Charter school · Helendale Elementary · Helendale, California

Independence Charter Academy — Rating & test scores

Helendale · K–12 · 118 students (2024–25)

15350 Riverview Road PO Box 249, 92342helendalesd.com ↗(760) 952-1760

13thpercentileNeeds Support

The dots are California’s 2,529 scored public middle schools, placed by Scope Score on spring 2026 tests. How it’s built →

Scope Score

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

See this school’s score factors ↓

Independence Charter Academyhigher than 13 of the 100 California dots

California’s public middle schools · 1 dot = 1 in 100

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100

Independence Charter Academyhigher than 13 of the 100 California dots

California’s public middle schools · 1 dot = 1 in 100

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100

Independence Charter Academyhigher than 13 of the 100 California dots

California’s public middle schools · 1 dot = 1 in 100

Needs Support25 in 100Developing25 in 100Solid25 in 100Strong25 in 100

Well below California in English and math: 21% and 16% scored Proficient or Advanced in grades 6 and 8, spring 2026, against 49% and 37%.

Source

Source: California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students: all students tested in grades 6 and 8: 33 in English, 31 in math
Comparison: California: CDE’s grade 6 and 8 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 836,793 in English and 837,376 in math tested).

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

This rating covers grades 6 and 8. Independence Charter Academy teaches K–12: grade 11 results ↓

How to enroll

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47 in 100 students (84 of 180) missed 10% or more of school days in 2025–26. That compares with 18 in 100 at the average middle school in the Helendale Elementary district.

Sources

The sentence above: CDE chronic absenteeism file, 2025–26. All students counted for chronic absence (CDE’s eligible enrollment): 180. District and California figures are averages of school rates (5 Helendale Elementary schools; 2,529 scored California middle schools), our calculation.

Common questions

How do I get in?

Ask Independence Charter Academy how it admits students. Charter schools set their own enrollment steps and dates. Evidence ↓

Is Independence Charter Academy a good middle school?

Independence Charter Academy scores higher than 13 in 100 of California’s 2,529 scored public middle schools: 13th percentile, Needs Support, spring 2026. Evidence ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 47 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 18 in 100 at the average middle school in the Helendale Elementary district. 0 of 197 students were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 3.7% at the average California middle school. Evidence ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 35% of low-income students in grades 6 and 11 at Independence Charter Academy in Helendale scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 43% for the same group across California.

What does its own plan pay for?

In its 2026–27 plan, $314,035 is planned for 14 funded actions in 3 goals. That’s 12% of its $2.5 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the charter school reports what it spent in a later plan. Evidence ↓

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?

Well below California in both subjects.

State tests (CAASPP), spring 2026

In grades 6 and 8, spring 2026, 21% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing) and 16% in math, against 49% and 37% across California.

Source

Source: California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students: all students tested in grades 6 and 8: 33 in English, 31 in math
Comparison: California: CDE’s grades 6 and 8 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 836,793 in English, 837,376 in math tested). The comparisons use the same grades and year.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standard

English

Grades 6 and 8 · spring 2026 · 33 tested

Advanced: 3%
Proficient: 18%
Below the standard: 79%

This school21%

California49%

Helendale Elementary51%

21% Proficient or Advanced in grades 6 and 8.

Math

Grades 6 and 8 · spring 2026 · 31 tested

Advanced: 6%
Proficient: 10%
Below the standard: 84%

This school16%

California37%

Helendale Elementary39%

16% Proficient or Advanced in grades 6 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
Measure	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5
Proficient or Advanced	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Advanced	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Proficient	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Developing level	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Minimal	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Tested	9	6	8
California	44%	46%	49%
Difference	—	—	—

English, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced	19%	suppressed	25%
Advanced	0%	suppressed	8%
Proficient	19%	suppressed	17%
Developing level	24%	suppressed	58%
Minimal	57%	suppressed	17%
Tested	21	7	12
California	48%	51%	49%
Difference	−29	—	−24

English, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 11
Proficient or Advanced	52%
Advanced	28%
Proficient	24%
Developing level	24%
Minimal	24%
Tested	29
California	57%
Difference	−5

