El Cerrito High is the city's only high school and is one of seven high schools in the financially struggling …More href="http://www.wccusd.net/default.aspx">West Contra Costa Unified School District</a>. The school serves students from El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Hercules, Kensington and Pinole.</p> <p>The old school building was deemed earthquake-unsafe, and funds raised from a 2004 voter-approved construction bond financed the school's new building, which opened in January 2009.</p> <p>The school offers AP classes, <a href="http://www.elcerritogauchos.net/?q=clubs">many student clubs</a> and a technologically advanced new theater. The school nickname is "Gauchos," a type of South American cowboy. Several former students have become well-known professional athletes, musicians and performers.</p> <p>The data below is from the 2008-09 school year:</p> <ul> <li><b>Enrollment</b>: 1,208</li> <li><b>Average class size</b>: 25.8</li> <li><b>2009 API</b> (Academic Performance Index): 637</li> <li><b>2009 API state rank</b>: 2nd lowest decile (80% of high schools had higher API scores)</li> <li><b>Percent of students who are</b>: African American 35.6, Asian 17.2, Filipino 2.5, Hispanic 23.7, Pacific Islander 0.9, White 16.6, Multiple/no response 3.3</li> <li><b>Percent of students who are English learners</b>: 12.6</li> <li><b>Percent of students who receive free or reduced-price lunches</b>: 37.3</li> </ul> <p><i>Source: <a href="http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/">Ed-Data</a></i></p>