Liberty Alternative

Summary:

Liberty Alternative is a public high school serving grades 6-12 in the San Jose Unified School District, with an enrollment of 217 students. Despite its small size, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of California high schools over the past several years, receiving a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Liberty Alternative significantly underperforms compared to the San Jose Unified School District and the state of California in standardized test scores, with only 15.12% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy, and just 1.16% proficient in math. The school also struggles with low graduation rates, ranging from 60% to 77.3% over the past 5 years, and alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching 65.1% in 2022-2023. These challenges are particularly concerning for certain student subgroups, such as White students and English Language Learners.

When compared to nearby high schools like Gunderson High, Pioneer High, and Branham High, the differences are stark. These schools significantly outperform Liberty Alternative across a range of metrics, including test scores, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism. While Liberty Alternative's status as an alternative school suggests it may be serving a specific population of students with unique needs, addressing its current challenges will require a concerted effort to understand and support the academic and personal growth of its students.


Detail:

Public 6-12

 4849 Pearl Ave.
       San Jose, CA  95136-2725


(408) 535-6539

District: San Jose Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
1928th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,620 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  29.2 Help
Number of students:  362

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
75.4%
White:
13.0%
Asian:
4.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  63% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Liberty Alternative ranks worse than 98.9% of middle schools in California. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.86. (See more...)
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Compare Details Liberty Alternative ranks worse than 83% of high schools in California. It also ranks 7th among 8 ranked high schools in the San Jose Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.36. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Liberty Alternative 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: Hispanic (75.4%), White (13%), Asian (4.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 63% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Liberty Alternative is 29.2, which is the highest among 8 high schools in the San Jose Unified School District! (See more...)
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Compare Liberty Alternative employs 12.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Liberty Alternative is $17,620, which is the 2nd highest among 8 high schools in the San Jose Unified School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Liberty Alternative:

SchoolDigger ranks Liberty Alternative 2747th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Liberty Alternative in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Hispanic students:

SchoolDigger ranks Liberty Alternative 1928th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Liberty Alternative in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


San Jose Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks San Jose Unified 796th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Liberty Alternative

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Rank History for all middle school students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 12.25 1628th 1777 8.4%
2006 14.84 1601st 1804 11.3%
2015 10.22 2344th 2477 5.4%
2022 5.62 2727th 2740 0.5%
2024 5.86 2747th 2777 1.1%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 4.95 2380th 2383 0.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

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

Rank History for Liberty Alternative

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Rank History for all high school students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 12.52 1575th 1653 4.7%
2005 25.79 1177th 1901 38.1%
2006 25.04 1254th 1968 36.3%
2007 16.83 1643rd 2063 20.4%
2008 26.75 1261st 2117 40.4%
2009 33.29 1254th 2238 44.0%
2010 19.26 1645th 2281 27.9%
2011 15.48 1823rd 2367 23.0%
2012 19.26 1655th 2354 29.7%
2013 23.71 1514th 2426 37.6%
2015 13.24 1649th 1994 17.3%
2016 16.63 1578th 2039 22.6%
2017 14.85 1599th 2021 20.9%
2018 12.71 1671st 2017 17.2%
2019 15.58 1752nd 2133 17.9%
2021 12.13 1126th 1290 12.7%
2022 16.78 1744th 2123 17.9%
2023 16.78 1783rd 2348 24.1%
2024 11.36 1928th 2323 17.0%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school English Language Learner students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.64 529th 938 43.6%
2019 49.61 292nd 941 69.0%
2022 29.27 854th 1044 18.2%
2023 33.23 680th 1323 48.6%
2024 23.04 1162nd 1350 13.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 21.38 1311th 1534 14.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for high school Low Socio Economic Status students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.05 1592nd 1862 14.5%
2019 18.56 1525th 1937 21.3%
2021 14.23 966th 1126 14.2%
2022 15.35 1662nd 1943 14.5%
2023 17.47 1732nd 2247 22.9%
2024 11.05 1915th 2235 14.3%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for high school Female students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.34 1553rd 1760 11.8%
2019 12.71 1582nd 1833 13.7%
2021 7.51 999th 1054 5.2%
2022 12.63 1654th 1858 11.0%
2023 16.61 1679th 2118 20.7%
2024 9.81 1874th 2098 10.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for high school Male students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.49 1516th 1834 17.3%
2019 15.02 1559th 1880 17.1%
2021 12.64 982nd 1122 12.5%
2022 20.57 1490th 1916 22.2%
2023 15.82 1713th 2207 22.4%
2024 11.55 1824th 2172 16.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 11.88 1473rd 1742 15.4%
2019 16.48 1472nd 1814 18.9%
2022 14.12 1617th 1861 13.1%
2023 16.72 1667th 2142 22.2%
2024 11.28 1802nd 2125 15.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for high school White students at Liberty Alternative

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 5.87 1087th 1173 7.3%
2019 4.28 1176th 1222 3.8%
2024 3.66 1327th 1406 5.6%
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.