California is CDE’s statewide English row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Math

Math, grades 3–5: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5
Proficient or Advanced	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Advanced	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Proficient	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Developing level	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Minimal	suppressed	suppressed	suppressed
Tested	9	6	8
California	47%	42%	37%
Difference	—	—	—

Math, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced	10%	suppressed	27%
Advanced	5%	suppressed	9%
Proficient	5%	suppressed	18%
Developing level	20%	suppressed	28%
Minimal	70%	suppressed	45%
Tested	20	7	11
California	37%	38%	36%
Difference	−27	—	−9

Math, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 11
Proficient or Advanced	62%
Advanced	48%
Proficient	14%
Developing level	7%
Minimal	31%
Tested	29
California	32%
Difference	+30

California is CDE’s statewide math row for each grade, counting every student tested there; the comparisons in the chapters combine these rows for their grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).

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 →

How do the high school grades do?

In grade 11, spring 2026, 52% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 62% in math, against 57% and 32% across California. Fewer than 30 students tested, so one year can swing a lot; ask how results looked in other years.

English

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 29 tested

Advanced: 28%
Proficient: 24%
Below the standard: 48%

This school52%

California57%

Helendale Elementary59%

52% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Math

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 29 tested

Advanced: 48%
Proficient: 14%
Below the standard: 38%

This school62%

California32%

Helendale Elementary38%

62% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Have results changed?

There’s no spring 2025 result to compare with spring 2026: fewer than 11 students tested here that year, so CDE withheld it.

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
Students	Advanced	Proficient	Developing level	Minimal	Tested
English, grades 6 and 8 · This school	3%	18%	37%	42%	33
English, grades 6 and 8 · California	19%	30%	23%	28%	836,793
English, grades 6 and 8 · Helendale Elementary	17%	34%	24%	25%	1,205
Math, grades 6 and 8 · This school	6%	10%	23%	61%	31
Math, grades 6 and 8 · California	21%	16%	23%	40%	837,376
Math, grades 6 and 8 · Helendale Elementary	22%	17%	25%	36%	1,202
English, grade 11 · This school	28%	24%	24%	24%	29
English, grade 11 · California	27%	30%	21%	22%	414,559
English, grade 11 · Helendale Elementary	29%	30%	22%	19%	552
Math, grade 11 · This school	48%	14%	7%	31%	29
Math, grade 11 · California	16%	16%	20%	48%	413,523
Math, grade 11 · Helendale Elementary	21%	17%	17%	45%	552

Below the standard combines the state’s Developing and Minimal levels, its two lowest. Data source: California Department of Education, spring 2026. The state comparison combines CDE’s rows for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation). The district row combines its public schools in the same grades, weighted by students tested.

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

Each grade’s results: English ↑ · Math ↑

Results since 20174 tested years shown · English and math have stayed well below California in every tested year since 2017

Chart and table: 2017–2026.

English top two levels, grades 6 and 8

This schoolCalifornia

0%50%100%20172022202621%49%

Math top two levels, grades 6 and 8

This schoolCalifornia

0%50%100%20172022202616%37%

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

In grades 6 and 8, the share at the state’s top two levels in English went from 12% in 2017 to 21% in 2026. In math, it went from 0% in 2017 to 16% in 2026. Each year is a different group of students.

Each year’s results and tested counts

English · top two levels · grades 6 and 8
Year	This school	California
2017	12% 33 tested	48% 919,173 tested
2018	12% 40 tested	48% 930,298 tested
2019	— Withheld by CDE	—
2023	33% 27 tested	45% 843,666 tested
2025	— Withheld by CDE	—
2026	21% 33 tested	49% 836,793 tested

Math · top two levels · grades 6 and 8
Year	This school	California
2017	0% 33 tested	36% 922,531 tested
2018	5% 40 tested	37% 932,100 tested
2019	— Withheld by CDE	—
2023	8% 26 tested	32% 846,602 tested
2025	— Withheld by CDE	—
2026	16% 31 tested	37% 837,376 tested

CDE withholds a year’s results when fewer than 11 students tested, as it did here in 2019 and 2025.

