Alternative school · Banning Unified · Banning, California

Banning Independent Study

Banning · K–12 · 84 students (2024–25)

1151 West Wilson Street, 92220biss.banning.k12.ca.us ↗(951) 922-0268

Banning Independent Study is an alternative school: students are enrolled through a placement, application, or referral process specific to the program.

Compared only with other alternative schools: higher than 1 of the 33 other scored California alternative middle schools.

2ndpercentileNeeds Support

The dots are California’s 34 scored alternative middle schools, placed by Scope Score on spring 2026 tests. How it’s built →

Scope Score
18

Weighted composite · 2025–26
A weighted mix of five of the six middle school measures.

See this school’s score factors ↓
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100
Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100

Well below other alternative middle schools in English and math, grades 7 and 8, spring 2026: 7% and 0% scored Proficient or Advanced, against 29% and 19%.

Source
Source
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students
all students tested in grades 7 and 8: 28
Comparison
Alternative middle schools: the grade 7 and 8 results of 46 alternative schools combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 3,685 in English and 3,672 in math tested).

From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”).

This rating covers grades 7 and 8. Banning Independent Study teaches K–12.

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Shared campus · © OpenStreetMap

Banning Independent Study and New Horizon High share this address in the state’s school directory. OpenStreetMap maps the grounds as one campus. Which buildings each school uses here isn’t mapped.

Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.

A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.

Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.

35 in 100 students (54 of 153) missed 10% or more of school days in 2025–26. That compares with 31 in 100 at the average California alternative middle school we score.

Sources
The sentence above
CDE chronic absenteeism file, 2025–26. All students counted for chronic absence (CDE’s eligible enrollment): 153. The California figure is an average of school rates (34 scored California alternative middle schools), our calculation.

Common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Banning Independent Study how students enroll. Evidence ↓

Is Banning Independent Study a good alternative school?

Banning Independent Study scores higher than 2 in 100 of the 34 California alternative middle schools we score, compared only within that group: 2nd percentile, Needs Support, spring 2026. Why alternative schools are ranked separately. Evidence ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 35 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 31 in 100 at the average California alternative middle school we score. 0 of 163 students were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 0.5% at the average California alternative middle school we score. Evidence ↓

More questions (1)

What should I ask on a visit?

The questions drawn from this page are under Next steps, ready to copy. Evidence ↓

Academic achievement

How did students here do on state tests?

7% of the 28 students tested scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing); none did in math.

State tests (CAASPP), spring 2026

In grades 7 and 8, spring 2026, 7% of the 28 students tested scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 29% at California alternative schools. In math, none did, against 19% at California alternative schools. Fewer than 30 students tested, so one year can swing a lot; ask how results looked in other years.

Source
Source
California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students
all students tested in grades 7 and 8: 28
Comparison
California alternative middle schools with results in grades 7 and 8: the 46 such schools’ results combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 3,685 in English, 3,672 in math tested). It counts every school with results, so it can differ from the number of schools we rank. The comparisons use the same grades and year.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standard

English

Grades 7 and 8 · spring 2026 · 28 tested

Advanced
0%
Proficient
7%
Below the standard
93%
This school7%
California alternative middle schools29%

7% Proficient or Advanced in grades 7 and 8.

Math

Grades 7 and 8 · spring 2026 · 28 tested

Advanced
0%
Proficient
0%
Below the standard
100%
This school0%
California alternative middle schools19%

0% Proficient or Advanced in grades 7 and 8.

Results for each grade, spring 2026English and math · grades 3–8 and 11 · every level, with tested counts

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English

English, grades 3–5: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 3Grade 4Grade 5
Proficient or Advancednot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Advancednot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Proficientnot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Developing levelnot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Minimalnot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Testednot on file65
English, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advancedsuppressed8%7%
Advancedsuppressed0%0%
Proficientsuppressed8%7%
Developing levelsuppressed38%13%
Minimalsuppressed54%80%
Tested91315
English, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced17%
Advanced0%
Proficient17%
Developing level27%
Minimal56%
Tested18

Math

Math, grades 3–5: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 3Grade 4Grade 5
Proficient or Advancednot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Advancednot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Proficientnot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Developing levelnot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Minimalnot on filesuppressedsuppressed
Testednot on file65
Math, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 6Grade 7Grade 8
Proficient or Advancedsuppressed0%0%
Advancedsuppressed0%0%
Proficientsuppressed0%0%
Developing levelsuppressed8%20%
Minimalsuppressed92%80%
Tested91315
Math, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
MeasureGrade 11
Proficient or Advanced6%
Advanced0%
Proficient6%
Developing level0%
Minimal94%
Tested17

A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.

