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Almond Acres Charter Academy · Paso Robles

Almond Acres Charter Academy: The scores are below where anyone wants them. Here's what they don't tell you.

Almond Acres Charter Academy posts low test scores — and test scores are one lens among several. If this is your zoned school, the numbers below are where to start a conversation, not where to end one.

1145 Niblick Road, 93446 (opens in new tab)·San Luis Obispo County Office of Educati·Paso Robles·Grades K-8·478 students·47% low-income·Charter·2024–25 CAASPP·(805) 221-8550·Website
Charter school — publicly funded, independently operated, open enrollment via lottery. Learn more
2022–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
This schoolCA avg
Scope2645
% Exceeded8%21%
% Met+25%43%
Growth-0.4-2.9
Absence22.7%17.9%
Suspension6.0%1.6%
Scope Score
26
🌱 Building Momentum · Needs Support
ranked #5,228 statewide

Almond Acres Charter Academy scores 26 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 9th percentile of 5,744 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).

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

🌱 Building Momentum — This label means the data doesn't clearly sort the school one way or the other — ask what the school is proud of, and what it's working on.

Most rating sites would stop at “25% proficient” and call it done. Almond Acres Charter Academy deserves a closer read. The school sits in Paso Robles, where two in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.

Test scores are one lens, and at this school they're a rough one right now. The sections below show the fuller picture — including the parts that are working.

As a charter, Almond Acres Charter Academy enrolls by application rather than address. That changes how you get in, but it doesn't change the score.

The seven-year arc

Percentile among 5,744 elementary schools statewide

Slipped from the 77th to the 9th percentile since 2022.

ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade2022202320242025
Grade 341%44%16%17%
Grade 450%35%34%25%
Grade 550%41%33%31%
Grade 647%29%29%35%
Grade 759%57%46%39%
Grade 837%34%60%37%
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
Grade2022202320242025
Grade 350%42%23%30%
Grade 445%35%42%27%
Grade 547%25%24%16%
Grade 644%29%21%25%
Grade 724%41%30%29%
Grade 815%29%36%22%

The story this school is actually telling

The school, grade by grade

ELA · CAASPP 2024–25

Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.

11%
82%
Grade 3 · 18% proficient
9%
16%
75%
Grade 4 · 25% proficient
8%
22%
70%
Grade 5 · 30% proficient

The 5 things our score weighs

Exceeded standard
8.0%
State 21.3%
13.3pp below state avg
Growth (G3→G5)
-0.4pp
State -2.9pp
Scores decline across grades
Met or exceeded
24.5%
State 42.7%
18.2pp below state avg
Chronic absenteeism
22.7%
State 17.9%
4.8pp above state avg
Suspension rate
6.0%
State 1.6%
4.4pp above state avg
Worth a school visit

Ask what changed in the last two years, and what the school is asking families for. Growth shows up in these numbers a year or two after it shows up in classrooms.

  • Ask what typically leads to a suspension, and what happens before it gets there.
  • 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 Almond Acres Charter Academy in Paso Robles, 26.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 11.1% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Almond Acres Charter Academy outperforms its district average for low-income students by 14.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (23.3% Math proficient); White students (35.2% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 6.0 percentage points for hispanic students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 146 students tested.

All students at this school: 28% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 28%, district —, state 43%28%
WhiteWhite: this school 33%, district 13%, state 56%33% · +5 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 34%, district 7%, state 44%34% · +6 vs school
MaleMale: this school 21%, district 7%, state 42%21% · −7 vs school
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 25%, district 6%, state 32%25% · −4 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 18%, district 5%, state 32%18% · −10 vs school

9 of 15 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.

this school district, same group California, same group
Subgroup growth by grade

Change in proficiency from the lowest tested grade — which groups gain ground the longer they stay. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.

Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 24.2pp from grade 3 to grade 5 at this school.

Showing up, and staying in class

Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 22.7%, district 29.0%, state 17.9%22.7% · +4.8pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 6.0%, district —, state 1.6%6.0% · +4.4pp vs state

Where the path goes

The path below is estimated from nearby schools in the same district — scores shown for each next step.

Estimated K-12 Path
Elementary
Almond Acres Charter Acad…
26
This school

Estimated K-12 path based on district and proximity. Actual attendance zones may differ. Contact your school district for official feeder information.

The people teaching here

Context — never part of the Scope Score
Student : teacherStudent to teacher ratio: this school 28:1, district 24:128:1
Teaching staff21 teachers
Avg. experience6.3 years
Fully credentialed86%
First-year teachers24%
Intern / emergency permit4.8%
Salary Schedule
Teacher salary schedule$57,176 – $134,739
Principal salary$0 – $0
Superintendent salary$261,280

Pay is set by the district, not the school.

