Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Q: Is Acalanes Center for Independent Study a good school?

Acalanes Center for Independent Study ranks 538 th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Acalanes Center for Independent Study is a public high school in Walnut Creek, California, serving grades 9-12 with a small student population of 47. The school is part of the Acalanes Union High School District, which is ranked 68 out of 1,568 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Acalanes Center for Independent Study has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from a high of 108 out of 2,017 California high schools in 2017-2018 to a low of 1,562 out of 2,039 in 2015-2016. In the most recent school year, the school ranked 538 out of 2,323 California high schools, placing it in the top 25% and indicating it is performing above the state average. The school performs particularly well in serving its male and special education student populations, ranking in the top 15% and top 10% of California high schools, respectively. However, its performance for female and white students is more average, ranking in the middle 50% of California high schools.

While Acalanes Center for Independent Study's performance is generally lower than the other high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District, such as Miramonte High, Campolindo High, and Acalanes High, which all rank in the top 5% of California high schools, the school's performance is significantly better than some of the other nearby schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The school's high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.3% to 50% over the past several years, are a significant concern and may be impacting its overall academic performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1963 Tice Valley Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA 94595-2201

(925) 280-3945

District: Acalanes Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
538^th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,829

Student/teacher ratio: 7.2

Number of students: 51

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.7%

Hispanic:

13.7%

Two or more races:

11.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 23.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Acalanes Center for Independent Study ranks better than 76.8% of high schools in California. It also ranks last among 5 ranked high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 65.95. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Acalanes Center for Independent Study has the smallest high school student body size in the Acalanes Union High School District. Racial makeup is: White (66.7%), Hispanic (13.7%), two or more races (11.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 23.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Acalanes Union High School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Acalanes Center for Independent Study is 7.2, which is the lowest among 5 high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District! (See more...)

Compare Acalanes Center for Independent Study employs 7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Acalanes Center for Independent Study is $11,829, which is the lowest among 5 high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District!

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Acalanes Center for Independent Study:

SchoolDigger ranks Acalanes Center for Independent Study 538^th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Acalanes Center for Independent Study in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

Acalanes Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Acalanes Union High 68^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Acalanes Center for Independent Study

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Rank History for all students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile
2005	5.19	1761^st	1901	7.4%
2006	4.55	1820^th	1968	7.5%
2007	66.85	318^th	2063	84.6%
2008	43.44	834^th	2117	60.6%
2009	63.37	376^th	2238	83.2%
2010	79.41	143^rd	2281	93.7%
2011	47.90	847^th	2367	64.2%
2012	66.66	377^th	2354	84.0%
2013	41.95	1011^th	2426	58.3%
2015	48.42	1012^th	1994	49.2%
2016	17.26	1562^nd	2039	23.4%
2018	94.04	108^th	2017	94.6%
2022	82.45	322^nd	2123	84.8%
2023	71.12	463^rd	2348	80.3%
2024	65.95	538^th	2323	76.8%

See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	79.19	121^st	1534	92.1%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	46.63	904^th	2098	56.9%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	84.24	238^th	2172	89.0%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for White students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	86.07	125^th	1173	89.3%
2024	52.47	547^th	1406	61.1%

See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Acalanes Center for Independent Study

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2005	22	1	1	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	28
2006	24	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	2	29
2007	29	0	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	6	42
2008	33	n/a	1	2	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	36
2009	47	1	1	5	0	1	12	0	67
2010	37	1	1	9	0	0	6	0	54
2011	60	3	2	13	0	0	7	0	85
2012	32	3	1	9	0	0	6	0	51
2013	16	0	3	2	0	0	8	0	29
2014	29	1	1	4	0	0	4	0	39
2015	24	1	1	3	0	0	2	0	31
2016	26	1	3	7	0	1	1	0	39
2017	25	1	3	4	0	1	1	0	35
2018	17	0	0	5	0	0	2	0	24
2019	18	0	3	3	0	0	3	0	27
2020	35	1	2	5	0	0	6	0	49
2021	33	1	3	5	0	0	2	0	44
2022	35	1	7	5	0	0	5	0	53
2023	32	1	4	3	0	1	6	0	47
2024	34	0	4	7	0	0	6	0	51

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Acalanes Center for Independent Study

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	28	4.0	7.0	0
2006	29	3.0	9.7	0
2007	42	3.8	11.1	0
2008	36	10.0	3.6	0
2009	67	13.0	4.8	0
2010	54	15.0	3.6	5.6
2011	85	n/a	n/a	3.5
2012	51	6.6	7.7	n/a
2013	29	3.8	7.6	10.3
2014	39	4.0	9.7	10.3
2015	31	4.0	7.7	9.7
2016	39	3.0	13.0	7.7
2017	35	3.2	10.9	8.6
2018	24	3.2	7.5	12.5
2019	27	1.6	16.8	11.1
2020	49	n/a	n/a	12.2
2021	44	6.4	6.8	9.1
2022	53	6.6	8.0	28.3
2023	47	6.4	7.2	21.3
2024	51	7.0	7.2	23.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	28	4.0	7.0	0
2006	29	3.0	9.7	0
2007	42	3.8	11.1	0
2008	36	10.0	3.6	0
2009	67	13.0	4.8	0
2010	54	15.0	3.6	5.6
2011	85	n/a	n/a	3.5
2012	51	6.6	7.7	n/a
2013	29	3.8	7.6	10.3
2014	39	4.0	9.7	10.3
2015	31	4.0	7.7	9.7
2016	39	3.0	13.0	7.7
2017	35	3.2	10.9	8.6
2018	24	3.2	7.5	12.5
2019	27	1.6	16.8	11.1
2020	49	n/a	n/a	12.2
2021	44	6.4	6.8	9.1
2022	53	6.6	8.0	28.3
2023	47	6.4	7.2	21.3
2024	51	7.0	7.2	23.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$11,829

