Independent charter school · Contra Costa County Office of Education · Richmond, California

Making Waves Academy — Rating & test scores

Richmond · 5–12 · 1,078 students (2024–25)

4123 Lakeside Drive, 94806makingwavesacademy.org ↗(510) 262-1511

54thpercentileSolid

The dots are California’s 1,498 scored public high schools, placed by Scope Score on spring 2025 tests. Why not spring 2026? High school scores include graduation and college-readiness records, which the state publishes a year after the tests. How it’s built →

Scope Score

Weighted composite · 2024–25
A weighted mix of seven measures.

See this school’s score factors ↓

Making Waves Academyhigher than 54 of the 100 California dots

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

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

Making Waves Academyhigher than 54 of the 100 California dots

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

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

Making Waves Academyhigher than 54 of the 100 California dots

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

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

In 2024–25, 94% of the class graduated in four years (134 of 143); across California, 89%.

Source

Source: CDE four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), 2024–25
Students: students who started 9th grade together: 143
Comparison: California: graduates divided by students who started 9th grade together, across 2,281 public schools’ rows (our combination, not CDE’s published state rate; 432,702 of 487,177).

This rating covers grade 11. Making Waves Academy teaches 5–12: grade 5 results ↓

For grades 6–8, the standing among California middle schools is in Academic achievement ↓

How to enroll

Compare

Compare schools

Choose up to four high schools.

Find another school

Type at least two characters to search.

Save

Campus map · © OpenStreetMap

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.

In grade 11, spring 2026, 68% scored Proficient or Advanced in English (reading and writing), against 57% across California. In grade 5, spring 2026, 20% scored Proficient or Advanced in math, against 37% across California.

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

Sources

Sentence 1: California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 11. California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English tested).
Sentence 2: California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026. All students tested in grade 5. California: CDE’s grade 5 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 411,080 in math tested).

Common questions

How do I get in?

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

Is Making Waves Academy a good school?

Making Waves Academy scores higher than 54 in 100 of California’s 1,498 scored public high schools: 54th percentile, Solid, spring 2025.

Grades 6–8: higher than 51 in 100 California middle schools we score (51st percentile, Solid, spring 2026)

Evidence ↓

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

In 2025–26, 15 in 100 students missed 10% or more of school days, against 23 in 100 at the average Contra Costa County Office of Education high school. 2.4% of students (24 of 1,012) were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school. Evidence ↓

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 42 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. Evidence ↓

How do kids like mine do here?

In spring 2026, 49% of low-income students in grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 at Making Waves Academy in Richmond scored Proficient or Advanced in English, against 41% for the same group across California. Evidence ↓

What could my child study here?

The College Board approved this school to teach 9 AP courses in 5 subjects for 2025–26. Evidence ↓

Where do students go after finishing high school here?

83% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months, by CDE’s college-going records. Evidence ↓

What does its own plan pay for?

In its 2026–27 plan, $10.1 million is planned for 16 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 34% of its $30.0 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 above California in English; below it in math.

State tests (CAASPP), grade 11, spring 2026

In grade 11, spring 2026, 68% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 26% in math, against 57% and 32% across California.

Source

Source: California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
Students: all students tested in grade 11: 116
Comparison: California: CDE’s grade 11 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 414,559 in English, 413,523 in math tested). The comparisons use the same grade and year.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standard

English

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 116 tested

Advanced: 24%
Proficient: 44%
Below the standard: 32%

This school68%

California57%

Contra Costa County Office of Education68%

68% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Math

Grade 11 · spring 2026 · 116 tested

Advanced: 8%
Proficient: 18%
Below the standard: 74%

This school26%

California32%

Contra Costa County Office of Education37%

26% Proficient or Advanced in grade 11.

Results for each grade, spring 2026English and math · grades 5–8 and 11 · every level, with tested counts

What each level means: California's level descriptions.