What gets spent here

Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $87,084, CA average $14,815$87,084 · district average
Where the district's dollars go · FY 2024–25 · CDE SACS
Instruction22%
Instruction support36%
Student services11%
Administration23%
Buildings & maintenance8%

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$87,084 per pupil
2019$73,837 per pupil
2018$74,448 per pupil
2017$72,312 per pupil
2016$62,664 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

The neighborhood it serves

White53.4%
District 36.8% · CA 19.9%
Hispanic36.4%
District 54.8% · CA 56.1%
Other9.4%
District 6.6% · CA 9.0%
Asian0.4%
District 0.7% · CA 10.2%
Black0.4%
District 1.1% · CA 4.8%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 47.1% (17pp below CA avg)
Neighborhood — American Community Survey
Median income$98K · CA $85K
Median home value$708K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+31% · CA 35%
ZIP population45,554
Median age42 years

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

Worth Knowing

On the state's science test (CAST), 24% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 but never enters the Scope Score.

Frequently asked questions

Is Almond Acres Charter Academy a good elementary school?

Almond Acres Charter Academy has a Scope Score of 26 out of 100, placing it in the 9th percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #5,228 statewide. 8.0% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 13.3 percentage points below the California average of 21.3%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), 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 Almond Acres Charter Academy's CAASPP test scores?

On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 24.5% of students at Almond Acres Charter Academy met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 8.0% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 16.5% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 8.0% 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. 278 student-subject combinations were assessed.

How does Almond Acres Charter Academy rank in California?

Almond Acres Charter Academy ranks #5,228 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 9th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), 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.

Is Almond Acres Charter Academy getting better or worse?

Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Almond Acres Charter Academy decreases by 0.4 percentage points from Grade 3 to grade 5 growth. This downward pattern doesn't necessarily mean the school is failing — it can reflect cohort differences, demographic shifts, or curriculum changes. A campus visit and conversation with teachers can reveal what the numbers can't. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the elementary Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.

What is the attendance and school culture like at Almond Acres Charter Academy?

22.7% of students at Almond Acres Charter Academy are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), compared to the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 6.0%. 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 Almond Acres Charter Academy compare to other schools in Paso Robles?

Almond Acres Charter Academy scores 26/100 (9th percentile) among California elementary 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 478 students. Use the schools in Paso Robles page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.

How does Almond Acres Charter Academy serve low-income and underrepresented students?

At Almond Acres Charter Academy in Paso Robles, 26.0% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 11.1% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Almond Acres Charter Academy outperforms its district average for low-income students by 14.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (23.3% Math proficient); White students (35.2% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 6.0 percentage points for hispanic students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 146 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

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
Exceeded standard · 38%
8.0%
↓ vs CA 21.3% · 37th pctile
Growth (G3→G5) · 27%
-0.4pp
↑ vs CA -2.9pp · 38th pctile
Met or exceeded · 20%
24.5%
↓ vs CA 42.7% · 36th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
22.7%
↓ vs CA 17.9% · 42th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
6.0%
↓ vs CA 1.6% · 14th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ELATestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 3467%11%17%65%17%−26
Grade 4449%16%27%48%25%−20
Grade 5498%22%16%53%31%−17
Grade 66013%22%37%28%35%−12
Grade 75914%25%27%34%39%−9
Grade 84912%24%33%31%37%−9
MathTestedEXCMETNEARNOTMET++/CA
Grade 34615%15%22%48%30%−15
Grade 4447%20%34%39%27%−14
Grade 5492%14%39%45%16%−19
Grade 6602%23%33%42%25%−10
Grade 7597%22%44%27%29%−5
Grade 84912%10%14%63%22%−10
Science (CAST)TestedEXCMETNEARNOT
Grade 5/8/11983%21%53%22%

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 Disadvantaged14626.0%+15−12
White16535.2%+10−27
Hispanic/Latino11122.5%+14−16
03Peer comparison · nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score
SchoolDistScopeEXCMET+GrowthSusp
Almond Acres Charter Academy ←268.0%24.5%−0.46.0%
Georgia Brown Dual Immersion Magnet Elementary0.7 mi5419.7%41.6%+19.50.2%
Kermit King Elementary2.5 mi5023.4%48.4%+10.20.1%
Virginia Peterson Elementary1.1 mi4413.8%37.9%+10.51.1%
California average4521.3%42.7%−2.91.6%
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
YearScopePctileRankExcMet+AbsentSuspGrowth
20225077#134520.9%47.1%34.3%2.0%+2.6pp
20233950#284311.5%37.1%22.6%3.1%-10.3pp
20243019#46308.9%28.6%21.7%4.1%+9.1pp
2025269#52288.0%24.5%22.7%6.0%-0.4pp
What we can't show
  • — Scored here as an elementary school — other grade spans appear in the data appendix.
  • — Low-income students here trail the state average for their group by 12 points in ELA — worth asking how the school is closing that gap.
EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,744 elementary 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