What you can do

Who can act on Independence Charter Academy’s results?

Independence Charter Academy’s own board decides its plan.

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

Where is its yearly plan?

Independence Charter Academy is a charter school that CDE lists as locally funded, through its district.

What its plan pays for ↓

Helendale Elementary authorized this charter; its current term ends June 30, 2029.

Authorizer from the California Department of Education’s charter term file; term from its Charter School Database, checked October 22, 2026. Source

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?

47 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

78%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 18 of 23 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

13%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 3 of 23 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

17%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 3 of 18 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

37% enrolled in college within 12 months · 30 students who finished high school

University of California0 · 0%
California State University1 · 3%
California community college8 · 27%
In-state private1 · 3%
Out-of-state, 4-year0 · 0%
Out-of-state, 2-year1 · 3%
Not enrolled19 · 64%

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.

What could my child study here?

AP courses the school is approved to teach

College Board AP Course Audit Ledger · 2025–26. Authorization doesn’t show which courses run or who can take them; ask the school.

Every approved AP course0 courses in 0 subjects, 12 through outside providers

12 authorizations through outside providers

BiologyApex Learning · 2025–26
Calculus ABApex Learning · 2025–26
ChemistryApex Learning · 2025–26
English Language and CompositionApex Learning · 2025–26
English Literature and CompositionApex Learning · 2025–26
Environmental ScienceApex Learning · 2025–26
MacroeconomicsApex Learning · 2025–26
MicroeconomicsApex Learning · 2025–26
PsychologyApex Learning · 2025–26
StatisticsApex Learning · 2025–26
U.S. Government and PoliticsApex Learning · 2025–26
United States HistoryApex Learning · 2025–26

Ask: Which of these courses will actually run in the years my child attends?

That means they missed 10% or more of school days. At the average middle school in the Helendale Elementary district, 18 in 100 were. 0 of 197 students were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 3.7% at the average California middle school.

Source

Source: CDE chronic absenteeism and suspension files, 2025–26
Students: chronic absence: 84 of 180 students counted for it; suspension: 0 of 197 students enrolled during the year
Comparison: Each comparison is the rate at the average school (our average of school rates), not a pooled rate. Also: suspensions at the average middle school in the Helendale Elementary district 2.5%.

Chronically absent, 2025–26

47 in 100This school

18 in 100At the average middle school in the Helendale Elementary district

18 in 100At the average California middle school

84 of 180 students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of school days.

Suspensions, 2025–26

0 of 197

students were suspended at least once. Average California middle school 3.7%.

Ask: When a student is suspended, what happens before and after, and who talks with the family?

Chronic absence by grade2025–26 · per 100 students, with counts

Grades K–3: not in the records we hold
Grades 4–6: 46 in 100, 19 of 41
Grades 7–8: 38 in 100, 10 of 26
Grades 9–12: 49 in 100, 43 of 88

Where these figures come fromEach measure’s source, student group and definition

Graduated in four years: 2024–25 · 18 of 23 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 · 3 of 23 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.
Finished the UC/CSU course list: 2024–25 · 3 of 18 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.
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 Independence Charter Academy

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 ↓

Have a child here? Answer 7 questions Responder en español

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

Every learner

Who goes here?

Hispanic or Latino students are the largest group here: 51%.

Students, families and teachers

Who are the students?

2025–26 · students counted

Hispanic or Latino51%
White27%
Black or African American14%
Asian—
Filipino—
Two or more races—
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
Unallocated share8%

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?

62%of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 73 of 118. California: 63%.

6teachers, 2024–25

20 yearsaverage experience, 2024–25

0%in their first year, 2024–25

27%of teaching positions with proper credential and placement, 2021–22

Ask: Which student groups does the school track most closely, and what does it do when one falls behind?

Full student mix, comparisons and sources, 2025–26

Students, 2025–26	Here
Hispanic or Latino	51%
White	27%
Black or African American	14%
Asian	—
Filipino	—
Two or more races	—
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: 27% of teaching positions, 1.7 properly credentialed teaching-position FTE out of 6.3 total position FTE. This measures positions, not individual teachers.