New to these scores? Read CAASPP scores explained: how to read your child’s report →

Ask: What extra help do students who are behind get, and how do you know it’s working?

All four levelsThe state’s test levels Advanced, Proficient, the Developing level (formerly Nearly met) and Minimal, with tested counts
Share of students tested at each level, spring 2026
StudentsAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimalTested
English, grades 7 and 8 · This school0%7%25%68%28
English, grades 7 and 8 · California alternative middle schools6%23%27%44%3,685
Math, grades 7 and 8 · This school0%0%14%86%28
Math, grades 7 and 8 · California alternative middle schools10%9%20%61%3,672

Below the standard combines the state’s Developing and Minimal levels, its two lowest. Data source: California Department of Education, spring 2026. The California alternative middle schools row combines those schools’ results, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Read English and math separately, then look at progress and the courses students can take.

Each grade’s results: English ↑ · Math ↑

Results since 20176 tested years shown

Chart and table: 2017–2026.

English top two levels, grades 7 and 8
This school
0%50%100%2017202220267%
Math top two levels, grades 7 and 8
This school
0%50%100%2017202220260%

The lines break across the COVID years, when state testing was waived or optional.

In grades 7 and 8, the share at the state’s top two levels in English went from 10% in 2018 to 7% in 2026. In math, it went from 4% in 2017 to 0% in 2026, with 2024 and 2026 about the same. Each year is a different group of students.

Each year’s results and tested counts

English · top two levels · grades 7 and 8
YearThis school
2017—
201810%
39 tested
201910%
31 tested
202311%
27 tested
202417%
24 tested
20267%
28 tested
Math · top two levels · grades 7 and 8
YearThis school
20174%
27 tested
20183%
39 tested
20193%
32 tested
20234%
27 tested
20240%
23 tested
20260%
28 tested

What you can do

Who can act on Banning Independent Study’s results?

Banning Unified’s board decides Banning Independent Study’s plan.

The state hasn’t placed Banning Independent Study in a support program. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source 

What has the state flagged?

The state is giving Banning Unified extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 California School Dashboard. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.

Extra help for Banning Unified: CDE’s assistance status file for the 2025 California School Dashboard. Source 

When is the plan set, and how can you take part?

Banning Unified’s board must adopt its yearly plan (LCAP) by July 1, after at least one public hearing at an earlier meeting.

How to take part

  • Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
  • Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
  • Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
  • Read the midyear report, due by February 28.
  • Read Banning Unified’s 2026–27 plan (LCAP, PDF) 
Reading screening in kindergarten through grade 2What the law requires, and what to ask

California law requires schools to screen kindergartners through second graders for reading difficulties every year, with some exceptions. You get notice at least 15 days before, results within 45 days, and can opt out in writing.

Kindergartners can’t be screened before the 91st school day; transitional kindergarten isn’t covered.

If screening shows your child may be at risk for reading difficulties, the school must provide supports. That result isn’t a diagnosis, and screening can’t be used to delay a special-education evaluation.

Ask how many K–2 students screening found at risk last year, and how many got extra reading help.

California Education Code § 53008. Source 

Life at school

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

35 in 100 students were chronically absent in 2025–26.

State attendance and suspension records, 2025–26

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

82%

California alternative middle schools: 35%

2024–25 · 14 of 17 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

6%

2024–25 · 1 of 17 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

14%

2024–25 · 2 of 14 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

0% enrolled in college within 12 months · 13 students who finished high school

  • University of California0 · 0%
  • California State University0 · 0%
  • California community college0 · 0%
  • In-state private0 · 0%
  • Out-of-state, 4-year0 · 0%
  • Out-of-state, 2-year0 · 0%
  • Not enrolled13 · 100%

Source: CDE college-going records, class of 2023. Shares are our arithmetic: each count divided by all high-school completers (graduates and other students who finished), rounded together so they total 100. “Not enrolled” does not describe employment, military service or other routes.

