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Very Good

#197 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 11% of private schools

A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation

School

4138 LAKESIDE DR, Richmond, CA 94806

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 31 schools in Richmond. Learn more

Enrollment

44

Student-Teacher

7.3:1

Score

7.6

Grades

UG – UG

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Richmond

#1 of 5

public schools

California schools

#50 of 366

About A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation

A Better Chance School/Cal Autism Foundation serves 44 students in Richmond, California, offering specialized education with an exceptional 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio. With just 6 full-time equivalent teachers, this small public school provides highly individualized attention that contributes to its outstanding performance. The school has earned a remarkable 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #345 out of 1790 schools statewide, placing it in the 81st percentile among California schools.

This impressive ranking reflects the school's commitment to meeting the unique educational needs of its student population through specialized programming and intensive support. The intimate school environment allows teachers to develop close relationships with students and tailor instruction to individual learning styles and requirements. The low enrollment ensures that every student receives focused attention and support throughout their educational journey.

Located on Lakeside Drive in Richmond's 94806 zip code, the school serves a diverse community where the median household income is $82,274 and 23% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The area maintains a poverty rate of 11.2%, reflecting a relatively stable economic environment. A Better Chance School sits within Contra Costa County's large suburban landscape, providing students with access to both educational resources and community support systems.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 44 students, A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.3:1, A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation compares to 31 public schools serving similar grades in Richmond, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
This School
vs
24:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
44
This School
vs
507
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.6
This School
vs
5.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 29.5% vs 0%
Asian 25% vs 0%
Black 20.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 9.1% vs 0%
A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation Richmond Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation (this school) 7.6
Making Waves Academy 6.7
Caliber: Beta Academy 6.1
Summit Public School: Tamalpais 5.5
Highland Elementary 4.3
Sheldon Elementary 4.2
Riverside Elementary 6.2
Verde Elementary 4.1
Richmond High 4.4
Ford Elementary 5.5
De Anza High 6.2
Valley View Elementary 5.5
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary 4.2
Grant Elementary 4.1
Michelle Obama Elementary 6.5
Mira Vista Elementary 7.6
Manzanita Middle 6.5
Peres Elementary 3.8
Lovonya DeJean Middle 6.2
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary 6.0
Greenwood Academy 6.1

Showing 20 of 31 schools. View all schools in Richmond

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 7.3 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 78%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
C 3.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 44
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 29.5%
Asian 25.0%
Black 20.5%
Two or More 15.9%
Hispanic 9.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4138 LAKESIDE DR, Richmond, CA 94806

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation may also want to explore other schools in the area. SPECTRUM CENTER - TARA HILLS (rated 6.6/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby San Pablo), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy (rated 5.4/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby San Pablo), a more accessible option. For more schools in Richmond, see our Richmond schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
A Better Chance / California Autism Foundation Richmond 0.0 mi
Making Waves Academy Richmond 0.1 mi 6.7
Montalvin Manor Elementary San Pablo 0.5 mi 5.5
Aspire Richmond Technology Academy Oakland 0.6 mi 3.4
Summit Public School: Tamalpais Richmond 0.8 mi 5.5
Caliber: Beta Academy Richmond 0.7 mi 6.1
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy Oakland 0.8 mi 3.8
Spectrum Center Tara Hills Campus San Pablo 0.8 mi
SPECTRUM CENTER - TARA HILLS San Pablo 0.8 mi 6.6
Highland Elementary Richmond 1.2 mi 4.3
Tara Hills Elementary San Pablo 1.0 mi 4.6
Middle College High San Pablo 1.3 mi 7.6
PATTYS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Richmond 1.2 mi
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy San Pablo 1.4 mi 5.4
Bayview Elementary San Pablo 1.3 mi 6.8
Shannon Elementary Pinole 1.3 mi 8.3
Betty Reid Soskin Middle El Sobrante 1.3 mi 4.2
SENECA FAMILY OF AGENCIE- CATALYST ACADEMY El Sobrante 1.5 mi
Helms Middle San Pablo 1.8 mi 4.7
Seneca Family of Agencies, Catalyst Academy El Sobrante 1.5 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94806 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$82,818

Median Home Value

$582,000

Median Rent

$2,013/mo

Population

61,749

College Educated

22.7%

Homeownership

50.6%

Avg Commute

34.1 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Median Age

36.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation has a median household income of $82,818. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $582,000, with a median rent of $2,013/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.8%. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Alternative Learning Center San Bernardino, CA 7.6
INLAND CONSERVATORY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL Ontario, CA 7.6
MISSION VALLEY SPECTRUM - MISSION Hayward, CA 7.6
Thurgood Marshall Compton, CA 7.6
SPECTRUM CENTER- LONG BEACH MIDDLE MARKET STREET Long Beach, CA 7.5
STOCKTON BAPTIST SCHOOL Stockton, CA 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation

What grades does A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation serve?

A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation serves students in grades UG through UG.

How many students attend A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation?

A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation has an enrollment of approximately 44 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation?

The student-teacher ratio at A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation rank in CA?

A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation is ranked #197 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation's MySchoolScout rating?

A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation has a composite rating of 7.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation a private school?

Yes, A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation a religious school?

No, A Better Chance School/cal Autism Foundation is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
44 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
39 Some Transit
Bike Score
17 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,715/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Richmond). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
UG – UG
Enrollment
44
Gender Split
82% M / 18% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
210 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
CONTRA COSTA
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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