Acalanes High

Summary:

Acalanes High is a public high school located in Lafayette, California, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 1,259. Part of the Acalanes Union High School District, which is ranked 68 out of 1,568 districts in the state, Acalanes High has consistently been ranked among the top high schools in California, with a current statewide ranking of 48 out of 2,323 high schools.

Acalanes High's academic performance is exceptional, with over 87% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and over 67% proficient or better in Mathematics. The school's performance on the California Science Test (CAST) is also impressive, with over 65% of students proficient or better. Acalanes High's graduation rates have consistently been above 95% in recent years, significantly higher than the state average. The school's performance across various student subgroups, including female, male, Asian, Hispanic, and White students, as well as students with disabilities, is consistently among the top in the state.

Acalanes High's exceptional performance is further highlighted by its comparison to nearby schools. While Campolindo High and Las Lomas High, also part of the Acalanes Union High School District, are highly ranked, they do not match Acalanes High's level of academic excellence across all subject areas and student subgroups. The performance gap between Acalanes High and schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, such as Northgate High and Ygnacio Valley High, is even more pronounced, with Acalanes High significantly outperforming these schools in test scores and other key metrics.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1200 Pleasant Hill Rd.
       Lafayette, CA  94549-2623


(925) 280-3970

District: Acalanes Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
48th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,694 Help


Feeder schools for Acalanes High:

Elementary:    Happy Valley Elementary
    Lafayette Elementary
    Springhill Elementary
Middle:    M. H. Stanley Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  19.7 Help
Number of students:  1,250

Racial breakdown:

White:
64.6%
Asian:
12.0%
Hispanic:
10.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  8.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Acalanes High ranks better than 97.9% of high schools in California. It also ranks 3rd among 5 ranked high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 97.09. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Acalanes High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (64.6%), Asian (12%), Hispanic (10.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 8.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Acalanes High is 19.7. 2 high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Acalanes High employs 63.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Acalanes High is $14,694, which is the highest among 5 high schools in the Acalanes Union High School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Acalanes High:

SchoolDigger ranks Acalanes High 48th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Acalanes High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Acalanes Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Acalanes Union High 68th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Acalanes High

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Rank History for all students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 86.26 41st 1653 97.5%
2005 95.72 6th 1901 99.7%
2006 94.66 8th 1968 99.6%
2007 94.99 8th 2063 99.6%
2008 91.01 17th 2117 99.2%
2009 81.52 94th 2238 95.8%
2010 89.92 33rd 2281 98.6%
2011 90.34 30th 2367 98.7%
2012 91.15 26th 2354 98.9%
2013 89.82 31st 2426 98.7%
2015 95.96 52nd 1994 97.4%
2016 97.35 26th 2039 98.7%
2017 96.63 45th 2021 97.8%
2018 95.66 72nd 2017 96.4%
2019 98.63 29th 2133 98.6%
2021 95.16 49th 1290 96.2%
2022 96.76 77th 2123 96.4%
2023 96.97 53rd 2348 97.7%
2024 97.09 48th 2323 97.9%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.42 36th 366 90.2%
2019 93.42 11th 422 97.4%
2022 80.51 70th 515 86.4%
2023 75.93 130th 786 83.5%
2024 83.98 71st 804 91.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 80.01 117th 1547 92.4%
2024 94.41 30th 1534 98.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.02 144th 1862 92.3%
2019 93.75 87th 1937 95.5%
2021 99.62 4th 1126 99.6%
2022 90.76 136th 1943 93.0%
2023 89.56 153rd 2247 93.2%
2024 96.48 53rd 2235 97.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 94.11 74th 1760 95.8%
2019 98.64 10th 1833 99.5%
2021 95.66 34th 1054 96.8%
2022 97.27 43rd 1858 97.7%
2023 95.57 66th 2118 96.9%
2024 96.46 45th 2098 97.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.95 72nd 1052 93.2%
2019 98.61 21st 1117 98.1%
2021 99.82 6th 555 98.9%
2022 94.41 53rd 1161 95.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 86.34 26th 234 88.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 95.90 77th 1834 95.8%
2019 97.56 49th 1880 97.4%
2021 94.68 59th 1122 94.7%
2022 95.15 104th 1916 94.6%
2023 97.37 48th 2207 97.8%
2024 96.83 63rd 2172 97.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 75.96 151st 581 74.0%
2019 91.90 14th 582 97.6%
2022 76.84 136th 581 76.6%
2023 85.47 60th 731 91.8%
2024 87.52 37th 712 94.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.36 23rd 1742 98.7%
2019 98.46 28th 1814 98.5%
2022 97.12 53rd 1861 97.2%
2023 91.77 94th 2142 95.6%
2024 96.09 47th 2125 97.8%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Acalanes High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 88.50 95th 1173 91.9%
2019 93.48 46th 1222 96.2%
2022 89.06 90th 1204 92.5%
2023 91.33 59th 1434 95.9%
2024 89.82 64th 1406 95.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Acalanes High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Acalanes High