That means they missed 10% or more of school days. At the average California alternative middle school we score, 31 in 100 were. 0 of 163 students were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 0.5% at the average California alternative middle school we score.

Source
Source
CDE chronic absenteeism and suspension files, 2025–26
Students
chronic absence: 54 of 153 students counted for it; suspension: 0 of 163 students enrolled during the year
Comparison
Each comparison is the rate at the average school (our average of school rates), not a pooled rate.

Chronically absent, 2025–26

35 in 100This school
31 in 100At the average California alternative middle school we score

54 of 153 students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of school days.

Suspensions, 2025–26

0 of 163

students were suspended at least once. Average California alternative middle school we score 0.5%.

Ask: When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?

Chronic absence by grade2025–26 · per 100 students, with counts
  • Grades K–3: not in the records we hold
  • Grades 4–6: 24 in 100, 5 of 21
  • Grades 7–8: 23 in 100, 7 of 30
  • Grades 9–12: 47 in 100, 42 of 90
Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition
Graduated in four years
2024–25 · 14 of 17 students who started 9th grade together. California Department of Education, adjusted cohort graduation records. Comparison is SchoolScope’s combination of graduates and cohort counts across the reference schools, not CDE’s published state rate.
Ready for college or career (state measure)
2024–25 · 1 of 17 students in the state’s measure. California Department of Education, College/Career Indicator (CCI), overall “Prepared” rate, among the students in the indicator’s group. Prepared is CDE’s overall classification, not AP participation or a college admission rate. We hold no combined figure for California alternative middle schools, so none is shown.
Finished the UC/CSU course list
2024–25 · 2 of 14 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list. California Department of Education, A–G completion records (graduates who met the UC/CSU course requirements). Course completion is separate from college enrollment. We hold no combined figure for California alternative middle schools, so none is shown.
Where students who finished high school went
CDE college-going records, class of 2023. College enrollment is counted for 12 months after finishing high school and matched to college records, so this runs about two years behind. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
Ask families and staff yourselfWhat to ask the people at Banning Independent Study

Ask current families how the school keeps them informed, and what happened when their child needed help. Ask staff how long teachers tend to stay.

Questions for your visit ↓

Teach here? Tell us Banning Unified’s email domain so staff can answer our workplace questions.

Every learner

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here: 63%.

Students, families and teachers

Who are the students?

2025–26 · students counted
1. Hispanic or Latino: 63%2. Black or African American: 13%3. White: 9%4. Two or more races: 8%Unallocated share: 7%. 100% minus available shares; not a student group.Reported shares2025–26
  1. Hispanic or Latino63%
  2. Black or African American13%
  3. White9%
  4. Two or more races8%
  5. Asian—
  6. Filipino—
  7. American Indian or Alaska Native—
  8. Pacific Islander—
  9. Not reported—
  10. Unallocated share7%
A dash means the share isn’t available; it isn’t zero. The unallocated share is what’s left after the shares we have; it isn’t a student group. Source and comparisons: the full student mix below.

Who are the families and teachers?

90%of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 76 of 84.

6teachers, 2024–25

20 yearsaverage experience, 2024–25

0%in their first year, 2024–25

56%of teaching positions with proper credential and placement, 2021–22

Are English learners moving up on the state’s English test?

50% of English learners here moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top, spring 2025 to spring 2026.

Spring 2025 to spring 2026 · English learners with state English test (ELPAC) scores in both years

This school · 6 of 12 English learners50%

It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Data source: California Department of Education, 2026 Dashboard ↗.

Ask: How does the school help English learners reach the top level of the state’s English test?

Full student mix, comparisons and sources, 2025–26
Students, 2025–26Here
Hispanic or Latino63%
Black or African American13%
White9%
Two or more races8%
Asian—
Filipino—
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—

Data source: California Department of Education chronic-absence file, 2025–26. Shares are of the students the file counts for attendance (CDE’s “eligible enrollment”); unavailable categories are shown as a dash.

How the credential rate is counted

CDE SARC report 2024–25, measured 2021–22: 56% of teaching positions, 1.6 properly credentialed teaching-position FTE out of 3 total position FTE (FTEs as rounded by the source; the share is CDE’s own). This measures positions, not individual teachers.

Next steps

How do I get in?

Ask Banning Independent Study how students enroll.

