Thomas Downey High

As a substantial 9-12 campus in Modesto, California, Thomas Downey High serves 2,192 students from grades 9 through 12, operated by Modesto City High. By comparison, California's public schools average about 838 students each, so Thomas Downey High sits 162% bigger than that benchmark.

Thomas Downey High is one of 8 schools operated by Modesto City High, a district that enrolls 15,334 students overall.

On the student-mix side, Thomas Downey High logs that Hispanic students make up the majority at 69%. Other groups include 18% White, 8% multiracial, 2% Asian. That is visibly more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 50%.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 92 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 23.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 18.2:1, putting Thomas Downey High higher than the state norm the norm. About 76% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Thomas Downey High tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 34.2% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 31.5%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Stanislaus County put the typical household earns roughly $81,468 per year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 11%. Thomas Downey High is one of 190 public schools in Stanislaus County (combined enrollment of about 106,477 students).

Nearest neighbor: John Muir Elementary, around 0.3 miles off. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. Among the 7 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Thomas Downey High ranks 2nd on composite proficiency, above the local average of 26.0%.

The campus sits in an inner-city setting.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Thomas Downey High has expanded 4%, going from 2,098 students in 2018 to 2,192 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share shrank from 27% to 18%.

In the discussion threads here, members of the Thomas Downey High community share and discuss classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. The community welcomes input from current and former families.