Two public high schools in the same city. The first has more students exceeding both state standards, and a higher share of its testers clearing that bar. The second collects far more selective-UC offers anyway. These pairs are chosen so the losing school scores at least as well as the winning one — the usual explanation is ruled out before the pair qualifies. Fall 2025.
Esperanza High and Anaheim High are in the same city. Esperanza High has 78 students exceeding both standards to Anaheim High's 17 — and 66 selective UC offers to Anaheim High's 114.Read the poverty figures alongside the offers. In most of these pairs it is the lower-poverty school that loses — which is the finding, not a flaw in it: with no test in admissions, UC reads a student through the school around them.
Anaheim, Orange County7.9× the offers
Passed over
Esperanza High
Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified · 45% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers78
UC offers66
Per top scorer0.85
Taken
Anaheim High
Anaheim Union High · 94% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers17
UC offers114
Per top scorer6.71
Esperanza High had 78 students exceeding both state standards to Anaheim High's 17, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 66 selective-UC offers to Anaheim High's 114.
San Diego, San Diego County7.2× the offers
Passed over
Scripps Ranch High
San Diego Unified · 20% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers231
UC offers198
Per top scorer0.86
Taken
Montgomery Senior High
Sweetwater Union High · 81% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers15
UC offers92
Per top scorer6.13
Scripps Ranch High had 231 students exceeding both state standards to Montgomery Senior High's 15, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 198 selective-UC offers to Montgomery Senior High's 92.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County7.1× the offers
Passed over
Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science
Long Beach Unified · 27% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers60
UC offers40
Per top scorer0.67
Taken
Ednovate - USC Hybrid High College Prep
Los Angeles County · 72% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers16
UC offers76
Per top scorer4.75
Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science had 60 students exceeding both state standards to Ednovate - USC Hybrid High College Prep's 16, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 40 selective-UC offers to Ednovate - USC Hybrid High College Prep's 76.
Fresno, Fresno County6.4× the offers
Passed over
Clovis West High
Clovis Unified · 48% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers117
UC offers75
Per top scorer0.64
Taken
Sunnyside High
Fresno Unified · 87% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers28
UC offers115
Per top scorer4.11
Clovis West High had 117 students exceeding both state standards to Sunnyside High's 28, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 75 selective-UC offers to Sunnyside High's 115.
Escondido, San Diego County6.3× the offers
Passed over
Classical Academy High
San Diego County · 22% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers69
UC offers42
Per top scorer0.61
Taken
Orange Glen High
Escondido Union High · 89% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers23
UC offers88
Per top scorer3.83
Classical Academy High had 69 students exceeding both state standards to Orange Glen High's 23, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 42 selective-UC offers to Orange Glen High's 88.
Riverside, Riverside County5.4× the offers
Passed over
Riverside STEM Academy
Riverside Unified · 54% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers42
UC offers29
Per top scorer0.69
Taken
Ramona High
Riverside Unified · 86% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers23
UC offers86
Per top scorer3.74
Riverside STEM Academy had 42 students exceeding both state standards to Ramona High's 23, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 29 selective-UC offers to Ramona High's 86.
Bakersfield, Kern County5.1× the offers
Passed over
Liberty High
Kern High · 43% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers104
UC offers63
Per top scorer0.61
Taken
Ridgeview High
Kern High · 72% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers27
UC offers84
Per top scorer3.11
Liberty High had 104 students exceeding both state standards to Ridgeview High's 27, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 63 selective-UC offers to Ridgeview High's 84.
Chula Vista, San Diego County4.4× the offers
Passed over
Eastlake High
Sweetwater Union High · 22% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers129
UC offers152
Per top scorer1.18
Taken
Hilltop Senior High
Sweetwater Union High · 77% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers18
UC offers93
Per top scorer5.17
Eastlake High had 129 students exceeding both state standards to Hilltop Senior High's 18, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 152 selective-UC offers to Hilltop Senior High's 93.
Moreno Valley, Riverside County4.3× the offers
Passed over
Vista del Lago High
Moreno Valley Unified · 88% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers25
UC offers31
Per top scorer1.24
Taken
Rancho Verde High
Val Verde Unified · 82% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers20
UC offers107
Per top scorer5.35
Vista del Lago High had 25 students exceeding both state standards to Rancho Verde High's 20, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 31 selective-UC offers to Rancho Verde High's 107.
