Is Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies a good school?

Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies ranks in the bottom 24.5% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies?

In the 2023-24 school year, 263 students attended Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies.

What is the racial makeup of Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies?

Students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies are 34% White, 29% Hispanic, 21% African American, 7% Two or more races, 4% Asian, 4% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Summary:

Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies is an elementary school serving grades K-8 in Lancaster, California, with 481 students. The school is part of the Lancaster Elementary School District, which is ranked 1436 out of 1568 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies faces significant challenges, including a high chronic absenteeism rate of 40.3% in 2020-2021, which is much higher than the state average and nearby schools in the same district. The school's academic performance is also significantly below the state average, with only 27.83% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and just 12.26% proficient in Mathematics in 2023-2024. The school has a very high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 95.01% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2022-2023, and a relatively high student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools.

While the school's performance varies across different student subgroups, it consistently underperforms compared to other elementary schools in the same district, such as Joshua Elementary, El Dorado Elementary, and Sunnydale Elementary. The school's statewide ranking has declined over the years, and it has maintained a low 1-star or 0-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating significant challenges. As a virtual school, Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies may face unique challenges in engaging students and maintaining attendance, which could contribute to its poor academic performance.

Detail:

Public, Virtual K-8

44034 13th St. West
Lancaster, CA 93534

(661) 488-7600

District: Lancaster Elementary

SchoolDigger Rank:
4428^th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,462

Student/teacher ratio: 21.4

Number of students: 263

Racial breakdown:

White:

33.8%

Hispanic:

28.9%

African American:

20.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 93.5%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies ranks worse than 75.5% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 3^rd among 15 ranked elementary schools in the Lancaster Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 24.3. (See more...)

Compare Details Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies ranks worse than 85.4% of middle schools in California. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.34. (See more...)

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

Compare Details Student population at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (33.8%), Hispanic (28.9%), African American (20.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 93.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Compare Details (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies is 21.4, which is the 2^nd best among 15 elementary schools in the Lancaster Elementary School District. (See more...)

Compare Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies employs 12.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies is $8,462, which is the 6^th highest among 15 elementary schools in the Lancaster Elementary School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies 4428^th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Male students:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies 2371^st of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Lancaster Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Lancaster Elementary 1436^th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2011	7.96	5276^th	5377	1.9%
2012	5.28	5332^nd	5390	1.1%
2015	15.99	4990^th	5611	11.1%
2016	10.96	5377^th	5614	4.2%
2022	9.35	5767^th	5883	2.0%
2023	18.85	4970^th	5874	15.4%
2024	24.30	4428^th	5862	24.5%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	10.09	5180^th	5264	1.6%
2023	26.88	4171^st	5374	22.4%
2024	33.38	3656^th	5511	33.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	11.18	5473^rd	5635	2.9%
2023	23.46	4389^th	5617	21.9%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	8.57	5601^st	5663	1.1%
2023	16.55	5034^th	5650	10.9%
2024	28.96	3919^th	5636	30.5%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	19.21	620^th	663	6.5%
2023	42.68	325^th	662	50.9%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for elementary school Hispanic students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	12.77	4919^th	5084	3.2%
2023	28.16	3856^th	5098	24.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for elementary school White students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	2.72	2708^th	2726	0.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2004	28.56	1225^th	1769	30.8%
2005	27.94	1278^th	1777	28.1%
2006	13.94	1623^rd	1804	10.0%
2007	29.46	1403^rd	1999	29.8%
2008	32.84	1352^nd	2005	32.6%
2010	2.79	2165^th	2179	0.6%
2011	5.47	2168^th	2236	3.0%
2012	3.80	2219^th	2259	1.8%
2013	11.13	2203^rd	2379	7.4%
2015	8.29	2384^th	2477	3.8%
2016	8.19	2382^nd	2497	4.6%
2017	7.39	2441^st	2508	2.7%
2018	5.73	2438^th	2480	1.7%
2019	6.37	2636^th	2715	2.9%
2022	9.45	2655^th	2740	3.1%
2023	19.77	2285^th	2802	18.5%
2024	17.34	2371^st	2777	14.6%