In its own words

What does Independence Charter Academy’s own plan commit to?

Its 2026–27 plan

The plan lists what the school commits to spend and measure.

$314,035

planned for 14 funded actions in 3 goals. That’s 12% of its $2.5 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts; the charter school reports what it spent in a later plan.

The 2026–27 plan in short

Source: the charter school’s yearly spending plan (Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP, 98 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 55% of the money. The plan itself puts 54% of it toward staff.

Class size reduction $75,255
Grade Level Curriculum and Assessment $50,000
School Counselor $46,693
11 other actions

Reading, math and catch-up help

1 of the plan’s 14 funded actions names reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in its title.

English learners $5,627

Largest of these

Bilingual Aides$5,627

For high-need students

It plans $275,348 in extra services for English learners, low-income students and foster youth. For 2025–26, it planned $297,850 and estimates it spent $191,993, $105,857 (36%) less than planned (our arithmetic).

Ask: Why did estimated spending on these services come in $105,857 under the 2025–26 plan, and where does that money go in 2026–27?

What changed

The total is $23,835 (7%) lower than in the 2025–26 plan. The biggest change in dollars is School Counselor, which went from $71,499 to $46,693.

Largest cuts

School Counselor−⁠$24,806
School Climate and Culture−⁠$15,000
Bilingual Aides−⁠$4,733

Largest increases

Class size reduction+⁠$5,704

New in the 2026–27 plan

Tiered Re-Engagement and Student Success Support$15,000

Ask: What did School Counselor pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $24,806 less?

What its goals measure

Read these state results for this school as context for the goals they measure; results alone can’t show what the plan caused.

The test rows are schoolwide results for every grade the school tests; the source doesn’t list which grades. The headline at the top of this page covers grades 6 and 8 only: 21% in English and 16% in math, spring 2026.

What its goals measure: state results, 2024–25 and 2025–26
Measure	2024–25	2025–26	Change
English, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 1 · Excel in Learning	23%	34%	up 11 pts
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goal 1 · Excel in Learning	12%	31%	up 19 pts
Chronically absentGoals 1 and 2	26 in 100	47 in 100	21 more in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 2	0 of 187	0 of 197	no change

Goal 3 isn’t shown because it tracks other measures.

Figures from CDE’s state test, chronic absence and suspension files. Test figures cover every grade the school tests (California tests grades 3–8 and 11), so they differ from a profile’s rated grades. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days.

The plan’s own titles and amounts

Class size reduction · $75,255
Grade Level Curriculum and Assessment · $50,000
School Counselor · $46,693

The full plan3 goals, 28 measures and where the money goes

We calculate each action’s share of the plan by dividing its planned amount by the total of the plan’s funded actions ($314,035).

Where does the money go?

67% to Goal 1, Excel in Learning. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars and coloured by its change since last year’s plan. Tap a box to open its goal.

Change since the 2025–26 plan, same title

fell 25% or more
fell 10–25%
fell 2–10%
within 2%
grew 2–10%
grew 10–25%
grew 25% or more
new or renamed title
not compared: unconfirmed, or repeated across goals

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1Excel in Learning$209,64267% of action budgets

“Drive students' academic success with engaging, challenging curriculum and effective interventions” p. 17 ↗

8 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $208,671 (+⁠$971)

Largest funded actions

Class size reduction$75,255action 1.3 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Grade Level Curriculum and Assessment$50,000action 1.2 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Technology$45,000action 1.1 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Professional Development$17,135action 1.4 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $15,000 is state funding counted toward those services
Instructional Aide$12,625action 1.8 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $3,400 is state funding counted toward those services

3 more funded actions in this goal

Bilingual Aides · action 1.5 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services$5,627
Field Trips · action 1.6 · p. 60 ↗$2,000
Center for Teacher Induction Program · action 1.7 · p. 60 ↗$2,000

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

Class size reduction+⁠$5,704$69,551 → $75,255 · p. 60 ↗
Bilingual Aides−⁠$4,733$10,360 → $5,627 · p. 60 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

