Needs Improvement
#9006 of 9,533 schools in CA
Alternative Family Education
School · Santa Cruz City High
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Enrollment
110
Student-Teacher
27.5:1
Score
3.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
110
Student-Teacher
27.5:1
Score
3.9
Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Santa Cruz
#23 of 25
public schools
California schools
#445 of 475
In district
#8 of 9
Santa Cruz City High
About Alternative Family Education
Alternative Family Education is a unique alternative school located in Santa Cruz, California. Serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, the school has an enrollment of 110 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 27.5:1 with four full-time equivalent teachers. The school's location in a small city provides a close-knit community setting for learning.
Alternative Family Education aims to offer a distinctive educational approach tailored to diverse learners. With a MySchoolScout rating of 4.1 out of 10, the school is ranked 6881st among California schools, placing it in the 28th percentile. The academic score stands at 6.1 out of 10, indicating areas for improvement but also room for growth and development.
In terms of subject proficiency, 67% of students are proficient or above in ELA/reading across all grade levels, while 48% are proficient or above in math. The school continues to focus on enhancing its academic programs to better support student achievement. Alternative Family Education is situated in a vibrant city setting where community ties and local resources contribute to the overall learning environment for students.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 110 students, Alternative Family Education 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.
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative Family Education is 27.5:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Alternative Family Education — Students at Alternative Family Education score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
33.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 4 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 1.1/10.
How Alternative Family Education Compares
See how Alternative Family Education performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 75% (2019) to 20% (2024). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 75% (2019) to 58.33% (2024).
Location
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Alternative Family Education may also want to explore other schools in the area. THE BAY SCHOOL (rated 7.4/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Santa Cruz County Special Education (rated 7.4/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Santa Cruz, see our Santa Cruz schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Ark Independent Studies Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | 3.2 |
| Costanoa Continuation High Santa Cruz | 0.0 mi | 5.3 |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch Santa Cruz | 0.1 mi | 7.3 |
| Branciforte Middle Santa Cruz | 0.3 mi | 6.0 |
| Gault Elementary Santa Cruz | 0.4 mi | 7.6 |
| Santa Cruz Children's School Santa Cruz | 0.5 mi | — |
| SANTA CRUZ CHILDRENS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.5 mi | 4.5 |
| Holy Cross Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | — |
| HOLY CROSS SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 0.9 mi | 7.0 |
| De Laveaga Elementary Santa Cruz | 1.2 mi | 6.8 |
| VHM Christian School Santa Cruz | 1.2 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz High Santa Cruz | 1.3 mi | 7.7 |
| Harbor High Santa Cruz | 1.2 mi | 6.6 |
| VHM CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.2 mi | 6.1 |
| Mission Hill Middle Santa Cruz | 1.3 mi | 5.4 |
| THE BAY SCHOOL Santa Cruz | 1.4 mi | 7.4 |
| SPRING HILL-ADVANCED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF SANTA CR Santa Cruz | 1.6 mi | 5.7 |
| Santa Cruz County Special Education Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 7.4 |
| Santa Cruz County Court Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | — |
| Santa Cruz County Community Santa Cruz | 1.5 mi | 6.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95062 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$108,261
Median Home Value
$1,064,600
Median Rent
$2,291/mo
Population
36,047
College Educated
50.7%
Homeownership
53.6%
Avg Commute
22.6 min
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Median Age
42.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Alternative Family Education has a median household income of $108,261. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,064,600, with a median rent of $2,291/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.3%. The average commute for residents is 23 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 |
|---|---|
| Guajome Learning Centers Vista, CA | 3.7 |
| Oakdale Chico, CA | 4.1 |
| Olive Grove Charter - Lompoc Santa Maria, CA | 4.1 |
| Mt. Lassen Charter Herlong, CA | 4.2 |
| GRACE MENNONITE SCHOOL Winton, CA | 4.3 |
| LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY San Lorenzo, CA | 4.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Alternative Family Education
What grades does Alternative Family Education serve?
Alternative Family Education serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Alternative Family Education?
Alternative Family Education has an enrollment of approximately 110 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alternative Family Education?
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative Family Education is 27.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Alternative Family Education rank in CA?
Alternative Family Education is ranked #9006 out of 9,533 schools in CA.
What is Alternative Family Education's MySchoolScout rating?
Alternative Family Education has a composite rating of 3.9 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 Alternative Family Education?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Alternative Family Education has 47.5% math proficiency and 66.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Alternative Family Education a charter school?
No, Alternative Family Education is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Alternative Family Education a Title I school?
No, Alternative Family Education is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Alternative Family Education?
33.6% of students at Alternative Family Education qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (3,203/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Santa Cruz). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 110
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 27.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 4
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 33.6%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Santa Cruz County
- Phone
- (831) 429-3898
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Santa Cruz City High- District Enrollment
- 4,504
- Schools in District
- 9
- District Rank
- #8 of 9
Other Schools in This District
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.
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