School website: biss.banning.k12.ca.us ↗Office: (951) 922-0268Administrator: Melissa Lee

Location and visiting

Get directions  (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
1151 West Wilson Street, Banning 92220

Directory location · Explore nearby schools on the map. Confirm enrollment with Banning Unified.

Questions for your visit

  1. What extra help do students who are behind get, and how do you know it’s working? 93% in English and 100% in math scored at the Developing or Minimal level, grades 7 and 8, spring 2026 (28 students tested in each); Schools in its class: 71% and 81%
  2. When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?
  3. How does the school help English learners reach the top level of the state’s English test?
  4. Which math courses can students take, and how are placements decided?
  5. Which electives and high-school transition supports are available?

Office (951) 922-02681151 West Wilson Street, directions  (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Nearby middle schoolsClosest first, by straight-line distance

The closest middle schools, by straight-line distance from this campus. Distance isn’t an attendance boundary. Each percentile listed compares a school with California middle schools; Banning Independent Study’s compares it only with California alternative middle schools.

Nearby middle schoolsPercentile among California middle schools, 2026

Each percentile compares a school with California schools at its own level.

Explore nearby schools on the map

Source records

Every figure on this page, with its source, grades, year and count.

Score factorssource values and weights · 2025–26 · ranked #33 of 34 California alternative middle schools we score
Score factors, 2025–26
FactorSchoolWeight
Advancedaverage of English and math0%42%
Proficient or Advancedaverage of English and math4%23%
Chronically absent35 in 1005%
Suspension rate0 of 1635%
English learners: top level31%5%

Banning Independent Study is ranked only among California alternative middle schools, so this table sets it beside no other school; the chapters above compare each figure with that class. School values are from 2025–26. Chronic absence and suspension are CDE's all-students school rates; the score uses an adjusted version of each that pulls small schools toward the average. The weights above add to 80%: the remaining 20%, for measures with no value here, is shared out among the measures above.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2025–26 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

Scope Score

School yearScope ScorePercentileRankComparison group
2025–26182#33California alternative middle schools · 34 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25 have records on file but no Scope Score we could verify against that year’s source files, so no score is shown for them.

School yearChronic absenceSuspensionGrade gap (points)
2018–1932 in 1000.3% (1 of 376)—
2022–23not on filenot on file−12
2023–2420 in 1000 of 134—
2024–2534 in 1000.8% (1 of 126)—
2025–2635 in 1000 of 163—

Chronic absence and suspension are CDE’s all-students school rates for each year.

Grade gap: the same year’s grade 6 and grade 8 results, side by side. They are different children, so the gap describes one year, not any child’s progress. The Scope Score’s growth measure is a different comparison, shown in Score factors above (how it’s built).
No 2019–20 or 2020–21 records in this SchoolScope series
Every tested year2017–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade

English and math by test year · all tested grades

Year · subjectStudents with scoresTop levelTop two levels
2026 · English690%12%
2026 · Math680%3%
2025 · English620%24%
2025 · Math612%5%
2024 · English632%16%
2024 · Math620%0%
2023 · English724%19%
2023 · Math721%4%
2022 · English150%0%
2022 · Math150%0%
2019 · English1074%17%
2019 · Math1061%3%
2018 · English1301%13%
2018 · Math1300%1%
2017 · English1101%13%
2017 · Math1132%4%

Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.

