Foundations Academy

Q: Is Foundations Academy a good school?

Foundations Academy ranks 1642 nd of 2323 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Foundations Academy is an alternative public school located in Mather, California, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 179 students. The school is part of the Sacramento County Office of Education district, which is ranked 1398 out of 1568 districts in California and has a rating of 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

Foundations Academy faces significant challenges, with a 0% four-year graduation rate for the past 5 school years, a steady increase in dropout rates from 0% in 2019-2020 to 14.3% in 2022-2023, and extremely high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 48.3% in 2020-2021 to 73.4% in 2021-2022. Academically, the school's performance on the Smarter Balanced Assessments is well below the state and district averages, with only 21.05% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 22.22% in Mathematics in 2023-2024, compared to state averages of 47.04% and 35.54%, respectively.

While the nearby alternative schools, such as Community Outreach Academy, Community Collaborative Charter, and California Innovative Career Academy, also have relatively low academic performance and high dropout rates, Foundations Academy stands out with the lowest graduation rates and the highest chronic absenteeism rates among the schools analyzed. Despite the school's low student-teacher ratio and relatively low percentage of students from low-income families, it has not shown any significant improvement in its key metrics over the past 5 school years, suggesting the need for a comprehensive review of its educational model and support systems.

Detail:

Public, Alternative K-12

10474 Mather Blvd.
Mather, CA 95655-4116

(916) 228-2380

District: Sacramento County Office of Education

SchoolDigger Rank:
1642^nd of 2,323 California Alternative Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $60,982

Student/teacher ratio: 7.7

Number of students: 179

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

38.0%

White:

25.1%

African American:

12.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 24%

See top rated California elementary schools

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Foundations Academy ranks worse than 70.7% of high schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 21.39. (See more...)

The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) measures the percentage of Foundations Academy freshmen who graduate within four years, adjusting for students who transfer in or out.

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

Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 Student population at Foundations Academy is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (38%), White (25.1%), African American (12.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 24% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Foundations Academy is 7.7. (See more...)

Compare Foundations Academy employs 23 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Foundations Academy is $60,982.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Foundations Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Foundations Academy 1642^nd of 2323 California public high schools. (See Foundations Academy in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Special Education students:

Male students:

Sacramento County Office of Education:

SchoolDigger ranks Sacramento County Office of Education 1398^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Foundations Academy

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Rank History for all students at Foundations Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	12.79	1916^th	2348	18.4%
2024	21.39	1642^nd	2323	29.3%

See the entire list of California Alternative School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Foundations Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	45.75	553^rd	1547	64.3%
2024	68.85	230^th	1534	85.0%

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

Rank History for Male students at Foundations Academy

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	14.97	1744^th	2207	21.0%
2024	23.19	1510^th	2172	30.5%

See the entire list of Best California Alternative Schools for Male 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 Foundations Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2005	92	42	37	81	3	n/a	n/a	5	260
2006	91	40	37	90	2	n/a	n/a	0	260
2007	71	34	33	79	3	n/a	n/a	3	223
2008	81	25	34	80	3	n/a	n/a	0	223
2009	68	22	36	78	3	2	0	0	209
2010	70	24	48	87	3	2	2	0	236
2011	79	26	44	88	2	2	1	0	242
2012	76	26	36	89	2	0	7	0	236
2013	83	27	35	91	2	2	6	0	246
2014	84	27	33	98	3	1	7	0	253
2015	76	30	29	99	2	2	9	0	247
2016	74	27	32	97	2	2	15	0	249
2017	67	26	32	101	1	3	12	0	242
2018	68	25	30	99	2	3	16	0	243
2019	63	25	26	92	2	2	15	0	225
2020	57	20	26	99	1	0	15	0	218
2021	48	22	28	86	1	1	14	0	200
2022	52	26	21	80	1	1	15	0	196
2023	45	23	17	68	1	3	22	0	179

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 Foundations Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	260	25.0	10.4	67.1
2006	260	25.8	10.1	65
2007	223	24.8	9.0	n/a
2008	223	50.6	4.4	57.4
2009	209	24.8	4.2	55.5
2010	236	31.0	7.6	42.8
2011	242	n/a	n/a	40.9
2012	236	30.5	7.7	n/a
2013	246	31.0	7.9	54.9
2014	253	25.0	10.1	51.4
2015	247	25.0	9.8	56.7
2016	249	25.0	9.9	49
2017	242	24.0	10.0	45.5
2018	243	22.0	11.0	39.1
2019	225	23.0	9.7	36.9
2020	218	n/a	n/a	35.8
2021	200	22.0	9.0	26
2022	196	24.0	8.1	21.9
2023	179	23.0	7.7	24

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 Foundations Academy

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2005	260	25.0	10.4	67.1
2006	260	25.8	10.1	65
2007	223	24.8	9.0	n/a
2008	223	50.6	4.4	57.4
2009	209	24.8	4.2	55.5
2010	236	31.0	7.6	42.8
2011	242	n/a	n/a	40.9
2012	236	30.5	7.7	n/a
2013	246	31.0	7.9	54.9
2014	253	25.0	10.1	51.4
2015	247	25.0	9.8	56.7
2016	249	25.0	9.9	49
2017	242	24.0	10.0	45.5
2018	243	22.0	11.0	39.1
2019	225	23.0	9.7	36.9
2020	218	n/a	n/a	35.8
2021	200	22.0	9.0	26
2022	196	24.0	8.1	21.9
2023	179	23.0	7.7	24

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 Foundations Academy

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2018	$60,982

Data source: California Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Foundations Academy

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.