Liberty Alternative 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 Liberty Alternative

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1997 70 5 9 93 6 n/a n/a 0 183
1998 70 3 7 148 10 n/a n/a 0 238
1999 54 5 15 129 8 n/a n/a 0 211
2000 59 11 10 137 6 n/a n/a 0 223
2001 83 5 15 153 5 n/a n/a 0 261
2002 71 7 8 135 7 n/a n/a 1 229
2003 71 7 8 135 7 n/a n/a 1 229
2004 70 5 13 153 5 n/a n/a 0 246
2005 84 10 8 155 12 n/a n/a 3 272
2006 56 3 8 121 9 n/a n/a 1 198
2007 70 6 9 156 3 n/a n/a 3 247
2008 70 10 12 183 6 n/a n/a 0 281
2009 66 15 14 244 3 4 2 0 348
2010 72 11 7 296 5 3 1 0 395
2011 75 8 8 293 5 1 7 0 397
2012 74 8 5 275 2 1 12 0 377
2013 48 3 8 266 1 0 8 0 334
2014 39 2 8 256 3 1 7 0 316
2015 41 11 8 259 2 3 2 0 326
2016 44 12 7 229 3 0 3 0 298
2017 46 6 11 226 4 1 10 0 304
2018 46 8 9 237 2 2 4 0 308
2019 58 7 15 239 3 1 11 0 334
2020 52 14 9 227 1 1 9 0 313
2021 46 6 8 185 1 1 10 0 257
2022 87 16 61 337 2 2 26 0 531
2023 25 6 8 166 0 1 9 2 217
2024 47 8 16 273 0 1 15 2 362

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 Liberty Alternative

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1997 183 6.0 30.5 0
1998 238 9.8 24.3 0
1999 211 6.4 33.0 0
2000 223 7.6 29.3 0
2001 261 0.2 1305.0 0
2002 229 12.5 18.3 0
2003 229 12.5 18.3 0
2004 246 11.5 21.4 31.3
2005 272 17.5 15.5 20.4
2006 198 11.0 18.0 31.5
2007 247 12.0 20.6 25.4
2008 281 11.2 25.1 0
2009 348 11.4 27.2 39.9
2010 395 15.9 24.8 26.8
2011 397 n/a n/a 25.7
2012 377 16.1 23.4 n/a
2013 334 14.8 22.4 41
2014 316 14.8 21.2 33.2
2015 326 15.0 21.7 38.7
2016 298 13.0 22.9 37.6
2017 304 17.8 17.0 48.7
2018 308 15.4 20.0 57.1
2019 334 16.0 20.8 47.9
2020 313 n/a n/a 50.8
2021 257 16.3 15.7 42.4
2022 531 19.4 27.2 48
2023 217 13.5 16.0 67.7
2024 362 12.3 29.2 63

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 Liberty Alternative

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1997 183 6.0 30.5 0
1998 238 9.8 24.3 0
1999 211 6.4 33.0 0
2000 223 7.6 29.3 0
2001 261 0.2 1305.0 0
2002 229 12.5 18.3 0
2003 229 12.5 18.3 0
2004 246 11.5 21.4 31.3
2005 272 17.5 15.5 20.4
2006 198 11.0 18.0 31.5
2007 247 12.0 20.6 25.4
2008 281 11.2 25.1 0
2009 348 11.4 27.2 39.9
2010 395 15.9 24.8 26.8
2011 397 n/a n/a 25.7
2012 377 16.1 23.4 n/a
2013 334 14.8 22.4 41
2014 316 14.8 21.2 33.2
2015 326 15.0 21.7 38.7
2016 298 13.0 22.9 37.6
2017 304 17.8 17.0 48.7
2018 308 15.4 20.0 57.1
2019 334 16.0 20.8 47.9
2020 313 n/a n/a 50.8
2021 257 16.3 15.7 42.4
2022 531 19.4 27.2 48
2023 217 13.5 16.0 67.7
2024 362 12.3 29.2 63

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 Liberty Alternative

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $17,620

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Liberty Alternative

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 1752nd of 2133 High schoolsRanks 1783rd of 2348 High schools
 6.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Liberty Alternative)23.329.7
 6.4%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (San Jose Unified)52.854.8
 2.1%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Liberty Alternative)1.13.2
 2.1%
   11th Grade Mathematics (San Jose Unified)37.432.9
 4.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
12th Grade Science (Liberty Alternative)2.26
 3.8%
   12th Grade Science (San Jose Unified)27.710.6
 17%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students334217
 35%
African American76
 14.3%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian158
 46.7%
Hispanic239166
 30.5%
Pacific Islander11
White5825
 56.9%
Two or More Races119
 18.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients47.9%67.7%
 19.8%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Liberty Alternative

In the 2023-24 school year, 362 students attended Liberty Alternative.

Students at Liberty Alternative are 75% Hispanic, 13% White, 4% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Liberty Alternative ranks in the bottom 17.0% of 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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