William J. (Pete) Knight High School
37423 70th Street East, Palmdale, CA 93552View on map
- Public
- Palmdale
- 582 seniors
- 2,325 students
William J. (Pete) Knight High School is a public high school in Palmdale (Antelope Valley Union High) with 582 seniors. In fall 2025, 77% of its 106 University of California applicants were admitted, compared with a county median of 76%. Its students applied most often to UC Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Irvine (UCI), and UC San Diego (UCSD). 41% of the class of 2023 completed the A–G courses UC requires.
UC admit rate
77%
82 of 106 applicants, fall 2025
Seniors admitted to a UC
14%
82 of 582 seniors
Seniors who applied to UC
18%
106 of 582 seniors
UC Los Angeles (UCLA) admit rate
6.4%
5 of 78 applicants, fall 2025
UC Berkeley (Cal) admit rate
12%
5 of 41 applicants, fall 2025
Campus by campus, fall 2025
The share of this school's applicants each campus admitted, beside the campus's rate for everyone else. Hardest campus first.
University of California
William J. (Pete) Knight High School applicants did better than all California applicants at 3 of 9 campuses, about the same at 3 and worse at 3.
- Los AngelesAbout the same
6%
5 of 78 admitted
This school6%All CA10%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.23 (all applicants 3.82)
- BerkeleyAbout the same
12%
5 of 41 admitted
This school12%All CA13%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.11 (all applicants 3.87)
- Irvine6 pts higher
29%
22 of 77 admitted
This school29%All CA22%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.09 (all applicants 3.77)
- San DiegoAbout the same
26%
18 of 70 admitted
This school26%All CA25%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.17 (all applicants 3.70)
- Santa Barbara9 pts higher
42%
20 of 48 admitted
This school42%All CA32%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.14 (all applicants 3.80)
- Davis6 pts higher
43%
18 of 42 admitted
This school43%All CA37%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.05 (all applicants 3.79)
- Santa Cruz10 pts lower
62%
8 of 13 admitted
This school62%All CA71%
Admitted students' average GPA 4.09 (all applicants 3.59)
- Riverside5 pts lower
82%
47 of 57 admitted
This school82%All CA87%
Admitted students' average GPA 3.86 (all applicants 3.68)
- Merced6 pts lower
90%
27 of 30 admitted
This school90%All CA96%
Admitted students' average GPA 3.73 (all applicants 3.59)
Fall 2025. A student admitted to several campuses counts once at each one. All CA is the campus’s admit rate that fall for applicants from every California high school. Within 3 points counts as about the same. GPA is the UC-calculated GPA (weighted, capped).
California State University
William J. (Pete) Knight High School applicants did better than the campus overall at 1 of 5 campuses, about the same at 3 and worse at 1.
- Long Beach7 pts lower
40%
36 of 89 admitted
This school40%Overall47%
- PomonaAbout the same
72%
33 of 46 admitted
This school72%Overall74%
- Fullerton4 pts higher
91%
41 of 45 admitted
This school91%Overall87%
- Los AngelesAbout the same
95%
59 of 62 admitted
This school95%Overall92%
- NorthridgeAbout the same
95%
111 of 117 admitted
This school95%Overall93%
Fall 2025. A student admitted to several campuses counts once at each one. Overall is the campus’s admit rate for all its applicants, from federal IPEDS data (fall 2023, the latest published). Within 3 points counts as about the same.
Where graduates go
Class of 2023 (601 graduates), the latest published by fall 2025, within 12 months of graduating.
Any college
63%
376 of 601 graduates
UC or CSU
17%
104 graduates
Community college
43%
259 graduates
| Destination | Graduates | Share |
|---|---|---|
| UC | 39 | 6% |
| CSU | 65 | 11% |
| CA private college | 6 | 1% |
| Out of state | 7 | 1% |
| Community college | 259 | 43% |
| Not enrolled | 225 | 37% |
| Enrolled in college | 376 | 63% |
| Total | 601 | 100% |
How each student group compares
Compare college-going across student groups
- Gender: Male, Female
- Race & ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, White, Two or more races
- Student need: Low-income, Students with disabilities, English learners
Advanced Placement
23
AP courses offered
2023–24 school year · US Dept. of Education Civil Rights Data Collection
39
AP class sections
Counts every section taught, so it is larger than the number of different AP courses.
24% of students are in AP courses
2024–25 school year · California School Accountability Report Card
29%
of graduating seniors passed at least two AP exams or courses
169 of 583 graduates
A score of 3 or higher on exams or a C- or better in courses. Not comparable with the exam-only share.
2025–26 school year · California Department of Education (College/Career Indicator)
13%
of graduating seniors scored 3 or higher on at least two AP exams
91 of 699 graduates
2023–24 school year · California Department of Education (College/Career Indicator)
Subject areas
- Computer science: 2 classes
- English: 6 classes
- Fine and performing arts: 1 class
- Foreign language: 4 classes
- Mathematics: 7 classes
- Science: 4 classes
- Social science: 13 classes
Academic context
State test (CAASPP), juniors tested in 2026, and the share of low-income students. A–G is the class of 2023. The tick is the county median.
- Juniors meeting the English standard 40%County median 57%
- Juniors meeting the math standard 17%County median 27%
- Juniors exceeding the English standard 14%County median 23%
- Juniors exceeding the math standard 4%County median 11%
- Low-income students 58%County median 86%
- Graduates completing courses 41%County median 64%