Photo: Mike Greene · CC BY-SA 2.0Signal Hill’s public schools outscore 58% of California districts
The grade covers the public school district serving Signal Hill, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Signal Hill’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 530 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Signal Hill’s, its schools beat 48%, lower than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state in reading, below in math
Reading proficiency is 47% and math 33% in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 83% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $21,042 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Two elementary schools, then one middle and 12 high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Signal Hill’s grade
B: better than 58% of California school districts, #374 of 847 California towns. Test scores are above the California average; graduation is below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Signal Hill, with each school’s own grade.
Kindergarten in Signal Hill · depends on your address
Signal Hill Elementary
Grades K–5 · 599 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Alvarado Elementary
Grades K–5 · 390 students · 26:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Signal Hill · depends on your address
Signal Hill Elementary
Grades K–5 · 599 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Alvarado Elementary
Grades K–5 · 390 students · 26:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Signal Hill · depends on your address
Signal Hill Elementary
Grades K–5 · 599 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Alvarado Elementary
Grades K–5 · 390 students · 26:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Signal Hill · depends on your address
Signal Hill Elementary
Grades K–5 · 599 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Alvarado Elementary
Grades K–5 · 390 students · 26:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Signal Hill · depends on your address
Signal Hill Elementary
Grades K–5 · 599 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Alvarado Elementary
Grades K–5 · 390 students · 26:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Signal Hill · depends on your address
Signal Hill Elementary
Grades K–5 · 599 students · 27:1 students per teacher
Alvarado Elementary
Grades K–5 · 390 students · 26:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Signal Hill
Jessie Nelson Academy
Grades 6–8 · 832 students · 26:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Signal Hill
Jessie Nelson Academy
Grades 6–8 · 832 students · 26:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Signal Hill
Jessie Nelson Academy
Grades 6–8 · 832 students · 26:1 students per teacher
Signal Hill’s public schools are run by Long Beach Unified School District, which also serves Avalon, Lakewood and Long Beach. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Close to the state in reading
Signal Hill vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Signal Hill’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Hill | B | Long Beach Unified |
Every school in Signal Hill
15 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Signal Hill’s schools
Are Signal Hill’s schools good?
They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Signal Hill children attend outscore 58% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #374 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Signal Hill in?
Long Beach Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 62,255 students in 82 schools (2024–25).
Where do Signal Hill kids go to high school?
One of 12 high schools, depending on your address: Polytechnic High, Millikan High, Wilson High, Lakewood High, Jordan High, Cabrillo High, Ernest S. McBride Sr. High, California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science, Avalon K-12, Renaissance High School for the Arts and Richard D. Browning High.
What is Signal Hill’s graduation rate?
83% of the class of 2023 in Long Beach Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Signal Hill spend per student?
$21,042 in Long Beach Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Signal Hill families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Signal Hill → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.