Orcutt School for Independent Study is a small public virtual elementary school serving grades K-8 in the Orcutt Union Elementary District in Santa Maria, CA, with only 47 students enrolled.
Compared to the nearby elementary schools in the district, Alice Shaw Elementary, Joe Nightingale Elementary, Pine Grove Elementary, and Ralph Dunlap Elementary, Orcutt School for Independent Study has significantly lower test scores across all grade levels and subjects, a high chronic absenteeism rate ranging from 45.7% to 63.1% over the past two school years, and a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 44.95% to 61.7%. However, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.9 to 22.7 over the past two school years.
The high chronic absenteeism rate and the high percentage of students from low-income families at Orcutt School for Independent Study may be contributing factors to the school's lower academic performance compared to the surrounding schools. The virtual nature of the school may also play a role in these metrics. The significant performance gap between Orcutt School for Independent Study and the other elementary schools in the Orcutt Union Elementary District suggests that the district may need to re-evaluate the resources and support provided to the virtual school to ensure that students are receiving a quality education and have the necessary support to succeed.
In the 2023-24 school year, 44 students attended Orcutt School for Independent Study.
Orcutt Union Elementary
Students at Orcutt School for Independent Study are 59% Hispanic, 30% White, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% American Indian.