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Acalanes High · Lafayette

Acalanes High: High scores, healthy climate, strong attendance. We looked for a catch — we didn't find one.

Acalanes posts 49.9% exceeding the standard — versus 15.8% statewide — with climate numbers better than most. That doesn't make it perfect. It makes it worth a visit to find what numbers can't measure.

1200 Pleasant Hill Road, 94549 (opens in new tab)·Acalanes Union High·Lafayette·Grades 9-12·1,256 students·7% low-income·2024–25 CAASPP·(925) 280-3970
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope7444
% Exceeded50%16%
% Met+73%36%
Grad rate97.5%87.6%
College readiness87.7%35.4%
Absence11.6%30.2%
Suspension2.3%3.6%
Scope Score
74
💪 Strong All-Around · Strong
ranked #66 statewide · #3 of 5 in Acalanes Union High

Acalanes High scores 74 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 97th percentile of 2,160 California high schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →

💪 Strong All-Around — Ask about what we don't score — class size, electives, the feel of a classroom — strong numbers everywhere on paper don't mean every classroom feels the same.

CDE CAASPP 2025

Most rating sites would stop at “73% proficient” and call it done. Acalanes deserves a closer read. It sits at the 97th percentile of 2,160 California high schools — but the ranking is the least interesting thing on this page.

Acalanes's low-income kids hit 56.0% proficiency in ELA — a number the same group reaches at 38.2% statewide. If you're trying to read past zip-code-driven test scores, that's the signal worth weighing.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 2,160 high schools statewide

Has held the 97th-percentile line every tested year since 2019.

CA Dashboard
ELAOrange(Declined Significantly)MathGreen(Increased Significantly)

This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 73% meet the standard today, versus 82% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1191%80%83%87%82%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade20192022202320242025
Grade 1173%68%69%67%63%

The story this school is actually telling

Proficient by 11th grade
73%
State 36%
Graduate
98%
State 88%
Pass an AP exam
88%
State 35%

Of 100 students here: 73 are proficient by 11th grade → 98 graduate → 88 pass an AP exam. The gaps between those bars are the questions to ask.

The 7 things our score weighs

Graduation rate
97.5%
State 87.6%
9.9pp above state avg
Exceeded standard
49.9%
State 15.8%
34.0pp above state avg
College readiness
87.7%
State 35.4%
AP exam pass rate above state avg
Met or exceeded
72.8%
State 35.7%
37.1pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
11.6%
State 30.2%
18.5pp below state avg
Suspension rate
2.3%
State 3.6%
1.4pp below state avg
EL proficiency (ELPAC)
20.8%
State 18.0%
2.9pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask what the school is working on next. Strong numbers tell you where a school is, not where it's going.

  • Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
  • Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
  • Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
  • Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.

How every group of students does here

At Acalanes High in Lafayette, 56.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 58.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Acalanes High trails its district average for low-income students by 2.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (38.5% Math proficient); White students (84.9% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 29.7 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 25 students tested.

All students at this school: 73% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 73%, district —, state 36%73%
WhiteWhite: this school 74%, district 75%, state 56%74% · +1 vs school
MaleMale: this school 67%, district 70%, state 42%67% · −6 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 79%, district 77%, state 44%79% · +6 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 74%, district 62%, state 32%74% · +1 vs school
Students with DisabilitiesStudents with Disabilities: this school 33%, district 32%, state 15%33% · −39 vs school
AsianAsian: this school 78%, district 82%, state 72%78% · +5 vs school
Two or More RacesTwo or More Races: this school 61%, district 71%, state 56%61% · −12 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 47%, district 49%, state 32%47% · −26 vs school
Military-ConnectedMilitary-Connected: this school 67%, district 63%, state 46%67% · −6 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: too few students to report‹11
FilipinoFilipino: too few students to report‹11
Black/African AmericanBlack/African American: too few students to report‹11
HomelessHomeless: too few students to report‹11
this school district, same group California, same group

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 11.6%, district 20.7%, state 30.2%11.6% · −18.5pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 2.3%, district —, state 3.6%2.3% · −1.4pp vs state
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 9–1210.6%

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 20:1, district 20:120:1
Teaching staff71 teachers
Avg. experience15.7 years
Fully credentialed92%
First-year teachers3%
Intern / emergency permit0.8%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$64,303 – $131,169
Principal salary$0 – $204,353
Superintendent salary$340,560

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

Course Breadth
AP courses offered55
AP exam qualifiers242 students
CTE pathway completers26 students

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $21,216, CA average $14,815$21,216 · spent at this school
Federal share$1,091 per student

$1,091 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.

