:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1.
What grades does El Dorado High School offer ?
El Dorado High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12
What school district is El Dorado High School part of?
El Dorado High School is part of Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
School Reviews
Review El Dorado High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
- Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
- Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