Grade Level Curriculum and Assessment · $50,000 → $50,000 · p. 60 ↗unchanged
Technology · $45,000 → $45,000 · p. 60 ↗unchanged
Professional Development · $17,135 → $17,135 · p. 60 ↗unchanged
Instructional Aide · $12,625 → $12,625 · p. 60 ↗unchanged
Field Trips · $2,000 → $2,000 · p. 60 ↗unchanged
Center for Teacher Induction Program · $2,000 → $2,000 · p. 60 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 15 measures · 3 quoted

Teacher Misassignment Percentage Rate p. 20 ↗
Baseline
District maintained a 0% teacher misassignment. (Local Data 2023-24)
Target for year 3
0% teacher misassignment
Attendance Rate Percentage Rate p. 21 ↗
Baseline
92.68% Daily Attendance Rate (Local Data 2022-23)
Target for year 3
95% Daily Attendance Rate
Chronic Absenteeism Rate Percentage Rate p. 21 ↗
Baseline
All Students – 25.3% …
Target for year 3
All Students – 18% …

12 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 2Independence Charter Academy will provide Student Engagement, Campus Safety and Security to all who visit their campuses$86,69328% of action budgets

4 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $111,499 (−⁠$24,806) · p. 31 ↗

Largest funded actions

School Counselor$46,693action 2.2 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Social Emotional Wellness Professional Development/Programs$20,000action 2.3 · p. 61 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Tiered Re-Engagement and Student Success Support$15,000action 2.4 · p. 61 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
School Climate and Culture$5,000action 2.1 · p. 60 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

Changes from last year’s plan, same title

School Counselor−⁠$24,806$71,499 → $46,693 · p. 60 ↗
School Climate and Culture−⁠$15,000$20,000 → $5,000 · p. 60 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

Social Emotional Wellness Professional Development/Programs · $20,000 → $20,000 · p. 61 ↗unchanged
Tiered Re-Engagement and Student Success Support · $15,000 · p. 61 ↗new or renamed

A reworded title counts as new.

How the plan measures it · 8 measures · 3 quoted

Attendance Rate Percentage Rate p. 32 ↗
Baseline
District - 94.86% (Local Data 2023/24)
Target for year 3
District - 96%
Expulsion Rate Percentage Rate p. 32 ↗
Baseline
0% (Local Data 2023/24)
Target for year 3
0%
Drop Out Rate Percentage Rate p. 33 ↗
Baseline
0% (Local Data 2023/24)
Target for year 3
0%

5 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 3Partners in Education$17,7006% of action budgets

“Build strong relationships with families and the community to enhance educational outcomes” p. 38 ↗

2 funded actions · 2025–26 plan: $17,700 (unchanged)

Largest funded actions

Parent and Community Communication$10,000action 3.1 · p. 61 ↗
Parent and Community Involvement$7,700action 3.2 · p. 61 ↗

Every other line in this goal, against last year’s plan

Parent and Community Communication · $10,000 → $10,000 · p. 61 ↗unchanged
Parent and Community Involvement · $7,700 → $7,700 · p. 61 ↗unchanged

How the plan measures it · 5 measures · 1 quoted

Participation with Helendale School District PAC Number of attendees Local Indicator p. 38 ↗
Baseline
2023/2024 4 parents attended the May 2024 meeting Local Data
Target for year 3
10 Attendees per meeting

4 more measures in the plan’s table.

All amounts are planned. We read them from the PDF and added up each goal’s actions ourselves. Page links open the plan at that page.

Next steps

How do I get in?

Ask Independence Charter Academy how it admits students. Charter schools set their own enrollment steps and dates.

Before you apply

Confirm this school’s current process directly.

Eligibility and entry grades: Which grades are accepting applications, and who is eligible?
Application and lottery: What are the deadlines, enrollment priorities, and lottery or waitlist steps?
The daily logistics: What transportation and before- or after-school options are available?