Earlier years · grade and subject

Year · grade · subjectStudents with scoresMet or exceeded
2025 · Grade 3 · English4—
2025 · Grade 4 · English——
2025 · Grade 5 · English7—
2025 · Grade 6 · English7—
2025 · Grade 7 · English7—
2025 · Grade 8 · English1127%
2025 · Grade 11 · English2322%
2025 · Grade 3 · Math4—
2025 · Grade 4 · Math——
2025 · Grade 5 · Math7—
2025 · Grade 6 · Math6—
2025 · Grade 7 · Math7—
2025 · Grade 8 · Math110%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math239%
2024 · Grade 3 · English——
2024 · Grade 4 · English5—
2024 · Grade 5 · English7—
2024 · Grade 6 · English7—
2024 · Grade 7 · English128%
2024 · Grade 8 · English1225%
2024 · Grade 11 · English1729%
2024 · Grade 3 · Math——
2024 · Grade 4 · Math5—
2024 · Grade 5 · Math7—
2024 · Grade 6 · Math7—
2024 · Grade 7 · Math120%
2024 · Grade 8 · Math110%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math170%
2023 · Grade 3 · English——
2023 · Grade 4 · English4—
2023 · Grade 5 · English8—
2023 · Grade 6 · English1315%
2023 · Grade 7 · English1520%
2023 · Grade 8 · English120%
2023 · Grade 11 · English1839%
2023 · Grade 3 · Math——
2023 · Grade 4 · Math4—
2023 · Grade 5 · Math8—
2023 · Grade 6 · Math138%
2023 · Grade 7 · Math157%
2023 · Grade 8 · Math120%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math186%
2022 · Grade 6 · English——
2022 · Grade 8 · English——
2022 · Grade 11 · English130%
2022 · Grade 6 · Math——
2022 · Grade 8 · Math——
2022 · Grade 11 · Math130%
2019 · Grade 3 · English——
2019 · Grade 4 · English4—
2019 · Grade 5 · English——
2019 · Grade 6 · English8—
2019 · Grade 7 · English157%
2019 · Grade 8 · English1612%
2019 · Grade 11 · English5922%
2019 · Grade 3 · Math——
2019 · Grade 4 · Math4—
2019 · Grade 5 · Math——
2019 · Grade 6 · Math8—
2019 · Grade 7 · Math166%
2019 · Grade 8 · Math160%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math570%
2018 · Grade 4 · English——
2018 · Grade 5 · English——
2018 · Grade 6 · English——
2018 · Grade 7 · English1619%
2018 · Grade 8 · English234%
2018 · Grade 11 · English7516%
2018 · Grade 4 · Math——
2018 · Grade 5 · Math——
2018 · Grade 6 · Math——
2018 · Grade 7 · Math166%
2018 · Grade 8 · Math230%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math750%
2017 · Grade 3 · English——
2017 · Grade 4 · English——
2017 · Grade 5 · English——
2017 · Grade 6 · English——
2017 · Grade 7 · English——
2017 · Grade 8 · English166%
2017 · Grade 11 · English6713%
2017 · Grade 3 · Math——
2017 · Grade 4 · Math——
2017 · Grade 5 · Math——
2017 · Grade 6 · Math——
2017 · Grade 7 · Math119%
2017 · Grade 8 · Math160%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math683%

Current 2025–26 grade results are under Academic achievement, in Results for each grade. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.

Science (CAST)schoolwide · spring 2026
Science (CAST)TestedAdvancedProficientDeveloping levelMinimal
Schoolwide370%5%70%24%

CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.

Student groups: the state’s growth measureCalifornia School Dashboard 2025 · points above or below what the state expected · shown, not part of the score
GroupEnglishnCDE categoryMathnCDE category
All students−1127Moderate−1826Moderate
Low-income−725Moderate−1824Moderate
English-only students−2320not categorized−2820not categorized
Hispanic or Latino+119Average−1318Moderate

CDE reports scale-score points against the state’s expected score — not a percentage or percentile. The table keeps the group records SchoolScope imported for this school, including rows below our narrative display threshold. Muted rows have fewer than 30 students with a valid growth score. SchoolScope uses that threshold for the shorter narrative view; the reported values stay visible here. “Not categorized” means this imported CDE row has a growth value without a performance category. At least one estimate here is a CDE weighted estimate; that describes how CDE combines years, not a year-over-year trend. A group absent from this table has no imported record shown here. Its absence alone does not establish its size or performance. CDE growth covers grades 4–8; here that is grades 7 and 8. SchoolScope does not use these CDE figures in its Scope Score.

Growth recordsthe state’s student-by-student measure
California growth model · points vs expected

State model · English−11 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 7 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

Weighted school estimate; assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

All students, grades 7 and 8

27 students

CDE growth category: Moderate

California growth model, English: −11 scale-score points versus the state's expectation, CDE category Moderate, against SchoolScope's −2-point median for California middle school records.

State model · math−18 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 7 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

Weighted school estimate; assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25

All students, grades 7 and 8

26 students

CDE growth category: Moderate

California growth model, math: −18 scale-score points versus the state's expectation, CDE category Moderate, against SchoolScope's −3-point median for California middle school records.