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	225	179	20.4%
African American	25	23	8%
American Indian	2	1	50%
Asian	26	17	34.6%
Hispanic	92	68	26.1%
Pacific Islander	2	3	50%
White	63	45	28.6%
Two or More Races	15	22	46.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36.9%	24%	12.9%

Schools Near Foundations Academy

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				CAST Science (2024)						Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2024)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)								% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science End of Course	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	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 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	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	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Total
Foundations Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	10474 Mather Blvd.	Mather	95655	Sacramento County	Sacramento County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 228-2380	179	23	7.7	24.0%	45 (25.1%)	23 (12.8%)	68 (38.0%)	17 (9.5%)	1 (0.6%)	3 (1.7%)	22 (12.3%)								(n/a)														21.1								22.2							$60,982
New Pacific School-Rancho Cordova	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	10710 Bear Hollow	Rancho Cordova	95670	Sacramento County	New Pacific School-Rancho Cordova District	Yes	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(866) 992-9033	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)	28.6					28.6	16.7		21.4					22.9	30.8	36.4	35.7					34.2
Walnutwood High (Independent Study)	Public, Alternative	K-12	10848 Gadsten Way	Rancho Cordova	95670	Sacramento County	Folsom-Cordova Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 294-9105	199	13	15.2	31.7%	121 (60.8%)	8 (4.0%)	43 (21.6%)	5 (2.5%)	2 (1.0%)	2 (1.0%)	18 (9.0%)								(n/a)				10.0	23.1	12.7							37.8	37.0							4.4	4.3							$7,985
Innovations Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	10886 Gadsten Way	Rancho Cordova	95670	Sacramento County	Folsom-Cordova Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(916) 294-2445	171	16	10.6	34.5%	44 (25.7%)	22 (12.9%)	53 (31.0%)	26 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (15.2%)								(n/a)	44.4	11.1		0.0		17.9			72.2	43.5	34.8	16.7	30.0	41.7			44.4	17.4	12.5	16.7	0.0	20.7
Ralph Richardson Center	Public, Alternative	K-12	4848 Cottage Way	Carmichael	95608	Sacramento County	San Juan Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 971-7411	49	7	7.1	44.9%	25 (51.0%)	5 (10.2%)	8 (16.3%)	7 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.0%)	3 (6.1%)								(n/a)																													$57,601
Visions In Education	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	5030 El Camino Ave.	Carmichael	95608	Sacramento County	Visions In Education District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 883-1601	6,591	255	25.8	54.9%	2,961 (44.9%)	488 (7.4%)	1,737 (26.4%)	479 (7.3%)	52 (0.8%)	39 (0.6%)	798 (12.1%)								(n/a)	35.9	28.1	22.1	28.7	17.6	26.1	37.6	45.9	45.3	43.1	53.6	46.5	49.2	46.8	35.5	37.3	24.8	27.3	32.8	28.9	25.7	29.1	44.4	49.5	65.0	46.1	47.9	47.7
Marconi Learning Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2444 Marconi Ave.	Sacramento	95821	Sacramento County	Marconi Learning Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 974-7307	328	17	19.6	86.0%	25 (7.6%)	58 (17.7%)	193 (58.8%)	24 (7.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	21 (6.4%)								(n/a)													33.3	33.3							1.2	1.2
Fortune	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	6829 Stockton Blvd. Ste. 380	Sacramento	95823	Sacramento County	Fortune District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 273-1030	1,866	60	31.0	72.9%	20 (1.1%)	1,159 (62.1%)	401 (21.5%)	28 (1.5%)	14 (0.8%)	16 (0.9%)	228 (12.2%)								(n/a)	12.1	12.2		9.5		12.0	27.1	28.3	20.7	32.2	28.8	39.5	66.7	30.7	32.6	29.1	14.0	25.8	11.6	22.4	16.3	23.0	94.7	95.1	97.7		95.1	95.4
Community Outreach Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	5637 Skvarla Ave.	McClellan	95652	Sacramento County	Community Outreach Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 286-5170	1,714	74	23.2	82.5%	1,648 (96.1%)	3 (0.2%)	40 (2.3%)	15 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.4%)								(n/a)	26.0	25.5				25.7	27.9	31.2	35.6	32.2	29.2	32.6		31.4	38.1	28.3	24.9	29.5	20.5	28.0		28.6	65.7	86.1	84.3	97.1	74.4
Community Collaborative Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	5715 Skvarla Ave.	McClellan	95652	Sacramento County	Community Collaborative Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(916) 286-5161	606	36	16.6	82.8%	281 (46.4%)	61 (10.1%)	195 (32.2%)	8 (1.3%)	3 (0.5%)	8 (1.3%)	42 (6.9%)								(n/a)	8.6	7.0	17.0	11.1	14.3	11.3	20.6	12.5	18.2	15.0	14.3	14.8	14.1	15.3	21.1	6.1	11.4	7.3	2.0	8.8	3.2	7.5

Frequently Asked Questions about Foundations Academy

What district is Foundations Academy in?

Sacramento County Office of Education

What is the racial makeup of Foundations Academy?

Students at Foundations Academy are 38% Hispanic, 25% White, 13% African American, 12% Two or more races, 9% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander.

Is Foundations Academy a good school?

Foundations Academy ranks 1642^nd of 2323 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Foundations Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 179 students attended Foundations Academy.

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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.