English

English, grade 5: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 5
Proficient or Advanced	42%
Advanced	15%
Proficient	27%
Developing level	20%
Minimal	38%
Tested	109
California	49%
Difference	−7

English, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced	49%	51%	41%
Advanced	16%	7%	9%
Proficient	33%	44%	32%
Developing level	26%	22%	33%
Minimal	25%	27%	26%
Tested	111	110	151
California	48%	51%	49%
Difference	+1	0	−8

English, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 11
Proficient or Advanced	68%
Advanced	24%
Proficient	44%
Developing level	23%
Minimal	9%
Tested	116
California	57%
Difference	+11

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, grade 5: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 5
Proficient or Advanced	20%
Advanced	7%
Proficient	13%
Developing level	29%
Minimal	51%
Tested	107
California	37%
Difference	−17

Math, grades 6–8: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8
Proficient or Advanced	47%	37%	35%
Advanced	21%	14%	15%
Proficient	26%	23%	20%
Developing level	18%	30%	23%
Minimal	35%	33%	42%
Tested	111	110	150
California	37%	38%	36%
Difference	+10	−1	−1

Math, grade 11: share of students tested, spring 2026
Measure	Grade 11
Proficient or Advanced	26%
Advanced	8%
Proficient	18%
Developing level	20%
Minimal	54%
Tested	116
California	32%
Difference	−6

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 elementary grades do?

Below California in English; well below it in math. In grade 5, spring 2026, 42% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 20% in math, against 49% and 37% across California.

English

Grade 5 · spring 2026 · 109 tested

Advanced: 15%
Proficient: 27%
Below the standard: 58%

This school42%

California49%

Contra Costa County Office of Education35%

42% Proficient or Advanced in grade 5.

Math

Grade 5 · spring 2026 · 107 tested

Advanced: 7%
Proficient: 13%
Below the standard: 80%

This school20%

California37%

Contra Costa County Office of Education18%

20% Proficient or Advanced in grade 5.

How do the middle grades do?

Near California in both subjects. In grades 6–8, spring 2026, 46% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 39% in math, against 49% and 37% across California. The middle grades are placed separately: 51st percentile (Solid) among California’s middle schools.

English

Grades 6–8 · spring 2026 · 372 tested

Advanced: 10%
Proficient: 36%
Below the standard: 54%

This school46%

California49%

Contra Costa County Office of Education38%

46% Proficient or Advanced in grades 6–8.

Math

Grades 6–8 · spring 2026 · 371 tested

Advanced: 16%
Proficient: 23%
Below the standard: 61%

This school39%

California37%

Contra Costa County Office of Education27%

39% Proficient or Advanced in grades 6–8.

How does math compare with English?

In grade 11, spring 2026, math trails English by 42 percentage points in the share who scored Proficient or Advanced, against 25 points across California. The grade 11 cards above give each subject’s share.

Have results changed?

English results were similar to 2025; math results were higher. English stayed at 68% and math went from 20% to 26%.

English · top two levels · grade 11

202568%112 tested

→

202668%116 tested

This school

California, same grades57% → 57%2025 → 2026 · 432,651 → 414,559 tested

Math · top two levels · grade 11

202520%112 tested

→

202626%116 tested

This school

California, same grades30% → 32%2025 → 2026 · 431,903 → 413,523 tested

Each year is a different group of students.

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, grade 11 · This school	24%	44%	23%	9%	116
English, grade 11 · California	27%	30%	21%	22%	414,559
English, grade 11 · Contra Costa County Office of Education	35%	33%	19%	13%	826
Math, grade 11 · This school	8%	18%	20%	54%	116
Math, grade 11 · California	16%	16%	20%	48%	413,523
Math, grade 11 · Contra Costa County Office of Education	15%	22%	21%	42%	833
English, grade 5 · This school	15%	27%	20%	38%	109
English, grade 5 · California	23%	26%	20%	31%	410,249
English, grade 5 · Contra Costa County Office of Education	11%	24%	19%	46%	210
Math, grade 5 · This school	7%	13%	29%	51%	107
Math, grade 5 · California	21%	16%	24%	39%	411,080
Math, grade 5 · Contra Costa County Office of Education	5%	13%	25%	57%	209
English, grades 6–8 · This school	10%	36%	28%	26%	372
English, grades 6–8 · California	19%	30%	23%	28%	1,254,039
English, grades 6–8 · Contra Costa County Office of Education	9%	29%	25%	37%	1,024
Math, grades 6–8 · This school	16%	23%	24%	37%	371
Math, grades 6–8 · California	21%	16%	23%	40%	1,254,800
Math, grades 6–8 · Contra Costa County Office of Education	12%	15%	25%	48%	1,021

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.

Grade 11 tests are one part of the picture. Graduation, readiness and college destinations answer different questions below.