Source notes. CDE reports scale-score points against the state’s expected score for matched students, never a percentage. Among SchoolScope's retained California middle school records, the median English estimate is −2 and the middle half fall between −10 and +5 scale-score points — the spread is wide, so read the figure against it, not its sign alone. CDE's 2025 Dashboard weighted school estimate uses assessments from 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25; adjacent reporting editions should not be read as independent annual changes. The CDE measure covers grades 4–8; here that is grades 7 and 8, and it is not part of the Scope Score.

Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26

CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.

Year-over-year school rates
Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 34 in 100 → 2025–26 · 35 in 100 · +1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 0.8% (1 of 126) → 2025–26 · 0 of 163 · −0.8 percentage points
Group2018–192025–26Change
Female28 in 10032 in 100+4 in 100
Male36 in 10039 in 100+3 in 100
Black or African American24 in 10040 in 100+16 in 100
Hispanic or Latino33 in 10032 in 100−1 in 100
American Indian or Alaska Native33 in 100——
White31 in 10021 in 100−10 in 100
Students with disabilities7 in 10042 in 100+35 in 100
English learners35 in 10024 in 100−11 in 100
Low-income33 in 10035 in 100+2 in 100
All students32 in 10035 in 100+3 in 100
Two or more races—58 in 100—

Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot
MeasureThis school
AP offerednot reported
AP course countnot reported
AP enrollment (male/female)not reported
IB participationnot reported
Dual enrollmentnot offered
Algebra I in grade 8not reported
Calculus sections1
Physics sections6
Chemistry sections5
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)96

These counts aren’t part of the Scope Score. “Not reported” means the federal record has no value for that item; it isn’t a zero. Enrollment counts add the male and female students the survey reports.

College destinationsclass of 2023 · state college-going records, 12 months after graduation
DestinationCompleters% (derived)
University of California00%
California State University00%
California community college00%
In-state private00%
Out-of-state, 4-year00%
Out-of-state, 2-year00%
Not enrolled13100%

13 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 0% · % column is computed by SchoolScope (count ÷ all who finished high school; CDE calls them completers), not a CDE-native rate · an unavailable or suppressed cell is marked as missing; a reported zero remains distinct · source: CDE 12-mo CGR, 2023 cohort (the newest published), National Student Clearinghouse match.

Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$14,774 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 4,440 pupils

California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records

School-level federal expenditures$454 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 84

Central federal expenditures attributed here$3,543 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 84

District current expense · FY 2024–25$21,430 per ADA

CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator

These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.

How the California mean was selected

SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 60%Instruction support 10%Student services 10%Administration 7%Buildings & maintenance 12%Other 1%
The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
GroupDollarsShare, to two decimalsPrinted
Instruction$50,204,29559.48%60%
Instruction support$8,823,83010.45%10%
Student services$8,261,6009.79%10%
Administration$5,871,9786.96%7%
Buildings & maintenance$10,394,07512.32%12%
Other$843,8351.00%1%
Total$84,399,612100.00%100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $84,399,612 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.

NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–⁠2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$14,774 per pupil
2020$14,054 per pupil
2019$13,707 per pupil
2018$13,372 per pupil
2017$12,711 per pupil

Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →

Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year

Additional workforce records

Properly assigned intern credential holders0.0%

CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.

The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 92220 · not the school’s students
American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 92220 area
MeasureEstimate
Median household income$62,599
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)16%
ZIP-area population33,755
Median age41.6 years

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. These figures are not part of the Scope Score. See all schools in ZIP code 92220 →

Downloads, embed and methodologyCSV · embed code · sources · corrections

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<iframe
  src="https://schoolscope.co/embed/school/banning-independent-study-0974"
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  title="Banning Independent Study — SchoolScope scorecard">
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  • Each percentile compares it only with California alternative middle schools.
  • No student group comparison is shown for this school this year: either no group had 30 or more students tested in each subject, or no same-grade district or state rate was available for its groups.
  • Its Scope Score is a middle school score; results for its other grades are in these records.

Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Scope Score from 2025–26 results, compared across 34 alternative middle schools · attendance and suspensions by student group from 2018–19 and 2025–26 · district finance for the year each row names · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · federal civil rights data (CRDC) 2023–24, a past snapshot · state college-going records, class of 2023, matched to National Student Clearinghouse enrollment · Data updated October 15, 2026

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