Is Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public a good school?

Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public ranks in the bottom 5.1% of California alternative schools.

How many students attend Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public?

In the 2023-24 school year, 739 students attended Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public.

What is the racial makeup of Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public?

Students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public are 80% Hispanic, 12% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Summary:

Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public is an alternative public charter school located in Oakland, California, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 712 students. The school has a high percentage of students from low-income families, with 91.29% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2022-2023 school year.

Lodestar faces significant challenges, particularly in terms of chronic absenteeism and academic performance. The school has a chronic absenteeism rate of 39.3%, which is significantly higher than the state average of 16.1%. Academically, Lodestar's performance, as measured by standardized tests, is well below state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2023-2024, only 36% of 11th-grade students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public were proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, compared to the state average of 55.73%. In mathematics, the proficiency rate for 11th-grade students at Lodestar was just 6%, compared to the state average of 27.9%.

When comparing Lodestar to nearby schools, the academic performance gap becomes even more apparent. For instance, Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori, a public charter school located approximately 7.5 miles from Lodestar, had significantly higher proficiency rates in both English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics across multiple grade levels. The high chronic absenteeism rate at Lodestar appears to be closely linked to the school's low academic performance, suggesting that addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism could potentially lead to improvements in student outcomes. Additionally, Lodestar's high percentage of students from low-income families may be a contributing factor to the school's academic challenges, as research has shown that students from low-income backgrounds often face additional barriers to academic success.

Detail:

Public, Charter, Alternative K-12

701 105th Ave.
Oakland, CA 94603

(510) 775-0255

District: Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public District

SchoolDigger Rank:
5563^rd of 5,862 California Alternative Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 15.7

Number of students: 739

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

79.8%

African American:

12.2%

Two or more races:

6.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 89.3%

See top rated California elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public ranks worse than 94.9% of elementary schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.74. (See more...)

Compare Details Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public ranks worse than 76.1% of middle schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 23.23. (See more...)

Compare Details Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public ranks worse than 74.2% of high schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.53. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public 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

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Teachers

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Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public:

SchoolDigger ranks Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public 5563^rd of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public 2113^th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public 1723^rd of 2323 California public high schools. (See Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	14.29	5288^th	5789	8.7%
2021	18.61	1192^nd	1417	15.9%
2022	9.39	5763^rd	5883	2.0%
2023	22.10	4649^th	5874	20.9%
2024	11.74	5563^rd	5862	5.1%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school English Language Learner students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	33.84	2214^th	3275	32.4%
2021	32.18	445^th	602	26.1%
2022	24.37	2985^th	3311	9.8%
2023	52.12	1090^th	3250	66.5%
2024	29.30	2592^nd	3160	18.0%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	17.41	4720^th	5173	8.8%
2021	25.49	906^th	1110	18.4%
2022	11.53	5133^rd	5264	2.5%
2023	32.21	3716^th	5374	30.9%
2024	15.28	5126^th	5511	7.0%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	15.12	5018^th	5492	8.6%
2021	17.43	1110^th	1267	12.4%
2022	8.11	5596^th	5635	0.7%
2023	20.76	4621^st	5617	17.7%
2024	15.62	5068^th	5605	9.6%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	15.01	5051^st	5510	8.3%
2021	21.85	1010^th	1272	20.6%
2022	12.43	5415^th	5663	4.4%
2023	25.32	4221^st	5650	25.3%
2024	10.42	5453^rd	5636	3.2%

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

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	39.01	434^th	747	41.9%
2022	11.21	662^nd	663	0.2%
2023	37.86	387^th	662	41.5%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	21.96	4245^th	4963	14.5%
2022	10.10	5010^th	5084	1.5%
2023	32.74	3484^th	5098	31.7%
2024	14.51	4786^th	5102	6.2%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Hispanic Students!