School website: helendalesd.com ↗Office: (760) 952-1760Administrator: Christopher Ontiveros

Location and visiting

Get directions

15350 Riverview Road PO Box 249, Helendale 92342

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

Questions for your visit

Do families get each child’s absence count during the year, and what happens once a child starts missing school? 47 in 100 chronically absent, 2025–26 (84 of 180 students); average California middle school: 18 in 100
What extra help do students who are behind get, and how do you know it’s working? 79% in English and 84% in math scored at the Developing or Minimal level, grades 6 and 8, spring 2026 (33 tested in English, 31 in math); California: 51% and 63%
Which of these courses will actually run in the years my child attends?
When a student is suspended, what happens before and after, and who talks with the family?
Why did estimated spending on these services come in $105,857 under the 2025–26 plan, and where does that money go in 2026–27?
What did School Counselor pay for, and what changes now that the 2026–27 plan gives it $24,806 less?

Office (760) 952-176015350 Riverview Road PO Box 249, 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.

Nearby middle schoolsPercentile among California middle schools, 2026

Riverview Middle1.7 mi
10thNeeds SupportScope Score 22

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, index and weights · 2025–26 · ranked #2,178 of 2,529 California middle schools we score · #4 of 5 in Helendale Elementary

Score factors, 2025–26
Factor	School	Index	Weight
Advancedaverage of English and math	6%	38	42%
Proficient or Advancedaverage of English and math	20%	35	23%
Chronically absent	47 in 100	24	5%
Suspension rate	0 of 197	60	5%
Grade gap (G6→G8, different students)	+11.6pp	—	not scored

Index is where the school's value sits among the California middle schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. 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, so their index can sit nearer 50 than the rate suggests. The weights above add to 75%: the remaining 25%, 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 year	Scope Score	Percentile	Rank	Comparison group
2025–26	24	13	#2178	California middle schools · 2,529 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 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 year	Chronic absence	Suspension	Grade gap (points)
2018–19	10 in 100	0 of 165	—
2021–22	not on file	not on file	—
2022–23	not on file	not on file	+4
2023–24	6 in 100	0 of 190	—
2024–25	26 in 100	0 of 187	—
2025–26	47 in 100	0 of 197	+12

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 · subject	Students with scores	Top level	Top two levels
2026 · English	92	13%	34%
2026 · Math	90	19%	31%
2025 · English	64	3%	23%
2025 · Math	64	2%	12%
2024 · English	59	7%	37%
2024 · Math	57	4%	14%
2023 · English	71	7%	30%
2023 · Math	70	6%	10%
2022 · English	110	2%	22%
2022 · Math	109	2%	6%
2019 · English	54	7%	20%
2019 · Math	54	4%	11%
2018 · English	103	5%	11%
2018 · Math	103	3%	9%
2017 · English	122	5%	28%
2017 · Math	122	3%	8%