Oxnard, Ventura County4.2× the offers
Passed over
Rio Mesa High
Oxnard Union High · 73% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers40
UC offers48
Per top scorer1.20
Taken
Channel Islands High
Oxnard Union High · 88% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers16
UC offers80
Per top scorer5.00
Rio Mesa High had 40 students exceeding both state standards to Channel Islands High's 16, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 48 selective-UC offers to Channel Islands High's 80.
Victorville, San Bernardino County4.1× the offers
Passed over
University Preparatory
Victor Valley Union High · 75% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers68
UC offers66
Per top scorer0.97
Taken
Cobalt Institute of Math and Science
Victor Valley Union High · 80% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers24
UC offers96
Per top scorer4.00
University Preparatory had 68 students exceeding both state standards to Cobalt Institute of Math and Science's 24, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 66 selective-UC offers to Cobalt Institute of Math and Science's 96.
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County3.9× the offers
Passed over
San Marcos Senior High
Santa Barbara Unified · 58% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers89
UC offers146
Per top scorer1.64
Taken
Santa Barbara Senior High
Santa Barbara Unified · 62% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers24
UC offers153
Per top scorer6.38
San Marcos Senior High had 89 students exceeding both state standards to Santa Barbara Senior High's 24, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 146 selective-UC offers to Santa Barbara Senior High's 153.
Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County3.8× the offers
Passed over
Ernest Righetti High
Santa Maria Joint Union High · 56% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers45
UC offers79
Per top scorer1.76
Taken
Santa Maria High
Santa Maria Joint Union High · 76% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers18
UC offers119
Per top scorer6.61
Ernest Righetti High had 45 students exceeding both state standards to Santa Maria High's 18, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 79 selective-UC offers to Santa Maria High's 119.
San Jose, Santa Clara County3.7× the offers
Passed over
KIPP San Jose Collegiate
Santa Clara County · 71% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers61
UC offers47
Per top scorer0.77
Taken
Yerba Buena High
East Side Union High · 62% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers52
UC offers150
Per top scorer2.88
KIPP San Jose Collegiate had 61 students exceeding both state standards to Yerba Buena High's 52, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 47 selective-UC offers to Yerba Buena High's 150.
Elk Grove, Sacramento County3.7× the offers
Passed over
Pleasant Grove High
Elk Grove Unified · 34% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers186
UC offers134
Per top scorer0.72
Taken
Cosumnes Oaks High
Elk Grove Unified · 39% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers86
UC offers231
Per top scorer2.69
Pleasant Grove High had 186 students exceeding both state standards to Cosumnes Oaks High's 86, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 134 selective-UC offers to Cosumnes Oaks High's 231.
Reseda, Los Angeles County3.7× the offers
Passed over
Grover Cleveland Charter High
Los Angeles Unified · 72% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers131
UC offers158
Per top scorer1.21
Taken
Reseda Charter High
Los Angeles Unified · 88% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers22
UC offers98
Per top scorer4.45
Grover Cleveland Charter High had 131 students exceeding both state standards to Reseda Charter High's 22, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 158 selective-UC offers to Reseda Charter High's 98.
Santa Ana, Orange County3.6× the offers
Passed over
Foothill High
Tustin Unified · 48% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers116
UC offers132
Per top scorer1.14
Taken
Santa Ana High
Santa Ana Unified · 91% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers20
UC offers83
Per top scorer4.15
Foothill High had 116 students exceeding both state standards to Santa Ana High's 20, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 132 selective-UC offers to Santa Ana High's 83.
Whittier, Los Angeles County3.5× the offers
Passed over
La Serna High
Whittier Union High · 58% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers117
UC offers92
Per top scorer0.79
Taken
Pioneer High
Whittier Union High · 88% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers21
UC offers57
Per top scorer2.71
La Serna High had 117 students exceeding both state standards to Pioneer High's 21, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 92 selective-UC offers to Pioneer High's 57.
Manteca, San Joaquin County3.2× the offers
Passed over
Sierra High
Manteca Unified · 56% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers58
UC offers30
Per top scorer0.52
Taken
Manteca High
Manteca Unified · 67% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers29
UC offers48
Per top scorer1.66
Sierra High had 58 students exceeding both state standards to Manteca High's 29, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 30 selective-UC offers to Manteca High's 48.
