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Excellent

#828 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 9% in state

Acalanes High

High School · Acalanes Union High

1200 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549

Enrollment

1,250

Student-Teacher

19.8:1

Score

8.3

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Lafayette

#2 of 6

public schools

California high schools

#134 of 1,892

In district

#2 of 5

Acalanes Union High

Equity

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Acalanes High

Acalanes High is a public high school in Lafayette, CA, part of the Acalanes Union High. The school serves approximately 1,250 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 19.8:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 91.3th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 70% proficiency in math, 38 points above the state average and 87% in reading/language arts, 36 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.2/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $231,195, where 77% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.2Above Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.93 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics9.0Exceptional25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67.2%
Reading/ELA Proficiency87.1%
Math vs. State Avg+39.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+31.2 pts
Overall Proficiency77%
Expected (poverty-adj.)71%
vs. Expected+6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
College Readiness9.5Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation42.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.2Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$17,550

Acalanes High — Students at Acalanes High score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 71%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

8.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 69.9%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 87.0%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
73%
ELA
91%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
83%
2024
Math
67.2%
ELA
87.1%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.2/10.

How Acalanes High Compares

See how Acalanes High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.3/10
91th percentile in CA
Academic
9.0/10
9.0/10
Growth
6.2/10
Above average
Environment
8.2/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
8%
Teaching Staff
20:1 student-teacher ratio
63 teachers

Location

1200 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Acalanes High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. THE SPRINGSTONE SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, FUSION ACADEMY WALNUT CREEK DOWNTOWN (rated 7.9/10, 1.6 miles away, in nearby Walnut Creek), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Lafayette, see our Lafayette schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Springhill Elementary Lafayette 0.3 mi 9.0
Diablo Valley Montessori Lafayette 0.8 mi
DIABLO VALLEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Lafayette 0.8 mi 6.0
THE SPRINGSTONE SCHOOL Lafayette 0.9 mi 7.9
The Springstone School Lafayette 0.9 mi
THE CHILD DAY SCHOOL - LAFAYETTE Lafayette 0.9 mi
MEHER SCHOOLS Lafayette 1.0 mi 6.7
Meher Schools, The Lafayette 1.0 mi
M. H. Stanley Middle Lafayette 1.5 mi 7.3
CENTER OF ARTS TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE Lafayette 1.4 mi 4.8
Lafayette Elementary Lafayette 1.5 mi 7.4
CONTRA COSTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Walnut Creek 1.6 mi 7.3
Al Judiy Academy Walnut Creek 1.5 mi
Contra Costa Christian Schools Walnut Creek 1.6 mi
Grayson Creek Academy Pleasant Hill 1.8 mi
St. Perpetua Lafayette 1.8 mi
ST PERPETUA SCHOOL Lafayette 1.8 mi 4.7
Walnut Creek Christian Academy Walnut Creek 1.6 mi
Fusion Academy Walnut Creek Downtown Walnut Creek 1.6 mi
FUSION ACADEMY WALNUT CREEK DOWNTOWN Walnut Creek 1.6 mi 7.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 94549 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$231,195

Median Home Value

$1,968,500

Median Rent

$2,902/mo

Population

28,247

College Educated

77.2%

Homeownership

78.7%

Avg Commute

28.6 min

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Median Age

45.8

Community Profile

The community surrounding Acalanes High has a median household income of $231,195. It is a well-educated community where 77% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,968,500, with a median rent of $2,902/month. The local poverty rate of 4.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 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
Blair High Pasadena, CA 8.3
Woodside High Woodside, CA 8.3
Azusa High Azusa, CA 8.4
Miramonte High Orinda, CA 8.4
Panorama High Panorama City, CA 8.4
San Dimas High San Dimas, CA 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Acalanes High

What grades does Acalanes High serve?

Acalanes High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Acalanes High?

Acalanes High has an enrollment of approximately 1,250 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Acalanes High?

The student-teacher ratio at Acalanes High is 19.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Acalanes High rank in CA?

Acalanes High is ranked #828 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Acalanes High's MySchoolScout rating?

Acalanes High has a composite rating of 8.3 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.

What are the test scores at Acalanes High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Acalanes High has 69.9% math proficiency and 87.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Acalanes High a charter school?

No, Acalanes High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Acalanes High a Title I school?

No, Acalanes High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Acalanes High?

8.2% of students at Acalanes High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Elevated (1,348/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,250
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
63
Free/Reduced Lunch
8.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Contra Costa County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Acalanes Union High
District Enrollment
5,415
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,127
District Rank
#2 of 5

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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