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1119 10 112 29 4 n/a n/a 0 1274
1989 970 12 119 31 6 n/a n/a 0 1138
1990 906 7 110 29 8 n/a n/a 0 1060
1991 862 10 113 38 8 n/a n/a 0 1031
1992 850 4 137 37 7 n/a n/a 0 1035
1993 857 8 136 36 8 n/a n/a 0 1045
1994 869 8 130 38 4 n/a n/a 0 1049
1995 930 13 151 56 7 n/a n/a 0 1157
1996 930 13 151 56 7 n/a n/a 0 1157
1997 999 11 161 53 7 n/a n/a 0 1231
1998 1026 11 188 51 10 n/a n/a 0 1286
1999 1086 14 179 38 11 n/a n/a 0 1328
2000 1077 17 165 45 7 n/a n/a 6 1317
2001 1029 19 170 43 7 n/a n/a 2 1270
2002 1009 21 163 60 2 n/a n/a 7 1262
2003 1009 21 163 60 2 n/a n/a 7 1262
2004 1012 15 149 45 2 n/a n/a 93 1316
2005 1010 11 135 37 1 n/a n/a 148 1342
2006 1022 14 125 36 1 n/a n/a 191 1389
2007 1003 7 127 34 1 n/a n/a 204 1376
2008 991 10 140 39 n/a n/a n/a 0 1180
2009 934 13 138 33 0 0 202 0 1320
2010 988 8 142 103 1 2 127 0 1371
2011 1011 13 157 113 2 1 119 0 1416
2012 987 7 166 110 2 1 113 0 1386
2013 1001 8 161 105 2 1 112 0 1390
2014 964 13 158 99 1 1 106 0 1342
2015 1004 13 172 96 0 2 109 0 1396
2016 1025 12 162 110 0 5 109 0 1423
2017 987 13 160 103 0 3 94 0 1360
2018 980 13 168 103 0 2 111 0 1377
2019 948 13 157 105 0 3 109 0 1335
2020 907 10 156 123 1 0 121 0 1318
2021 902 9 155 118 1 0 118 0 1303
2022 874 11 143 118 1 1 123 3 1274
2023 827 12 145 131 1 1 137 5 1259
2024 807 19 150 135 1 1 129 8 1250

