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Very Good

#2431 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 26% in state

Acalanes Center for Independent Study

High School · Acalanes Union High · Walnut Creek, CA

An Acalanes Union High high school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA 94595

  • Math 29% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 63% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 80%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data11
Annual Change-0.39 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics6.1Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.6% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg+0.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+7.1 pts
Overall Proficiency46% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-15.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile45th
College Readiness5.8Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate80%+
AP Participation15.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.3:1
District spending per student$19,127
Chronic Absenteeism25.5%

Students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency29%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency63%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 29 points since 2019, to 46% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 11 years
2009
Math
50%
ELA
70%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2011
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2015
Math
10%
ELA
30%
2016
Math
25%
ELA
75%
2017
Math
50%
ELA
90%
2018
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2019
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2020*
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2021*
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2024
Math
29%
ELA
63%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 70% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 24 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

23.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Acalanes Center for Independent Study sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Francisco Bay Area map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 31Car-Dependent
  • Transit 19Minimal Transit
  • Bike 23Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,181/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Walnut Creek), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$98,108

Median home value

$816,600

Median rent

$2,677/mo

College educated

69.4%

Homeownership

81.6%

Poverty rate

3.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94595; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
15.7% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Las Lomas HighEnrollment path unverified8.19–121.5 mi1,568Compare →
The Springstone SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot rated6–121.8 mi41Compare →
The Springstone SchoolPrivate · tuition7.9private6–121.8 mi52Compare →
Fusion Academy Walnut Creek DowntownPrivate · tuitionNot rated6–121.9 mi26Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Acalanes Union High

Schools in district
5
Rank in district
#5 of 5
District spending per student
$19,127NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
2.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

Acalanes Center for Independent Study is listed in Acalanes Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Acalanes Center for Independent Study is a public high school in Walnut Creek, CA, part of Acalanes Union High, serving approximately 51 students in grades 9th-12th with a 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #2,431 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Acalanes Center for Independent Study

What grades does Acalanes Center for Independent Study serve?

Acalanes Center for Independent Study serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Acalanes Center for Independent Study?

Acalanes Center for Independent Study has an enrollment of approximately 51 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Acalanes Center for Independent Study?

The student-teacher ratio at Acalanes Center for Independent Study is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Acalanes Center for Independent Study rank in CA?

Acalanes Center for Independent Study ranks #2,431 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Acalanes Center for Independent Study's MySchoolScout rating?

Acalanes Center for Independent Study has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Acalanes Center for Independent Study?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Acalanes Center for Independent Study has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Acalanes Center for Independent Study a charter school?

No, Acalanes Center for Independent Study is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Acalanes Center for Independent Study a Title I school?

No, Acalanes Center for Independent Study is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Acalanes Center for Independent Study?

23.5% of students at Acalanes Center for Independent Study qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
51
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
7
Type
alternative
Setting
Small City
County
Contra Costa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.5%
4-Year Graduation
80%+
Area population (ZIP 94595)
17,051
Area average commute
29.7 min
Area median age
68.8
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 94595; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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