It is one of eight city high schools and enrolls the third highest number of students.

In the 2019–2020 academic year, about 61% of students were eligible for free lunch (compared to the state average of 53%), and about seven percent were eligible for reduced lunch (compared to the state average of seven percent).

[3] Golden West offers eight boys sports (cross country, water polo, football, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, baseball), eight girls sports (cross country, golf, tennis, volleyball, water polo, basketball, soccer, softball), and three co-ed sports (wrestling, track, swimming).

[8] The Future Business Leaders of America (also known as FBLA) club competed in and placed first in several events at the 2021 Central Section Leadership Conference, including Entrepreneurship, Hospitality & Event Management and Marketing.

[9] Golden West is a Title I public school with a majority Hispanic population.