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

Rank History for Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

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Rank History for all middle school students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	17.51	2292^nd	2715	15.6%
2021	11.41	853^rd	894	4.6%
2022	6.70	2715^th	2740	0.9%
2023	18.40	2359^th	2802	15.8%
2024	23.23	2113^th	2777	23.9%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	45.54	533^rd	1442	63.0%
2021	32.74	284^th	363	21.8%
2022	23.43	1510^th	1540	1.9%
2023	39.44	795^th	1529	48.0%
2024	43.08	621^st	1477	58.0%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	21.52	1976^th	2369	16.6%
2021	16.95	669^th	721	7.2%
2022	7.52	2431^st	2458	1.1%
2023	23.81	2022^nd	2549	20.7%
2024	30.84	1741^st	2575	32.4%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	17.48	2026^th	2380	14.9%
2021	14.48	685^th	738	7.2%
2022	8.85	2464^th	2509	1.8%
2023	16.97	2229^th	2547	12.5%
2024	23.06	1968^th	2546	22.7%

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

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	17.45	1520^th	1531	0.7%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	18.15	2054^th	2407	14.7%
2021	9.57	746^th	763	2.2%
2022	5.70	2523^rd	2527	0.2%
2023	21.48	2029^th	2558	20.7%
2024	24.34	1897^th	2547	25.5%

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

Rank History for middle school African American students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	13.45	619^th	637	2.8%
2023	12.56	602^nd	614	2.0%
2024	27.62	466^th	626	25.6%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	25.94	1679^th	2213	24.1%
2022	8.35	2329^th	2359	1.3%
2023	24.91	1842^nd	2391	23.0%
2024	30.30	1635^th	2383	31.4%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Hispanic Students!

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

Rank History for Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

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Rank History for all high school students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	15.46	1820^th	2348	22.5%
2024	18.53	1723^rd	2323	25.8%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school English Language Learner students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	40.13	460^th	1323	65.2%
2024	28.02	921^st	1350	31.8%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	21.33	1318^th	1547	14.8%
2024	24.71	1178^th	1534	23.2%

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

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	18.19	1709^th	2247	23.9%
2024	21.61	1620^th	2235	27.5%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	15.39	1713^th	2118	19.1%
2024	19.75	1597^th	2098	23.9%

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

Rank History for high school Male students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.59	1758^th	2207	20.3%
2024	16.23	1683^rd	2172	22.5%

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

Rank History for high school African American students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	20.38	596^th	720	17.2%
2024	37.71	423^rd	721	41.3%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	19.16	1620^th	2142	24.4%
2024	20.86	1553^rd	2125	26.9%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Hispanic 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

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Thursday, January 19, 2023

Awful, unorganized, hopeless, careless staff, crummy, pathetic, appalling, disgraceful, just plain pitiful. I actually hate this school with my heart, soul, and spirit. The worst school I've ever been to. I'd rather go to school at a crack house in the middle of a farm with goats as teachers. If I could send this school to the bottomless pits of hell, I would in a heartbeat. This school ruined my entire life and it makes me want to unenroll myself and climb mount everest to join every dead person there. Please don't EVER send ANY child here. You're better off homeschooling them or better yet, not taking them to school at all. Lodestar is crusty and musty. Not to mention they only have 1 available bathroom with 3 stalls. People are always hanging out in the bathroom and doing prob weird stuff. None of the teachers can handle bad behavior and it's annoying it's always "No stop" "Please don't do that" "I'm going to call home!" like omg just send them to the principal or something or do yall not do that here? I don't know but the moment I get out of this prison (Lodestar) I'm writing the most disrespectful review EVER. Thank you for reading xoxo Close Quote

by a citizen
Thursday, December 16, 2021

I would have once cut this school a break due to its status as a new school. Now in its 6th year (and its 3rd principal) this school seems like an embodiment of all the complaints made against charter schools. Too many admin but not enough structure or follow through on the ground. Students are often seen running out of classrooms without supervison, classes being held in the open hallway due to lack of available classrooms, and apparently very little done in terms of response to behavior trainings for staff. New staff and families alike often comment of the chaotic atmosphere. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2019	10	112	11	358	1	8	22	0	522
2020	8	120	12	421	0	10	37	0	608
2021	4	119	11	464	0	8	39	0	645
2022	5	137	5	495	0	3	22	2	669
2023	2	125	5	558	0	4	16	2	712
2024	1	90	6	590	0	6	44	2	739

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 Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	522	19.0	27.4	35.8
2020	608	n/a	n/a	78.9
2021	645	28.0	23.0	79.8
2022	669	40.8	16.3	85.4
2023	712	38.9	18.3	91.3
2024	739	46.8	15.7	89.3

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 Lodestar: A Lighthouse Community Charter Public

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	522	19.0	27.4	35.8
2020	608	n/a	n/a	78.9
2021	645	28.0	23.0	79.8
2022	669	40.8	16.3	85.4
2023	712	38.9	18.3	91.3
2024	739	46.8	15.7	89.3

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.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates