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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

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 metrics
Student Progress1.1Significantly Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-7.17 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.6Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency20%
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.3%
Math vs. State Avg-15.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+11.2 pts
Overall Proficiency39%
Expected (poverty-adj.)56%
vs. Expected-17.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile38th
College Readiness6.5Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment1.4Significantly Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio27.5:1

Alternative Family Education — Students at Alternative Family Education score 39% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

33.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 47.5%
School
State
35.6%
ELA Proficiency 66.7%
School
State
47.1%

Based on 4 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2024
Math
20%
ELA
58.3%

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.

Overall Score
3.9/10
6th percentile in CA
Academic
5.6/10
5.6/10
Growth
1.1/10
Below average
Environment
1.4/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
34%
Teaching Staff
28:1 student-teacher ratio
4 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Santa Cruz City High
District Enrollment
4,504
Schools in District
9
District Rank
#8 of 9

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

Related reading

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