Sacramento, Sacramento County3.2× the offers
Passed over
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep
Natomas Unified · 36% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers32
UC offers42
Per top scorer1.31
Taken
Florin High
Elk Grove Unified · 80% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers17
UC offers71
Per top scorer4.18
Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep had 32 students exceeding both state standards to Florin High's 17, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 42 selective-UC offers to Florin High's 71.
Salinas, Monterey County3.2× the offers
Passed over
Salinas High
Salinas Union High · 78% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers78
UC offers148
Per top scorer1.90
Taken
Everett Alvarez High
Salinas Union High · 93% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers15
UC offers90
Per top scorer6.00
Salinas High had 78 students exceeding both state standards to Everett Alvarez High's 15, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 148 selective-UC offers to Everett Alvarez High's 90.
Ventura, Ventura County3.1× the offers
Passed over
Foothill Technology High
Ventura Unified · 39% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers71
UC offers48
Per top scorer0.68
Taken
Ventura High
Ventura Unified · 60% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers45
UC offers95
Per top scorer2.11
Foothill Technology High had 71 students exceeding both state standards to Ventura High's 45, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 48 selective-UC offers to Ventura High's 95.
Simi Valley, Ventura County3.0× the offers
Passed over
Santa Susana High
Simi Valley Unified · 30% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers66
UC offers54
Per top scorer0.82
Taken
Royal High
Simi Valley Unified · 43% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers39
UC offers96
Per top scorer2.46
Santa Susana High had 66 students exceeding both state standards to Royal High's 39, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 54 selective-UC offers to Royal High's 96.
Hawthorne, Los Angeles County2.9× the offers
Passed over
Hawthorne Math and Science Academy
Hawthorne · 83% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers35
UC offers48
Per top scorer1.37
Taken
Hawthorne High
Centinela Valley Union High · 80% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers16
UC offers64
Per top scorer4.00
Hawthorne Math and Science Academy had 35 students exceeding both state standards to Hawthorne High's 16, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 48 selective-UC offers to Hawthorne High's 64.
Merced, Merced County2.9× the offers
Passed over
Merced High
Merced Union High · 79% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers26
UC offers55
Per top scorer2.12
Taken
El Capitan High
Merced Union High · 76% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers15
UC offers92
Per top scorer6.13
Merced High had 26 students exceeding both state standards to El Capitan High's 15, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 55 selective-UC offers to El Capitan High's 92.
Garden Grove, Orange County2.9× the offers
Passed over
Pacifica High
Garden Grove Unified · 51% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers104
UC offers74
Per top scorer0.71
Taken
Santiago High
Garden Grove Unified · 92% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers46
UC offers94
Per top scorer2.04
Pacifica High had 104 students exceeding both state standards to Santiago High's 46, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 74 selective-UC offers to Santiago High's 94.
Spring Valley, San Diego County2.7× the offers
Passed over
Monte Vista High
Grossmont Union High · 76% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers43
UC offers35
Per top scorer0.81
Taken
Mount Miguel High
Grossmont Union High · 79% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers21
UC offers47
Per top scorer2.24
Monte Vista High had 43 students exceeding both state standards to Mount Miguel High's 21, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 35 selective-UC offers to Mount Miguel High's 47.
Huntington Park, Los Angeles County2.7× the offers
Passed over
Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy
Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technolo · 96% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers18
UC offers33
Per top scorer1.83
Taken
Huntington Park Senior High
Los Angeles Unified · 95% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers18
UC offers90
Per top scorer5.00
Alliance Margaret M. Bloomfield Technology Academy had 18 students exceeding both state standards to Huntington Park Senior High's 18, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 33 selective-UC offers to Huntington Park Senior High's 90.
South Gate, Los Angeles County2.7× the offers
Passed over
South Gate Senior High
Los Angeles Unified · 94% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers32
UC offers63
Per top scorer1.97
Taken
South East High
Los Angeles Unified · 92% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers21
UC offers112
Per top scorer5.33
South Gate Senior High had 32 students exceeding both state standards to South East High's 21, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 63 selective-UC offers to South East High's 112.
Oceanside, San Diego County2.5× the offers
Passed over
El Camino High
Oceanside Unified · 67% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers73
UC offers65
Per top scorer0.89
Taken
Oceanside High
Oceanside Unified · 74% free or reduced-price meals
Top scorers27
UC offers59
Per top scorer2.19
El Camino High had 73 students exceeding both state standards to Oceanside High's 27, and a higher share of its testers reached that bar — and received 65 selective-UC offers to Oceanside High's 59.