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Acalanes High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1274 57.2 22.2 n/a
1989 1138 49.6 22.9 n/a
1990 1060 45.0 23.5 n/a
1991 1031 44.1 23.3 n/a
1992 1035 44.8 23.1 0.2
1993 1045 47.5 22.0 0.3
1994 1049 45.2 23.2 0.2
1995 1157 50.8 22.8 0.3
1996 1157 50.8 22.8 0.3
1997 1231 56.3 21.9 0.1
1998 1286 57.8 22.2 0.2
1999 1328 58.2 22.8 0.2
2000 1317 60.6 21.7 0
2001 1270 57.1 22.2 0
2002 1262 57.4 22.0 0
2003 1262 57.4 22.0 0
2004 1316 59.2 22.2 0
2005 1342 57.4 23.4 0
2006 1389 62.8 22.1 0
2007 1376 67.8 20.3 0
2008 1180 74.3 15.9 0.8
2009 1320 62.1 18.5 0.7
2010 1371 63.0 21.7 1.8
2011 1416 n/a n/a 2.4
2012 1386 66.6 20.8 n/a
2013 1390 67.4 20.6 2.2
2014 1342 66.0 20.3 2.8
2015 1396 69.0 20.2 2.7
2016 1423 69.0 20.6 3.2
2017 1360 67.0 20.2 2
2018 1377 68.0 20.2 5.1
2019 1335 67.2 19.8 5.9
2020 1318 n/a n/a 5
2021 1303 67.0 19.4 5.8
2022 1274 69.2 18.3 6.1
2023 1259 65.3 19.2 7.7
2024 1250 63.1 19.7 8.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Acalanes High

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1274 57.2 22.2 n/a
1989 1138 49.6 22.9 n/a
1990 1060 45.0 23.5 n/a
1991 1031 44.1 23.3 n/a
1992 1035 44.8 23.1 0.2
1993 1045 47.5 22.0 0.3
1994 1049 45.2 23.2 0.2
1995 1157 50.8 22.8 0.3
1996 1157 50.8 22.8 0.3
1997 1231 56.3 21.9 0.1
1998 1286 57.8 22.2 0.2
1999 1328 58.2 22.8 0.2
2000 1317 60.6 21.7 0
2001 1270 57.1 22.2 0
2002 1262 57.4 22.0 0
2003 1262 57.4 22.0 0
2004 1316 59.2 22.2 0
2005 1342 57.4 23.4 0
2006 1389 62.8 22.1 0
2007 1376 67.8 20.3 0
2008 1180 74.3 15.9 0.8
2009 1320 62.1 18.5 0.7
2010 1371 63.0 21.7 1.8
2011 1416 n/a n/a 2.4
2012 1386 66.6 20.8 n/a
2013 1390 67.4 20.6 2.2
2014 1342 66.0 20.3 2.8
2015 1396 69.0 20.2 2.7
2016 1423 69.0 20.6 3.2
2017 1360 67.0 20.2 2
2018 1377 68.0 20.2 5.1
2019 1335 67.2 19.8 5.9
2020 1318 n/a n/a 5
2021 1303 67.0 19.4 5.8
2022 1274 69.2 18.3 6.1
2023 1259 65.3 19.2 7.7
2024 1250 63.1 19.7 8.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Acalanes High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $14,694

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Acalanes High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 29th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 53rd of 2348 High schools
 0.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Acalanes High)91.483.1
 8.3%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Acalanes Union High)8982.5
 6.5%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Acalanes High)73.268.7
 4.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Acalanes Union High)71.965.1
 6.8%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Acalanes High)9468
 26%
   11th Grade Science (Acalanes Union High)91.465.8
 25.5%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (Acalanes High)56.655.3
 1.3%
   12th Grade Science (Acalanes Union High)57.556.8
 0.6%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.8
 1.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students13351259
 5.7%
African American1312
 7.7%
American Indian01
Asian157145
 7.6%
Hispanic105131
 24.8%
Pacific Islander31
 66.7%
White948827
 12.8%
Two or More Races109137
 25.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients5.9%7.7%
 1.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Acalanes High

Students at Acalanes High are 65% White, 12% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Acalanes High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Happy Valley Elementary
Elementary : Lafayette Elementary
Elementary : Springhill Elementary
Middle : M. H. Stanley Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,250 students attended Acalanes High.

Yes! Acalanes High is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 48th of 2323 California high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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