District current expense · FY 2024–25$20,508 per student

The district's current expense of education per student, from CDE's annual SACS filing — the freshest district spending figure the state publishes.

Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction58%
Instruction support12%
Student services12%
Administration7%
Buildings & maintenance11%
Other1%

District-level, from the district's own SACS general-ledger filing — school-by-school breakdowns aren't published by the state.

district detail, 2016–2020 — the newest published
2020$16,341 per pupil
2019$15,088 per pupil
2018$15,267 per pupil
2017$14,295 per pupil
2016$13,573 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White63.1%
District 56.5% · CA 19.9%
Hispanic12.1%
District 12.2% · CA 56.1%
Other12.0%
District 14.5% · CA 9.0%
Asian11.2%
District 15.2% · CA 10.2%
Black1.5%
District 1.6% · CA 4.8%
GenderFemale 45.8%Male 53.3%Non-binary 0.9%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 7.3% (56pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$235K · CA $85K
Median home value$2.00M · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+79% · CA 35%
ZIP population28,420
Median age46 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 60% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Acalanes High a good high school?

Acalanes High has a Scope Score of 74 out of 100, placing it in the 97th percentile of California high schools and ranked #66 statewide. 49.9% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 34.0 percentage points above the California average of 15.8%. The Scope Score weights 7 dimensions for high schools: graduation rate (25%), exceeded standard (22%), college/career readiness (20%), met or exceeded (proficient) (18%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What are Acalanes High's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 72.8% of students at Acalanes High met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 49.9% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 22.9% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 49.9% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 572 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Acalanes High rank in California?

Acalanes High ranks #66 among California high schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 97th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Acalanes High?

11.6% of students at Acalanes High are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 30.2%. The suspension rate is 2.3%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.

How does Acalanes High compare to other schools in Lafayette?

Acalanes High scores 74/100 (97th percentile) among California high schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 1,256 students. Use the schools in Lafayette page or the map view to compare all high schools nearby.

How does Acalanes High serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Acalanes High in Lafayette, 56.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 58.8% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Acalanes High trails its district average for low-income students by 2.8 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (38.5% Math proficient); White students (84.9% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 29.7 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 25 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.

Your other options

All schools in Lafayette →

Private alternatives nearby

Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.

For the data nerds

Every number on this page

Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.

01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Graduation rate · 25%
97.5%
↑ vs CA 87.6% · 62th pctile
Exceeded standard · 22%
49.9%
↑ vs CA 15.8% · 86th pctile
College readiness · 20%
87.7%
↑ vs CA 35.4% · 80th pctile
Met or exceeded · 18%
72.8%
↑ vs CA 35.7% · 76th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
11.6%
↑ vs CA 30.2% · 65th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
2.3%
↑ vs CA 3.6% · 56th pctile
EL proficiency (ELPAC) · 5%
20.8%
↑ vs CA 18.0% · 57th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1128558%25%10%7%82%+35
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 1128742%21%22%15%63%+40
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/1129625%35%36%4%

CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.

Subgroup · ELATestedMET+vs districtvs CA
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged2556.0%−3+18
White17984.9%+2+23
Hispanic/Latino3881.6%+11+43
03Peer comparison · nearest high schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Acalanes High ←—7449.9%72.8%—2.3%
Acalanes Center for Independent Study2.3 mi394.3%30.4%—2.1%
Prospect High (Continuation)2.7 mi3011.3%19.1%—4.4%
California average—4415.8%35.7%—3.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Graduation Rate
97.5%
AP Exam Prepared
87.7%
A-G Completion
82.3%
A-G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility
College-Going Rate
91.8%
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20198098#4050.1%82.3%7.6%1.5%—
20227597#6144.9%74.3%15.3%1.4%—
20237598#5045.7%75.9%11.3%0.8%—
20247698#4748.2%77.2%11.3%1.2%—
20257497#6649.9%72.8%11.6%2.3%—
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
Group20192025Δ
Female9.0%11.4%+2.4pp
Male4.6%9.8%+5.2pp
Asian6.0%8.4%+2.4pp
Black/African American7.7%36.8%+29.1pp
White8.0%8.3%+0.3pp
Hispanic/Latino9.2%15.2%+6.0pp
Two or More Races9.2%6.5%-2.7pp
Students with Disabilities14.8%23.6%+8.8pp
English Learners6.7%12.1%+5.4pp
Socioeconomically Disadvantaged21.8%19.5%-2.3pp
All Students6.7%10.6%+3.9pp
Filipino—0.0%—
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,160 high schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue

SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction

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