Each grade’s results: English ↑ · Math ↑

Results since 20178 tested years shown

Chart and table: 2017–2026.

English top two levels, grade 11

This schoolCalifornia

0%50%100%20172022202668%57%

Math top two levels, grade 11

This schoolCalifornia

0%50%100%20172022202626%32%

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

In grade 11, the share at the state’s top two levels in English went from 79% in 2017 to 68% in 2026, with 2025 and 2026 about the same. In math, it went from 44% in 2017 to 26% in 2026. Each year is a different group of students.

Each year’s results and tested counts

English · top two levels · grade 11
Year	This school	California
2017	79% 68 tested	60% 444,040 tested
2018	69% 80 tested	56% 439,134 tested
2019	78% 87 tested	57% 439,947 tested
2022	72% 98 tested	55% 427,007 tested
2023	52% 85 tested	55% 442,128 tested
2024	68% 148 tested	56% 435,296 tested
2025	68% 112 tested	57% 432,651 tested
2026	68% 116 tested	57% 414,559 tested

Math · top two levels · grade 11
Year	This school	California
2017	44% 68 tested	32% 442,457 tested
2018	34% 80 tested	31% 437,883 tested
2019	40% 87 tested	32% 438,107 tested
2022	25% 99 tested	27% 424,390 tested
2023	14% 85 tested	27% 440,912 tested
2024	22% 148 tested	28% 434,711 tested
2025	20% 112 tested	30% 431,903 tested
2026	26% 116 tested	32% 413,523 tested

What you can do

Who can act on Making Waves Academy’s results?

Making Waves Academy’s own board decides its plan.

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

Where is its yearly plan?

What its plan pays for ↓

Contra Costa County Office of Education authorized this charter; its current term ends June 30, 2030.

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

Life at school

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

94% of students graduated in four years in 2024–25.

State graduation, readiness, college-going, attendance and suspension records

That compares with 89% across California. 81% were ready for college or career (state measure) in 2024–25. 83% of the class of 2023 enrolled in college within 12 months.

Preparation · each measure describes a different student group

Graduated in four years

94%

Across California: 89%

2024–25 · 134 of 143 students who started 9th grade together

Ready for college or career (state measure)

81%

Across California: 52%

2024–25 · 116 of 144 students in the state’s measure

Finished the UC/CSU course list

100%

Average California high school: 56%

2024–25 · 134 of 134 graduates finished the UC/CSU course list

Destinations · class of 2023

Where students who finished high school went

83% enrolled in college within 12 months · 90 students who finished high school

University of California UC detail ↓30 · 33%
California State University CSU detail ↓22 · 24%
California community college15 · 17%
In-state private4 · 5%
Out-of-state, 4-year4 · 4%
Out-of-state, 2-year0 · 0%
Not enrolled15 · 17%

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

The College Board approved this school to teach 9 AP courses in 5 subjects for 2025–26.

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

Math & Computer Science3
Sciences2
English1
History & Social Science2
World Languages & Cultures1

Every approved AP course9 courses in 5 subjects

Math & Computer Science 3

Computer Science Principles
Precalculus
Statistics

Sciences 2

Chemistry
Environmental Science

English 1

English Language and Composition

History & Social Science 2

U.S. Government and Politics
United States History

World Languages & Cultures 1

Spanish Language and Culture

Ask: How does the school help students who don’t go to college plan what comes next?

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

Graduated in four years: 2024–25 · 134 of 143 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 · 116 of 144 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 · 134 of 134 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.

A closer look: UC and CSU admission recordsApplied, admitted and enrolled, from each university system’s own records

UC’s own records

University of California

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied: 68
Admitted: 63
Enrolled: 21

By campus · fall 2025

UC DavisApplied 52 · Admitted 20 · Enrolled 5
UC BerkeleyApplied 49 · Admitted 9 · Enrolled 4
UC MercedApplied 49 · Admitted 49 · Enrolled 5
UC Santa CruzApplied 37 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 3
UCLAApplied 32 · Admitted 3 · Enrolled under 3
UC IrvineApplied 25 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled under 3
UC RiversideApplied 24 · Admitted 21 · Enrolled under 3
UC Santa BarbaraApplied 24 · Admitted 8 · Enrolled under 3
UC San DiegoApplied 19 · Admitted 4 · Enrolled under 3

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; a dash is unavailable. Source: UC admissions by source school.

Each fall since 2016

Fall 2025Applied 68 · Admitted 63 · Enrolled 21
Fall 2024Applied 39 · Admitted 36 · Enrolled 24
Fall 2023Applied 64 · Admitted 60 · Enrolled 31
Fall 2022Applied 54 · Admitted 54 · Enrolled 18
Fall 2021Applied 68 · Admitted 62 · Enrolled 33
Fall 2020Applied 66 · Admitted 58 · Enrolled 33
Fall 2019Applied 58 · Admitted 32 · Enrolled 18
Fall 2018Applied 39 · Admitted 14 · Enrolled 10
Fall 2017Applied 35 · Admitted 22 · Enrolled 13
Fall 2016Applied 32 · Admitted 22 · Enrolled 14

CSU’s own records

California State University

Fall 2025 first-year entry · counts, not a school rating

Applied: 108
Admitted: 105
Enrolled: 33

By campus · falls 2021–2025 added together

Five years in each number, not one. CSU publishes campus counts only as five-year totals, so these aren’t comparable to the fall 2025 figures above or to UC’s one-fall campus bars.

San Francisco StateApplied 333 · Admitted 310 · Enrolled 36
Cal State East BayApplied 281 · Admitted 255 · Enrolled 18
San José StateApplied 222 · Admitted 167 · Enrolled 21
Sacramento StateApplied 208 · Admitted 191 · Enrolled 31
Sonoma StateApplied 136 · Admitted 127 · Enrolled 8
San Diego StateApplied 98 · Admitted 11 · Enrolled —
Chico StateApplied 76 · Admitted 68 · Enrolled under 6
Cal State Long BeachApplied 69 · Admitted 17 · Enrolled under 6
Cal Poly San Luis ObispoApplied 55 · Admitted 28 · Enrolled under 6
Cal Poly PomonaApplied 48 · Admitted 30 · Enrolled under 6
Cal State LAApplied 38 · Admitted 27 · Enrolled under 6
Cal State NorthridgeApplied 37 · Admitted 31 · Enrolled under 6
Cal State Monterey BayApplied 35 · Admitted 30 · Enrolled under 6
Fresno StateApplied 31 · Admitted 29 · Enrolled —
Cal Poly HumboldtApplied 23 · Admitted 20 · Enrolled under 6
CSU BakersfieldApplied 21 · Admitted 16 · Enrolled —
Cal State FullertonApplied 13 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled —
Cal State Dominguez HillsApplied 11 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled —
Cal State San BernardinoApplied 10 · Admitted 10 · Enrolled —
Stanislaus StateApplied 7 · Admitted 7 · Enrolled under 6
CSU Channel IslandsApplied 6 · Admitted 6 · Enrolled —
Cal Poly Maritime AcademyApplied under 6 · Admitted under 6 · Enrolled —

These records don’t show the school’s effect on admission. A student can apply to several campuses, so campus counts don’t add up to the total. CSU withholds counts under 6; a dash is unavailable. Students who reach CSU from a community college aren’t counted here. Source: CSU High School Success dashboard.

Each fall since 2021

Fall 2025Applied 108 · Admitted 105 · Enrolled 33
Fall 2024Applied 79 · Admitted 75 · Enrolled 29
Fall 2023Applied 83 · Admitted 81 · Enrolled 22
Fall 2022Applied 78 · Admitted 75 · Enrolled 30
Fall 2021Applied 80 · Admitted 80 · Enrolled 19

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

15 in 100 students were chronically absent in 2025–26. That means they missed 10% or more of school days. At the average Contra Costa County Office of Education high school, 23 in 100 were. 2.4% of students were suspended at least once in 2025–26, against 2.9% at the average California high school.

Source

Source: CDE chronic absenteeism and suspension files, 2025–26
Students: chronic absence: 150 of 1,001 students counted for it; suspension: 24 of 1,012 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 Contra Costa County Office of Education high school 3.5%.

Chronically absent, 2025–26

15 in 100This school

23 in 100At the average Contra Costa County Office of Education high school

22 in 100At the average California high school

150 of 1,001 students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of school days.

Suspensions, 2025–26

2.4%

of students were suspended at least once (24 of 1,012). Average California high school 2.9%.

