Location: Cupertino, CA
Are you a student or parent at Cupertino High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to Cupertino High available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe Cupertino High is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Cupertino High students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at Cupertino High
- Every sports team you can join at Cupertino High
Let's get started!
Basic Information
Cupertino High School is a public school, supporting grades9to 12. It's located in Cupertino, CA in Santa Clara County.
Based on its location, Cupertino High is classified as a school in asmall city.Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Cupertino High School10100 Finch Ave.Cupertino, CA 95014-3411
Phone number: 4083667300
Cupertino High School homepage:http://www.chs.fuhsd.org/
Principal: Kami TomberlainEmail the principal: [emailprotected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at Cupertino High School is 2079 students, making it alarge high school, in the top 25% of all California high schools by size.
Attending Cupertino High will feel like attending a small college. You'll have a few hundred students in your class, enough to provide an interesting set of activities, sports, and classes to try. But compared to the largest high schools in California, the student body size won't be overwhelming.
Growth in Student Body Size
Is Cupertino High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at Cupertino High has steadilyincreased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.
Male Students | Female Students | All Students | |
---|---|---|---|
9th grade | 270 | 270 | 540 |
10th grade | 280 | 243 | 523 |
11th grade | 260 | 243 | 503 |
12th grade | 252 | 240 | 492 |
As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 48 students larger than the senior class. This suggests that the school is growing in size and taking on more students.
There are a few reasons this could be happening. The city of Cupertino could be growing in population, thus sending more students into Cupertino High. Alternatively, Cupertino High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at Cupertino High School?
From our statistics, Cupertino High has a 52:48 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
Cupertino High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Santa Clara County. Since the student body is roughly half and half, it should feel like there are equal numbers of boys and girls in your classes.
This usually means that Cupertino High doesn't strongly select for either males or females, unlike other schools that have a large majority of males or females.
Ethnicity Breakdown
What's the racial diversity at Cupertino High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, Cupertino High has asomewhat hom*ogenous student body, with the majority of students identifying as one ethnicity, but not representing over 70% of the student body. Most schools in California fit this profile, so Cupertino High isn't out of the ordinary. Most students attending class with you will be of the predominant ethnicity, but there will be meaningful diversity from other races.
The majority of students at Cupertino High areAsian. Across all of California, Asian students make up 11.5% of enrollment, but it's rare for a school to be majority Asian. Thus Cupertino High is notable in California for having such a strong Asian presence.
Percentage | Number | |
---|---|---|
American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.0% | 0 |
Asian | 63.4% | 1319 |
Hispanic | 11.1% | 232 |
Black | 1.5% | 32 |
White | 19.8% | 412 |
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 4 |
Two or more races | 3.8% | 80 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Cupertino. If you'd like to see how other nearby schools look in diversity, just google "[name of school] prepscholar" to find our guide to that specific school.
Income Level of Cupertino High Families
What are the family incomes of students at Cupertino High School? To determine this, we look at the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches, a classification by the US federal government.
To qualify for a reduced price meal, family income needs to be below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $45,000 or below.
To qualify for a free meal, family income needs to be below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $32,000 or below.
The lower the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price meals, the higher the income levels are likely to be.
At Cupertino High, 2.2% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 7.8% qualify for free lunches.
This means Cupertino High has avery low poverty level. Nearly no students at Cupertino High qualify for free or reduced price lunches. Cupertino is thus likely to have a very affluent community, and Cupertino High is in the top 10% of California schools in terms of family income.
Number | Percent | |
---|---|---|
Reduced-price lunches | 46 | 2.2% |
Free lunches | 163 | 7.8% |
Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches | 1870 | 89.9% |
As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in Cupertino and doesn't speak much about the school itself.
Because Cupertino High is in the top quartile of schools by family income, it's likely to be well-funded relative to other high schools in California. This means you'll likely have access to advanced coursework like AP/IB classes and better-funded extracurriculars and sports.
It's still up to you, though, to take advantage of the resources Cupertino High has to offer. If you work hard and spend your time effectively, you'll likely be well positioned to succeed in college and beyond.
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School Safety
How safe is Cupertino High School to attend? Can you expect a lot of conflict as a student here?