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 · subject	Students with scores	Met or exceeded
2025 · Grade 3 · English	7	—
2025 · Grade 4 · English	4	—
2025 · Grade 5 · English	7	—
2025 · Grade 6 · English	6	—
2025 · Grade 7 · English	14	21%
2025 · Grade 8 · English	8	—
2025 · Grade 11 · English	18	22%
2025 · Grade 3 · Math	7	—
2025 · Grade 4 · Math	4	—
2025 · Grade 5 · Math	7	—
2025 · Grade 6 · Math	6	—
2025 · Grade 7 · Math	14	0%
2025 · Grade 8 · Math	8	—
2025 · Grade 11 · Math	18	11%
2024 · Grade 3 · English	4	—
2024 · Grade 4 · English	—	—
2024 · Grade 5 · English	5	—
2024 · Grade 6 · English	5	—
2024 · Grade 7 · English	9	—
2024 · Grade 8 · English	12	25%
2024 · Grade 11 · English	21	52%
2024 · Grade 3 · Math	4	—
2024 · Grade 4 · Math	—	—
2024 · Grade 5 · Math	5	—
2024 · Grade 6 · Math	5	—
2024 · Grade 7 · Math	10	—
2024 · Grade 8 · Math	12	0%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math	18	17%
2023 · Grade 3 · English	—	—
2023 · Grade 4 · English	6	—
2023 · Grade 5 · English	8	—
2023 · Grade 6 · English	11	36%
2023 · Grade 7 · English	12	0%
2023 · Grade 8 · English	16	31%
2023 · Grade 11 · English	16	44%
2023 · Grade 3 · Math	—	—
2023 · Grade 4 · Math	6	—
2023 · Grade 5 · Math	8	—
2023 · Grade 6 · Math	11	0%
2023 · Grade 7 · Math	12	8%
2023 · Grade 8 · Math	15	13%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math	16	6%
2022 · Grade 3 · English	10	—
2022 · Grade 4 · English	11	27%
2022 · Grade 5 · English	11	18%
2022 · Grade 6 · English	10	—
2022 · Grade 7 · English	13	31%
2022 · Grade 8 · English	26	23%
2022 · Grade 11 · English	29	21%
2022 · Grade 3 · Math	10	—
2022 · Grade 4 · Math	12	25%
2022 · Grade 5 · Math	11	0%
2022 · Grade 6 · Math	10	—
2022 · Grade 7 · Math	13	8%
2022 · Grade 8 · Math	24	4%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math	29	0%
2019 · Grade 3 · English	—	—
2019 · Grade 5 · English	4	—
2019 · Grade 6 · English	7	—
2019 · Grade 7 · English	12	8%
2019 · Grade 8 · English	4	—
2019 · Grade 11 · English	24	17%
2019 · Grade 3 · Math	—	—
2019 · Grade 5 · Math	4	—
2019 · Grade 6 · Math	7	—
2019 · Grade 7 · Math	12	0%
2019 · Grade 8 · Math	4	—
2019 · Grade 11 · Math	24	8%
2018 · Grade 3 · English	—	—
2018 · Grade 4 · English	—	—
2018 · Grade 5 · English	—	—
2018 · Grade 6 · English	15	20%
2018 · Grade 7 · English	11	0%
2018 · Grade 8 · English	25	8%
2018 · Grade 11 · English	32	12%
2018 · Grade 3 · Math	—	—
2018 · Grade 4 · Math	—	—
2018 · Grade 5 · Math	—	—
2018 · Grade 6 · Math	16	6%
2018 · Grade 7 · Math	11	0%
2018 · Grade 8 · Math	24	4%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math	32	6%
2017 · Grade 3 · English	—	—
2017 · Grade 4 · English	13	15%
2017 · Grade 5 · English	14	14%
2017 · Grade 6 · English	19	11%
2017 · Grade 7 · English	24	25%
2017 · Grade 8 · English	14	14%
2017 · Grade 11 · English	29	62%
2017 · Grade 3 · Math	—	—
2017 · Grade 4 · Math	13	15%
2017 · Grade 5 · Math	14	14%
2017 · Grade 6 · Math	19	0%
2017 · Grade 7 · Math	24	8%
2017 · Grade 8 · Math	14	0%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math	29	7%

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)	Tested	Advanced	Proficient	Developing level	Minimal
Schoolwide	48	8%	31%	44%	17%

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: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026 · against the same group in the district and California

Group · English	Tested	Proficient or Advanced	vs district	vs California
Low-income	34	35%	−10	−8

Student groups: the state’s growth measureCalifornia School Dashboard 2025 · points above or below what the state expected · shown, not part of the score

Group	English	n	CDE category	Math	n	CDE category
All students	−3	18	Average	−13	18	Moderate
English-only students	0	15	not categorized	−12	15	not categorized
Low-income	−6	15	Moderate	−15	15	Moderate
Hispanic or Latino	+2	12	Average	−6	12	Moderate

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 6 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−3 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 6 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

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

All students, grades 6 and 8

18 students

CDE growth category: Average

State model · math−13 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 6 and 8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

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

All students, grades 6 and 8

18 students

CDE growth category: Moderate

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 6 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 · 26 in 100 → 2025–26 · 47 in 100 · +21 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 0 of 187 → 2025–26 · 0 of 197 · 0.0 percentage points