See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	32.91	1090^th	1540	29.2%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2018	6.79	2198^th	2230	1.4%
2019	7.82	2297^th	2369	3.0%
2022	11.20	2368^th	2458	3.7%
2023	25.94	1934^th	2549	24.1%
2024	21.28	2127^th	2575	17.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	4.28	2375^th	2380	0.2%
2022	9.54	2444^th	2509	2.6%
2023	23.88	1935^th	2547	24.0%
2024	16.50	2238^th	2546	12.1%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Disabled students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	35.12	892^nd	1531	41.7%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2022	10.22	2450^th	2527	3.0%
2023	15.78	2287^th	2558	10.6%
2024	18.63	2144^th	2547	15.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	15.47	602^nd	643	6.4%
2022	17.35	577^th	637	9.4%
2023	22.92	511^th	614	16.8%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile
2019	4.78	2194^th	2213	0.9%
2022	12.75	2251^st	2359	4.6%
2023	31.31	1592^nd	2391	33.4%
2024	25.98	1796^th	2383	24.6%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	CA State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2022	4.05	1527^th	1555	1.8%
2024	8.30	1437^th	1535	6.4%

See the entire list of Best California Elementary 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.

Data source: California Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies, submit a rating!

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1997	83	23	1	17	1	n/a	n/a	0	125
1998	71	28	2	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	122
1999	66	20	1	20	0	n/a	n/a	0	107
2000	58	12	5	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	83
2001	51	23	3	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	85
2002	39	13	1	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	66
2003	39	13	1	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	66
2004	24	13	2	15	2	n/a	n/a	0	56
2005	34	11	1	12	0	n/a	n/a	0	58
2006	34	18	2	15	0	n/a	n/a	1	70
2007	20	17	5	17	1	n/a	n/a	0	60
2008	25	15	1	9	n/a	n/a	n/a	0	50
2009	22	16	1	17	0	1	1	0	58
2010	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2011	34	36	1	25	1	0	6	0	103
2012	33	37	3	26	0	0	6	0	105
2013	38	37	1	26	0	0	4	0	106
2014	21	26	2	23	1	0	0	0	73
2015	27	48	1	27	2	0	4	0	109
2016	29	43	1	25	0	0	4	0	102
2017	24	16	0	25	1	0	2	0	68
2018	15	22	0	21	0	0	2	0	60
2019	18	23	0	23	0	0	4	0	68
2020	11	29	1	39	0	1	4	0	85
2021	21	42	1	49	0	0	4	0	117
2022	81	384	26	595	6	0	72	0	1164
2023	36	132	15	265	5	0	28	0	481
2024	89	55	11	76	11	3	18	0	263

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 Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	125	5.0	25.0	62.4
1998	122	6.0	20.3	63.9
1999	107	5.0	21.4	53.3
2000	83	3.0	27.7	36.1
2001	85	3.0	28.3	96.5
2002	66	4.4	15.0	18.2
2003	66	4.4	15.0	18.2
2004	56	4.4	12.7	51.8
2005	58	4.4	13.2	0
2006	70	4.4	15.9	0
2007	60	3.2	18.8	0
2008	50	3.0	16.7	n/a
2009	58	2.0	19.3	0
2010	0	3.0	0.0	n/a
2011	103	n/a	n/a	0
2012	105	5.2	20.0	97.1
2013	106	9.0	11.7	78.3
2014	73	5.0	14.6	63
2015	109	8.0	13.6	70.6
2016	102	8.0	12.7	70.6
2017	68	2.0	34.0	52.9
2018	60	2.5	24.0	95
2019	68	3.4	20.0	91.2
2020	85	n/a	n/a	88.2
2021	117	5.0	23.4	92.3
2022	1164	30.4	38.2	91
2023	481	18.2	26.3	95
2024	263	12.2	21.4	93.5

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 Lancaster Alternative and Virtual Academies

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1997	125	5.0	25.0	62.4
1998	122	6.0	20.3	63.9
1999	107	5.0	21.4	53.3
2000	83	3.0	27.7	36.1
2001	85	3.0	28.3	96.5
2002	66	4.4	15.0	18.2
2003	66	4.4	15.0	18.2
2004	56	4.4	12.7	51.8
2005	58	4.4	13.2	0
2006	70	4.4	15.9	0
2007	60	3.2	18.8	0
2008	50	3.0	16.7	n/a
2009	58	2.0	19.3	0
2010	0	3.0	0.0	n/a
2011	103	n/a	n/a	0
2012	105	5.2	20.0	97.1
2013	106	9.0	11.7	78.3
2014	73	5.0	14.6	63
2015	109	8.0	13.6	70.6
2016	102	8.0	12.7	70.6
2017	68	2.0	34.0	52.9
2018	60	2.5	24.0	95
2019	68	3.4	20.0	91.2
2020	85	n/a	n/a	88.2
2021	117	5.0	23.4	92.3
2022	1164	30.4	38.2	91
2023	481	18.2	26.3	95
2024	263	12.2	21.4	93.5

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.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates