Admissions

Admissions Policy for Incoming 7th Graders


Admissions Policy for Incoming 8th thru 12th Graders


Admissions Policy for Incoming 7th Graders

The ABC Unified School District Policy for admitting students to the academic magnet high school is very clear and leaves no room for individual judgment at the school site. The policy is designed to provide admittance to academically qualified students and to a geographically representative group of students. Because Whitney maintains a constant enrollment of 1,020 students, 165 at the seventh grade level, not every qualifying student is admitted. Admission priority is based on the following Board Policy considerations:

  • All students must live in the ABC Attendance Area
  • All students must take the English Language Arts and Math California Standards or a natinally normed reference test. This test counts as 70% of the total score.
      All sixth graders in California public schools take the California Standards (CSTs), and private schools take a nationally normed reference test (CAT6, SAT9, Iowa, etc).
  • The district writing test counts as 30% of the total score.
      All sixth graders in ABC schools take this test in their classroom.


      ABC residents not currently attending an ABC school must complete a green Whitney Application Form obtained from their school of residence. Forms are avilable from the beginning of February to the last Friday in April. All applications must be submitted, along with proof of residency, to the District Testing Office by the last Friday in April.
  • Total Scores are ranked according to the middle school and the elementary school that the student attends at the time of testing.
  • Enrollment is offered to the students whose scores are in the top 20 of each middle school.
  • Enrollment is offered to the highest scoring students of each elementary school.
      The 14 largest of the elementary schools will have 3 slots each.

      The 5 smallest will have 2 slots each.
  • Enrollment is offered to the 10 highest scoring of those ABC residents not attending ABC schools.
  • Enrollment is offered to the 3 highest scoring students whose parents are ABC employees but who live outside of the district.

Admissions Policy for Incoming 8th thru 12th Graders

The ABC Unified School District Policy for admitting students to the academic magnet high school is very clear and leaves no room for individual judgment at the school site. The policy is designed to provide admittance to academically qualified students and to a geographically representative group of students. Because Whitney maintains a constant enrollment of 1,020 students, 165 at the seventh grade level, not every qualifying student is admitted. Admission priority is based on the following Board policy considerations:

  • All students must live in the ABC Attendance Area
  • All students must take the English Language Arts and Math California Standards or a natinally normed reference test. This test counts as 70% of the total score.
      All sixth graders in California public schools take the California Standards (CSTs), and private schools take a nationally normed reference test (CAT6, SAT9, Iowa, etc).
  • The district writing test counts as 30% of the total score.
      All 7th and 8th grade students enrolled in an ABC school take this test in their classroom. If they wish to be considered for Whitney, the must obtain a blue> Whitney Application Form from their school office. High School students who wish to be considered for Whitney must obtain a yellow Whitney Application Form from their school office, and take the district writing test with the non-ABC school students. The Whitney Application Forms are available the beginning of February through the last Friday in April. All applications are to be completed and sent to the District Testing Office by the last Friday in April.

      ABC residents not currently attending an ABC school must complete a green Whitney Application Form obtained from their school of residence. Forms are avilable from the beginning of February to the last Friday in April. All applications must be submitted, along with proof of residency, to the District Testing Office by the last Friday in April.
  • Total Scores are ranked according to the school the student attends.
  • When an opening occurs, enrollment is offered to students in the order of the highest ranking student at the same school.
  • Students must demonstrate evidence of satisfactory academic progress at their current school, (no lower than 2.5 GPA).