Group	2018–19	2025–26	Change
Female	9 in 100	43 in 100	+34 in 100
Male	12 in 100	50 in 100	+38 in 100
Black or African American	13 in 100	56 in 100	+43 in 100
Hispanic or Latino	5 in 100	44 in 100	+39 in 100
White	16 in 100	42 in 100	+26 in 100
Students with disabilities	41 in 100	54 in 100	+13 in 100
Homeless	27 in 100	58 in 100	+31 in 100
Low-income	14 in 100	51 in 100	+37 in 100
All students	10 in 100	47 in 100	+37 in 100

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

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations

Subject	Authorization recorded for
Biology	online provider (Apex Learning)
Calculus AB	online provider (Apex Learning)
Chemistry	online provider (Apex Learning)
English Language and Composition	online provider (Apex Learning)
English Literature and Composition	online provider (Apex Learning)
Environmental Science	online provider (Apex Learning)
Macroeconomics	online provider (Apex Learning)
Microeconomics	online provider (Apex Learning)
Psychology	online provider (Apex Learning)
Statistics	online provider (Apex Learning)
U.S. Government and Politics	online provider (Apex Learning)
United States History	online provider (Apex Learning)

Authorization ≠ a section running this year — the Ledger records what the school may teach, not seat counts.

Advanced coursework, federal snapshot2023–24 · Civil Rights Data Collection · dated historical snapshot

Measure	This school
AP offered	offered
AP course count	2
AP enrollment (male/female)	2
IB participation	not reported
Dual enrollment	not offered
Algebra I in grade 8	not reported
Calculus sections	0
Physics sections	0
Chemistry sections	2
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)	150

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

Destination	Completers	% (derived)
University of California	0	0%
California State University	1	3%
California community college	8	27%
In-state private	1	3%
Out-of-state, 4-year	0	0%
Out-of-state, 2-year	1	3%
Not enrolled	19	64%

30 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 37% · % 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$11,199 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 1,163 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$1 per pupil

CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 118

Central federal expenditures attributed here$8 per pupil

CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 118

District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,003 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 61%Instruction support 10%Student services 7%Administration 14%Buildings & maintenance 8%

The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
Group	Dollars	Share, to two decimals	Printed
Instruction	$7,035,214	60.37%	61%
Instruction support	$1,205,341	10.34%	10%
Student services	$786,519	6.75%	7%
Administration	$1,650,640	14.17%	14%
Buildings & maintenance	$949,905	8.15%	8%
Total	$11,652,727	100.00%	100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $11,652,727 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$11,199 per pupil

2020$11,312 per pupil

2019$11,793 per pupil

2018$10,508 per pupil

2017$11,851 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 92342 · not the school’s students

American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 92342 area
Measure	Estimate
Median household income	$115,058
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)	24%
ZIP-area population	7,606
Median age	36.3 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 92342 →

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

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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 2,529 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 · AP courses the College Board approved, 2025–26 (approved to teach, not enrollment) · 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

How we analyze · Request a correction

Independence Charter Academy — Rating & test scores

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Spring 2026 state test results

Common questions

How do I get in?

Is Independence Charter Academy a good middle school?

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

How do kids like mine do here?

What does its own plan pay for?

What should I ask on a visit?

How did students here do on state tests?

English

Math

How do the high school grades do?

English

Math

Have results changed?

Each year’s results and tested counts

Who can act on Independence Charter Academy’s results?

Where is its yearly plan?

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

Graduated in four years

Ready for college or career (state measure)

Finished the UC/CSU course list

Where students who finished high school went

What could my child study here?

AP courses the school is approved to teach

12 authorizations through outside providers

Chronically absent, 2025–26

Suspensions, 2025–26

Who goes here?

Who are the students?

Who are the families and teachers?

What does Independence Charter Academy’s own plan commit to?

The 2026–27 plan in short

Where the money goes

Reading, math and catch-up help

For high-need students

What changed

What its goals measure

Where does the money go?

Every goal, in the plan’s order

How do I get in?

Before you apply

Location and visiting

Questions for your visit

Source records

Scope Score

Per-pupil spending

Additional workforce records

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