Is Higher Learning Academy a good school?

Higher Learning Academy ranks in the bottom 6.4% of California alternative schools.

How many students attend Higher Learning Academy?

In the 2023-24 school year, 539 students attended Higher Learning Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Higher Learning Academy?

Students at Higher Learning Academy are 41% Hispanic, 19% Asian, 17% African American, 12% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% Pacific Islander.

Higher Learning Academy

Summary:

Higher Learning Academy is a public charter school in Sacramento, California that serves 533 students in grades K-12. The school has a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with 86.12% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Higher Learning Academy faces several challenges compared to nearby charter schools. The school has a very high chronic absenteeism rate of 32.3%, significantly higher than Westlake Charter (22.1%) and Natomas Charter (7.0%). Academically, Higher Learning Academy's proficiency rates on state assessments are much lower than the state and nearby charter school averages, ranging from 3.64% to 31.37% in English Language Arts and 5.45% to 20.34% in Mathematics, compared to the state averages of 42.8% to 47.37% in ELA and 31.57% to 45.64% in Math. Additionally, the school does not have publicly available data on graduation and dropout rates, unlike many of the nearby charter schools.

The challenges faced by Higher Learning Academy may be exacerbated by the high percentage of economically disadvantaged students it serves. To improve student outcomes, the school may need to closely examine its instructional practices, student engagement strategies, and the support services it provides to its students and families. Transparent reporting of key metrics, such as graduation and dropout rates, would also help parents and the community better understand the school's performance and effectiveness.

Detail:

Public, Charter, Alternative K-12

900 Grace Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95838-2348

(916) 286-5183

District: Higher Learning Academy District

SchoolDigger Rank:
5486^th of 5,862 California Alternative Schools

Student/teacher ratio: 24.6

Number of students: 539

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

41.0%

Asian:

18.6%

African American:

16.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 86.3%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Higher Learning Academy to nearby alternative schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Higher Learning Academy ranks worse than 93.6% of elementary schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.82. (See more...)

Compare Details Higher Learning Academy ranks worse than 92.4% of middle schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 12.25. (See more...)

Compare Details Higher Learning Academy ranks worse than 80.5% of high schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.22. (See more...)

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:

Higher Learning Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Higher Learning Academy 5486^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Higher Learning Academy 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:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Higher Learning Academy 2567^th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Higher Learning Academy 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 Higher Learning Academy 1871^st of 2323 California public high schools. (See Higher Learning Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Asian students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

Pacific Islander students:

White students:

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Rank History for Higher Learning Academy

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Rank History for all elementary school students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	18.61	4930^th	5789	14.8%
2022	12.91	5538^th	5883	5.9%
2023	10.00	5710^th	5874	2.8%
2024	12.82	5486^th	5862	6.4%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school English Language Learner students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	42.27	1661^st	3311	49.8%
2023	28.82	2613^th	3250	19.6%
2024	40.20	1803^rd	3160	42.9%

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 Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	24.70	4246^th	5173	17.9%
2022	13.41	5053^rd	5264	4.0%
2023	11.48	5231^st	5374	2.7%
2024	16.36	5051^st	5511	8.3%

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

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	14.80	5037^th	5492	8.3%
2022	14.56	5224^th	5635	7.3%
2023	11.64	5410^th	5617	3.7%
2024	11.94	5359^th	5605	4.4%

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

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	32.08	3614^th	5510	34.4%
2022	12.95	5375^th	5663	5.1%
2023	10.19	5515^th	5650	2.4%
2024	15.17	5145^th	5636	8.7%

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

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	55.45	273^rd	747	63.5%
2022	30.74	457^th	663	31.1%
2023	22.24	565^th	662	14.7%
2024	30.49	411^th	593	30.7%

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

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	29.97	3696^th	4963	25.5%
2022	19.86	4511^th	5084	11.3%
2023	12.50	4931^st	5098	3.3%
2024	18.27	4567^th	5102	10.5%

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 Higher Learning Academy

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Rank History for all middle school students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	11.85	2494^th	2715	8.1%
2021	14.12	827^th	894	7.5%
2022	15.36	2428^th	2740	11.4%
2023	12.19	2624^th	2802	6.4%
2024	12.25	2567^th	2777	7.6%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	38.36	832^nd	1540	46.0%
2023	27.52	1392^nd	1529	9.0%
2024	32.22	1117^th	1477	24.4%

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 Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	11.51	2231^st	2369	5.8%
2021	18.88	652^nd	721	9.6%
2022	19.29	2124^th	2458	13.6%
2023	8.46	2506^th	2549	1.7%
2024	11.57	2454^th	2575	4.7%

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

Rank History for middle school Female students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	7.01	2334^th	2380	1.9%
2021	15.22	679^th	738	8.0%
2022	18.69	2124^th	2509	15.3%
2023	13.08	2382^nd	2547	6.5%
2024	11.78	2404^th	2546	5.6%

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

Rank History for middle school Male students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	21.79	1915^th	2407	20.4%
2021	13.87	719^th	763	5.8%
2022	12.95	2371^st	2527	6.2%
2023	12.31	2401^st	2558	6.1%
2024	13.92	2325^th	2547	8.7%

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

Rank History for middle school African American students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	26.92	483^rd	643	24.9%
2022	25.66	493^rd	637	22.6%
2023	31.80	418^th	614	31.9%
2024	34.96	393^rd	626	37.2%

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

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	18.06	2092^nd	2359	11.3%
2023	17.87	2099^th	2391	12.2%
2024	14.36	2197^th	2383	7.8%

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 Higher Learning Academy

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Rank History for all high school students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	11.88	1958^th	2348	16.6%
2024	13.22	1871^st	2323	19.5%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for high school Multi-racial students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	4.85	746^th	786	5.1%
2024	9.04	724^th	804	10.0%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for high school English Language Learner students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	33.17	682^nd	1323	48.5%
2024	37.56	549^th	1350	59.3%

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

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	20.54	1354^th	1547	12.5%
2024	16.05	1472^nd	1534	4.0%

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

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	10.45	1978^th	2247	12.0%
2024	13.66	1803^rd	2235	19.3%

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

Rank History for high school Female students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	11.56	1820^th	2118	14.1%
2024	11.29	1812^th	2098	13.6%

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

Rank History for high school Male students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	11.45	1877^th	2207	15.0%
2024	14.75	1733^rd	2172	20.2%

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

Rank History for high school Asian students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	1.62	717^th	731	1.9%
2024	1.73	702^nd	712	1.4%

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

Rank History for high school African American students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	22.68	565^th	720	21.5%
2024	24.60	561^st	721	22.2%

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

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	12.58	1796^th	2142	16.2%
2024	14.29	1712^th	2125	19.4%

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

Rank History for high school Pacific Islander students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	17.83	31^st	35	11.4%
2024	39.92	26^th	35	25.7%

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

Rank History for high school White students at Higher Learning Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	4.11	1357^th	1434	5.4%
2024	5.26	1290^th	1406	8.3%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative 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 Higher Learning Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2019	52	111	20	123	2	4	13	0	325
2020	63	122	48	192	3	7	18	0	453
2021	52	126	67	189	3	10	23	0	470
2022	51	110	79	205	3	15	21	0	484
2023	65	107	99	210	4	23	25	0	533
2024	65	90	100	221	4	25	33	1	539

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 Higher Learning Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	325	12.4	26.2	84
2020	453	n/a	n/a	85.4
2021	470	21.0	22.3	67
2022	484	19.5	24.8	81.6
2023	533	21.7	24.4	86.1
2024	539	21.9	24.6	86.3

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 Higher Learning Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2019	325	12.4	26.2	84
2020	453	n/a	n/a	85.4
2021	470	21.0	22.3	67
2022	484	19.5	24.8	81.6
2023	533	21.7	24.4	86.1
2024	539	21.9	24.6	86.3

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