To study this, we look at disciplinary data for two types of incidents at Cupertino High: referrals to law enforcement (when incidents are reported to police), and arrests.
These are the most serious disciplinary actions available to school administration and are more severe than suspensions or expulsions. Suspensions are often discretionary and can be given just for being disruptive in class. In contrast, law enforcement referrals and arrests often indicate incidents that put the safety of other Cupertino High students at risk.
In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 30 referrals to law enforcement (17 male, 13 female), and 2 school-related arrests (2 males, 0 females). This is out of a total enrollment of 1909 students.
To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.
This means that 1.6Cupertino Highhas minor safety issues. For every 100 students, there were just 1.6 law-enforcement related actions, but this is still higher than 75% of California schools.
With this record, is Cupertino High School significantly different from other schools in the area? It could be that Cupertino High has an especially bad record, or it could be that the local area shows a pattern.
Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:
Fremont Union High School District Safety
School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
---|---|---|---|
Fremont High | 53 | 2 | 1988 |
Homestead High | 47 | 0 | 2315 |
Lynbrook High | 23 | 2 | 1788 |
Monta Vista High | 24 | 8 | 2511 |
Community Day | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Academic Performance
Now we get to a major aspect of assessing a high school: academic performance. How good of an education will you get at Cupertino High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about Cupertino High's academics here.
Graduation Rate
To start off, an important benchmark of academic achievement is graduation rate. For all students who start high school at Cupertino High, the state of California wants as many students to graduate as possible, since a high school diploma can mean a big difference in getting a job.
At Cupertino High,93%(of 455)Cupertino High students graduated within four years of starting high school.
Here's how this stacks up to other schools. The California state government has defined 90% as a target rate. The state average is around 80-85%.
Cupertino High is in the 81st percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is well above average. Generally, a graduation rate of above 90% is considered good and well above average, and below 75% is well below average.
Note: This data comes from a few years back, but the trends are likely to stay the same, since schools don't get significantly better or worse within a short period of time.
Standardized Testing
Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for Cupertino High School students. These are tests that are administered to large populations of students for comparison purposes.
Let’s start by taking a look at the data for nationally administered standardized tests.
SAT Scores
As you probably know, the SAT is a critical test used for college admissions. The higher the score you get, the better your academic performance compared to students nationwide, and the easier it is to get into top colleges.
We did in-depth research and found the average Cupertino High School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1840 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 518 at Cupertino High take the SAT.
This is an extremely high average SAT score, putting Cupertino High School in the elite top 2% of all California high schools. The average student at Cupertino High is already scoring in the 80th percentile nationwide or higher - indeed, 86% of students score above the national average. This means that the top students are likely scoring well in the top percentiles, and some may even be getting perfect scores every year.
Because you're surrounded by very talented students, this is a good sign that you'll receive a top-of-the-line education at Cupertino High. By following the trend at your school, you'll have a very strong chance at getting into some of the best colleges in the country.
Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)
Source | Critical Reading | Math | Writing | Composite |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cupertino High | 588 | 651 | 610 | 1840 |
California | 498 | 510 | 496 | 1504 |
United States | 495 | 511 | 484 | 1490 |
Note that the SAT has since changed to a 1600 scale, but the trends above for your high school are likely to continue. Just use this guide to convert between the old 2400 scale and the new 1600 scale.
To learn more about SAT percentile rankings, read our guide on what SAT percentiles really mean.
How good is 1840 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1840 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1840 or any other SAT score!
Exclusive: Want to learn how to improve your SAT score by 160 points?
ACT Scores
In California, the ACT is less popular than the SAT. Fewer students take the ACT, and typically these students are more motivated and academically prepared for college. Therefore, it's harder to compare Cupertino High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At Cupertino High, the average ACT composite score was 27, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 177 out of 2058 total students take the ACT.
This is excellent performance, putting Cupertino High in the top 5% of high schools in California by ACT score. Most students who take the ACT here are scoring well above average and in the top tier of the nation.
Since the ACT is meant to gauge what you learn in school, very high average ACT scores are a good indication that you'll get a high-quality education at Cupertino High and be surrounded by other high-achieving students.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Cupertino High compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cupertino High | 28 | 29 | 27 | 27 |
California | 21.8 | 22.8 | 22.3 | 21.7 |
United States | 20.3 | 20.9 | 21.3 | 20.8 |
Scores provided are for the 2013-14 school year.
Find out more about percentile rankings and the ACT in this article.
Every individual is different. What counts as a good ACT score for you? Learn more with this article!
Exclusive: Want to learn how to improve your ACT score by 4 points?
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give Cupertino High School students credit for college.
Here's what we're looking for: high average AP test scores as well as high AP passing rates.
AP Scores
Every year, roughly 611 students in grades 9-12 at Cupertino High take 1466 AP exams. It's important to understand how students score on the AP - earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test means passing the test and often earning college credit.
The average score of all AP exams taken at Cupertino High is 3.9 out of 5.
This is a great achievement showing well above average performance. Most students get AP scores of a 4 or a 5, placing them above the national average of a 3. This high academic achievement places Cupertino High School in the top 10% of schools for AP tests.
Cupertino High therefore has a strong AP program, with high quality classes that will prepare students well for AP exams. There is still a sizable number of students who earn a 3 or below, but if you're a motivated and resourceful student, you'll be able to be one of the top performers.
We have specific data on how many students got a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) on AP exams in the chart below:
AP Test-Taking Statistics
Another way to gauge the quality of a school's AP program is to see how many AP students actually took AP exams at Cupertino High School. If a lot of students enroll in AP courses but don't actually take the AP tests, it can be a sign that students don't feel adequately prepared to take the test, or the school isn't encouraging students to take the exams enough.
At Cupertino High, there is a total enrollment of 473 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).
Of AP-taking students, 437 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 17 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 24 took AP courses but took NO tests.
This is good test participation. Most AP students at Cupertino High School take the AP test for every one of their AP courses, outnumbering the students who take some or no AP exams. This is a good sign that students feel confident enough to take tests for all AP courses available to them, which reflects well on the teachers and course material. Cupertino High can continue to improve by reducing the number of students who take AP exams for some or none of their courses, but it's in a good state.
Note: The most recent data we have available is from 2012, so the statistics may have changed since then. Most likely, however, the trends are likely to continue - above average schools are likely to stay above average, and below average schools are likely to stay below average.
AP Passing Rates
For AP students at Cupertino High School who take the exam, it's important to know how they do. Here we have specific data on how many students got a passing grade (a 3 or above) on all, some, or none of the AP exams that they took.
Of all AP test takers, 363 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 43 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 43 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.
This is very strong performance. The majority of Cupertino High School students pass ALL the AP tests they take - an impressive feat, especially if students take multiple AP exams each year!
Overall, this points to a strong AP program at Cupertino High: across all AP course offerings, teachers are able to prepare students well for the exam. There are still some students who fail some or all of their exams, but this is a good starting point to improve from. You'll have a strong foundation to learn from throughout high school.
To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Cupertino High School, you'll have to talk to your guidance counselor (who can then help you find that information). For instance, one AP Calculus teacher may have an above-90% passing rate, while another might only have a 50% passing rate. If you can, you'll want to take the class with the teacher who has more students get a 3 or above on the AP exam.
Find out more about the average score for each AP subject here.
State Tests
As of 2014, eleventh graders attending Cupertino High School must take standardized tests in English/Language Arts and Math as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These align with the new Common Core standards and are called the "Smarter Balanced" tests.
If Cupertino High students meet or exceed state standards, they're academically prepared to graduate high school and go to college. Specifically, we care about the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards. The larger this number, the higher the preparation of students at Cupertino High.
English/Language Arts
At Cupertino High School, 83% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered very good and puts Cupertino High in the top 10% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. Most Cupertino High students pass or exceed state standards, and many of them are likely well above average.
English/Language Arts Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each ELA area score here.
Math
The other major test taken for state assessments is Math. Across the state, Math performance is generally lower than English/Language Arts performance, so it's natural for this number to be lower.
At Cupertino High School, 81% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math.This is considered well below average and puts Cupertino High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Cupertino High students don't meet state standards, and only a small percentage pass.
Math Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each Math area score, go here.
Academic Offerings
In addition to the standard high school curriculum, many high schools like Cupertino High School offer advanced coursework as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Brief Intro to AP/IB
AP and IB courses are designed at the difficulty level of college introductory classes. There are several important benefits to taking advanced coursework at Cupertino High. First, taking more advanced classes shows colleges that you're committed to challenging yourself academically, and that you're one of the more advanced students at Cupertino High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.
Furthermore, many colleges will accept your Cupertino High AP/IB coursework as college coursework. In some cases, you'll be able to skip introductory-level classes and move to more advanced classes. In other cases, you'll be able to avoid having to take required courses and might even be able to graduate earlier than the standard 4 years. Often this will require you to pass the AP test, getting a score of 3 or above.
So what advanced courses does Cupertino High School offer?
AP Courses
Cupertino High School offers AP courses in 19 subjects.
This is an impressive number of AP subjects, putting Cupertino High School in the top 25% of California schools in AP offerings. You'll likely have all of the most popular AP courses available to you, as well as some broader interests.
The total number of AP subjects is 38, so Cupertino High is missing a good number of subjects, but these are likely the least popular subjects, like less popular foreign languages. If there are any AP courses you want to take that aren't being offered at Cupertino High, ask your counselor for other options.
Of course, keep in mind that quality matters even more than quantity - it's important that your AP courses are taught well by engaging teachers. But the strong AP program at Cupertino High likely means you'll be in good hands.
The following AP courses were offered at Cupertino High during 2015-2016:
Course Title |
---|
Biology |
Calculus AB |
Calculus BC |
Chemistry |
Chinese Language and Culture |
Computer Science A |
English Literature and Composition |
French Language and Culture |
Japanese Language and Culture |
Microeconomics |
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
Physics C: Mechanics |
Spanish Language and Culture |
Statistics |
Studio Art: 2-D Design |
Studio Art: 3-D Design |
Studio Art: Drawing |
United States Government and Politics |
United States History |
Sports Teams
Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at Cupertino High School. Sports are an integral part of many students' high school experiences. The more sports that are available, and the more levels supported (Frosh, JV, Varsity), the more likely you'll be able to participate in a sport at Cupertino High.
By the way, the Cupertino High mascot is the Pioneers. Go Pioneers!
Cupertino High School fields 18 teams for girls' sports.This is a high number that puts Cupertino High in the top 25% of California schools that offer girls' sports. If you're a female, you'll have lots of options of sports and levels to try out for.
And now for the boys: Cupertino High School fields 21 teams for boys' sports.This puts Cupertino High in the top 25% of California schools that offer boys' sports. Boys will have a large pick of sports to try out for.
Boys Teams | Girls Teams |
---|---|
Basketball VarJVFr | Basketball VarJVFr |
Golf VarJVFr | Golf VarJVFr |
Tennis VarJVFr | Tennis VarJVFr |
Football VarJVFr | |
Wrestling VarJVFr | |
Volleyball VarJVFr | Volleyball VarJVFr |
Badminton VarJVFr | Badminton VarJVFr |
Baseball VarJVFr | |
Softball VarJVFr | |
Waterpolo VarJVFr | Waterpolo VarJVFr |
Crosscountry VarJVFr | Crosscountry VarJVFr |
Soccer VarJVFr | Soccer VarJVFr |
Fieldhockey VarJVFr |
What’s Next?
Want to get more useful information about high school classes and preparing for colleges? Our blog has a ton of articles and advice on topics ranging from coursework and GPA to letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and much more!
Ready to bulk up your schedule and maximize your college preparedness? Read all about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
Not quite in high school yet, but eager to get started? We've also got information for younger students interested in advanced learning opportunities, both in and out of school.
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Sources
The data on this page is drawn from a variety of sources, including (but not limited to):
- National Center for Educational Statistics CCD 2013-2014
- "Free or reduced price lunch: A proxy for poverty?", NCES Blog
- CRDC 2011-2012 school year data
- California Department of Education SAT, ACT, and AP Test Results
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System Results
- AP Course Ledger
- IBO.org