Data source: California Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Acalanes Center for Independent Study

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
12th Grade Science (Acalanes Center for Independent Study)	45.5	46.7	1.2%
12th Grade Science (Acalanes Union High)	57.5	56.8	0.6%
12th Grade Science (California)	25.6	26.8	1.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	27	47	74.1%
African American	0	1
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	4	33.3%
Hispanic	3	3
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	18	32	77.8%
Two or More Races	3	6	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	11.1%	21.3%	10.2%

Schools Near Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				CAST Science (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2024)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2018)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics End of Course	Total
Acalanes Center for Independent Study	Public	9-12	1963 Tice Valley Blvd.	Walnut Creek	94595	Contra Costa County	Acalanes Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 280-3945	51	7	7.2	23.5%	34 (66.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (13.7%)	4 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (11.8%)	65.9	538^th of 2323 public high schools	76.8%		71.1	463^rd of 2348 public high schools	80.3%	75								63.0	63.0				28.6	28.6	$11,829
Las Lomas High	Public	9-12	1460 South Main St.	Walnut Creek	94596	Contra Costa County	Acalanes Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 280-3920	1,568	78	20.0	14.1%	850 (54.2%)	50 (3.2%)	252 (16.1%)	258 (16.5%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.3%)	145 (9.2%)	90.4	154^th of 2323 public high schools	93.4%		91.4	156^th of 2348 public high schools	93.4%	2		57.4	18.8	56.0				73.4	73.4				53.3	53.3	$13,315
Acalanes High	Public	9-12	1200 Pleasant Hill Rd.	Lafayette	94549	Contra Costa County	Acalanes Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 280-3970	1,250	63	19.7	8.2%	807 (64.6%)	19 (1.5%)	135 (10.8%)	150 (12.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	129 (10.3%)	97.1	48^th of 2323 public high schools	97.9%		97	53^rd of 2348 public high schools	97.7%	5		66.4		65.5				87.1	87.1				67.2	67.2	$14,694
Campolindo High	Public	9-12	300 Moraga Rd.	Moraga	94556	Contra Costa County	Acalanes Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 280-3950	1,332	67	19.9	5.0%	805 (60.4%)	13 (1.0%)	116 (8.7%)	222 (16.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	171 (12.8%)	97.3	45^th of 2323 public high schools	98.1%		98	31^st of 2348 public high schools	98.7%	14		68.6		68.6				87.0	87.0				67.3	67.3	$14,236
Contra Costa County Regional Occupational Program	Public	9-12	77 Santa Barbara Rd.	Pleasant Hill	94523	Contra Costa County	Contra Costa County Regional Occupational Program	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(925) 942-3368	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Prospect High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	One Santa Barbara Rd.	Pleasant Hill	94523	Contra Costa County	Mt. Diablo Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 682-8000	75	8	9.8	38.7%	18 (24.0%)	1 (1.3%)	50 (66.7%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.7%)	2 (2.7%)	9.9	2031^st of 2323 public high schools	12.6%		7.6	2227^th of 2348 public high schools	5.2%	196			0.0	0.0				16.7	16.7				0.0	0.0	$17,690
Northgate High	Public	9-12	425 Castle Rock Rd.	Walnut Creek	94598	Contra Costa County	Mt. Diablo Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 938-0900	1,535	65	23.4	10.0%	685 (44.6%)	25 (1.6%)	255 (16.6%)	278 (18.1%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.3%)	278 (18.1%)	91.9	128^th of 2323 public high schools	94.5%		91.9	142^nd of 2348 public high schools	94.0%	14		54.9		54.3				76.7	76.7				56.9	56.9	$11,819
Miramonte High	Public	9-12	750 Moraga Way	Orinda	94563	Contra Costa County	Acalanes Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 280-3930	1,188	63	18.8	4.2%	700 (58.9%)	11 (0.9%)	101 (8.5%)	268 (22.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (8.4%)	98.2	25^th of 2323 public high schools	98.9%		97.4	46^th of 2348 public high schools	98.0%	21		76.4		76.2				87.7	87.7				72.7	72.7	$13,882
Contra Costa School of Performing Arts	Public, Charter	6-12	2730 Mitchell Dr.	Walnut Creek	94598	Contra Costa County	Contra Costa School of Performing Arts District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 235-1130	361	15	24.1	46.0%	80 (22.2%)	48 (13.3%)	165 (45.7%)	14 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (14.4%)	35.4	1263^rd of 2323 public high schools	45.6%		30.1	1415^th of 2348 public high schools	39.7%	152	23.0	34.8		25.7	16.1	40.4	39.5	73.9	36.8	8.1	15.4	16.3	26.1	14.8
Ygnacio Valley High	Public	9-12	755 Oak Grove Rd.	Concord	94518	Contra Costa County	Mt. Diablo Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(925) 685-8414	1,111	60	18.5	86.1%	59 (5.3%)	33 (3.0%)	893 (80.4%)	80 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.5%)	40 (3.6%)	27.2	1497^th of 2323 public high schools	35.6%		26.9	1508^th of 2348 public high schools	35.8%	11		14.5	0.0	13.8				39.1	39.1				8.1	8.1	$14,599

Frequently Asked Questions about Acalanes Center for Independent Study

How many students attend Acalanes Center for Independent Study?

In the 2023-24 school year, 51 students attended Acalanes Center for Independent Study.

What is the racial makeup of Acalanes Center for Independent Study?

Students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study are 67% White, 14% Hispanic, 12% Two or more races, 8% Asian.

Is Acalanes Center for Independent Study a good school?

Acalanes Center for Independent Study ranks 538^th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Acalanes Center for Independent Study in?

Acalanes Union High

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.