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Average

#5005 of 9,533 schools in CA

Valley Life Charter

School · Valley Life Charter District

3737 West Walnut Ave., Visalia, CA 93277

Charter

Enrollment

678

Student-Teacher

16.1:1

Score

6.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Visalia

#19 of 50

public schools

California schools

#171 of 475

School environment

8.4 / 10

Very strong

About Valley Life Charter

Valley Life Charter is a charter school in Visalia, California, serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. With an enrollment of 678 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16.1:1, the school provides personalized attention to each learner. Valley Life Charter houses 42 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to fostering academic growth and development.

The school's MySchoolScout rating stands at 5.2 out of 10, placing it in the 48th percentile among California schools based on its state ranking of #5022 out of 9,566 schools. In terms of proficiency rates, 44% of students are proficient or above in English Language Arts/Reading, while 31% meet this standard in Math. These scores indicate areas where the school is focusing on academic improvement and student development.

Valley Life Charter is situated in a mid-size city setting, offering its diverse student body access to urban resources and opportunities within Visalia.

What's said publicly about Valley Life Charter

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated April 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Valley Life Charter is a free public charter school established in 2011 1 . Its mission focuses on providing authentic opportunities for students to apply skill sets for decision-making, emphasizing the whole student through academics and the visual and performing arts 1 . The school incorporates the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into its educational approach to foster leadership 1 . Academic programs include a Visual and Performing Arts curriculum that begins in transitional kindergarten (TK), offering instruction in music, dance, and visual arts 1 . A Spanish language program also starts in TK and continues through 8th grade 1 . Athletics are available for students in grades 6-8 1 . Additionally, the school offers an Independent Study Program for students from TK through 12th grade, which combines weekly in-person teacher meetings with independent home study 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.vlcs.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

Valley Life Charter is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.0Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-1.49 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.2Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31.2%
Reading/ELA Proficiency42.6%
Math vs. State Avg-14.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-0.2 pts
Overall Proficiency37%
Expected (poverty-adj.)58%
vs. Expected-20.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile34th
College Readiness6.5Above Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,364

Valley Life Charter — Students at Valley Life Charter score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

30.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 31.4%
School
State
36.8%
ELA Proficiency 43.6%
School
State
45.8%

Based on 16 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
36%
ELA
52%
2024
Math
30.7%
ELA
42.4%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.0/10.

How Valley Life Charter Compares

See how Valley Life Charter performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.2/10
48th percentile in CA
Academic
5.2/10
5.2/10
Growth
5.0/10
Above average
Environment
8.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
31%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
42 teachers

Location

3737 West Walnut Ave., Visalia, CA 93277

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Valley Life Charter may also want to explore other schools in the area. Visalia Charter Independent Study (rated 7.6/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is University Preparatory High (rated 7.5/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Visalia Technical Early College (rated 7.4/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Visalia, see our Visalia schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Visalia Technical Early College Visalia 0.5 mi 7.4
Veva Blunt Elementary Visalia 0.6 mi 6.0
Crestwood Elementary Visalia 0.7 mi 5.2
Royal Oaks Elementary Visalia 0.7 mi 4.3
Linwood Elementary Visalia 0.9 mi 5.3
La Joya Middle Visalia 0.9 mi 4.8
VISALIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Visalia 1.0 mi 7.2
El Diamante High Visalia 0.9 mi 7.4
Visalia Montessori School Visalia 1.0 mi
University Preparatory High Visalia 1.2 mi 7.5
GREENHOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Visalia 1.4 mi
Visalia Charter Independent Study Visalia 1.3 mi 7.6
Cottonwood Creek Elementary Visalia 1.5 mi 5.2
Central Valley Christian School Society Visalia 1.3 mi
Divisadero Middle Visalia 1.4 mi 3.5
Willow Glen Elementary Visalia 1.6 mi 6.8
Sequoia High Visalia 2.0 mi 6.3
Creekside Community Day Visalia 2.0 mi
Conyer Elementary Visalia 1.8 mi 4.4
GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Visalia 1.8 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93277 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$79,532

Median Home Value

$320,500

Median Rent

$1,406/mo

Population

53,406

College Educated

23.1%

Homeownership

60.5%

Avg Commute

20.5 min

Poverty Rate

10.6%

Median Age

35.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Valley Life Charter has a median household income of $79,532. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $320,500, with a median rent of $1,406/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.6%. The average commute for residents is 21 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
CAPITAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sacramento, CA 6.2
Heartwood Charter Petaluma, CA 6.2
LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Valencia, CA 6.2
Las Flores High (Alternative) Sacramento, CA 6.2
Santa Clarita Valley International Castaic, CA 6.2
TURLOCK CHRISTIAN JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL Turlock, CA 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Valley Life Charter

What grades does Valley Life Charter serve?

Valley Life Charter serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Valley Life Charter?

Valley Life Charter has an enrollment of approximately 678 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Life Charter?

The student-teacher ratio at Valley Life Charter is 16.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Valley Life Charter rank in CA?

Valley Life Charter is ranked #5005 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Valley Life Charter's MySchoolScout rating?

Valley Life Charter has a composite rating of 6.2 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 Valley Life Charter?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Valley Life Charter has 31.4% math proficiency and 43.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Valley Life Charter a charter school?

Yes, Valley Life Charter is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Valley Life Charter a Title I school?

No, Valley Life Charter is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Life Charter?

30.8% of students at Valley Life Charter 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 (2,586/100K)

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
678
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
42
Free/Reduced Lunch
30.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Tulare County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Valley Life Charter District
District Enrollment
678
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,607
District Rank
#1 of 1

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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