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 5–6: 12 in 100, 27 of 222
Grades 7–8: 11 in 100, 30 of 265
Grades 9–12: 18 in 100, 93 of 514

Ask families and staff yourselfWhat to ask the people at Making Waves 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

Every learner

How do kids like mine do here?

Hispanic or Latino and low-income students here scored well above the same groups across California in English.

Student groups, grade 11, spring 2026

Both groups score below California’s rate for all students statewide. 68% of Hispanic or Latino students scored Proficient or Advanced in English (grade 11, spring 2026), against 49% for the same group across California. Low-income students: 66% in English, against 49% for the same group across California.

Source

Source: California Department of Education, CAASPP research file, spring 2026
Students: grade 11; each row gives its tested count. Low-income is CDE’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged”.
Comparison: California: the same group in the same grades, CDE’s rows for the whole state combined and weighted by students tested (our calculation).

Making Waves AcademySame group, CaliforniaAhead of the same group across California, where that group scores below California’s rate for all students

Low-incomeEnglish · 102 testedAhead of the same group across California, where that group scores below California’s rate for all students: 66%Same group, California 49%
Low-incomeMath · 102 tested26%Same group, California 23%
Hispanic or LatinoEnglish · 100 testedAhead of the same group across California, where that group scores below California’s rate for all students: 68%Same group, California 49%
Hispanic or LatinoMath · 100 tested22%Same group, California 21%

Proficient or Advanced, grade 11, spring 2026.

Who are the students?

2025–26 · students counted

Hispanic or Latino88%
Black or African American6%
Asian3%
Filipino1%
White1%
Two or more races—
American Indian or Alaska Native—
Pacific Islander—
Not reported—
Unallocated share1%

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.

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

64% 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 · 136 of 211 English learners64%

Contra Costa County Office of Education · 6 of 1155%

California · 355,274 of 748,91647%

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 ↗.

Who are the families and teachers?

80%of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 861 of 1,078. California: 63%.

57teachers, 2024–25

6 yearsaverage experience, 2024–25

9%in their first year, 2024–25

58%of teaching positions with proper credential and placement, 2021–22

Ask: How does the school keep Hispanic or Latino and low-income students on track as they move up through the grades?

All group results, district comparisons and sources

Proficient or Advancedgrade 11 · spring 2026

Group and subject	Here	vs Contra Costa County Office of Education	vs California
Low-income · 102 tested
English	66%	+660%	+1749%
Math	26%	+260%	+323%
Hispanic or Latino · 100 tested
English	68%	+680%	+1949%
Math	22%	—	+121%

Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in Contra Costa County Office of Education, and across California. ■ Green: a group that is behind across California does much better here, by 10 points or more and more than twice the margin of error.

English learners and students with disabilities: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Asian, Black or African American, Filipino, White, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students, students of two or more races and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.

Full student mix, comparisons and sources, 2025–26

Students, 2025–26	Here
Hispanic or Latino	88%
Black or African American	6%
Asian	3%
Filipino	1%
White	1%
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: 58% of teaching positions, 39.6 properly credentialed teaching-position FTE out of 68 total position FTE. This measures positions, not individual teachers.

In its own words

What does Making Waves Academy’s own plan commit to?

Its 2026–27 plan

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

$10.1 million

planned for 16 funded actions in 4 goals. That’s 34% of its $30.0 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, 168 pages), as posted to the California School Dashboard.

Where the money goes

Three actions take 53% of the money. The plan itself puts 93% of it toward staff.

Improve Academic Outcomes for Critical Learner Groups $2.1 million
Enhancing Instructional Capacity and Professional Growth $1.8 million
Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction for All Students, Especially Our Critical Learners $1.5 million
13 other actions

Reading, math and catch-up help

4 of the plan’s 16 funded actions name reading, math, catch-up help or English learners in their titles.

Catch-up help $109,510
English learners $941,660

An action naming two of these appears under both.

Largest of these

Language Acquisition Program (ELs)$344,837
Language Acquisition Program (LTELs)$326,877
Student Support Services for Suspended Students (LTELs)$160,436

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 grade 11 only: 68% in English and 26% 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 2	47%	50%	up 3 pts
Math, every tested grade: Proficient or Advanced in 2025–26, met or exceeded in 2024–25Goals 1 and 2	27%	33%	up 6 pts
Chronically absentGoal 3 · Community Engagement and Climate	14 in 100	15 in 100	1 more in 100
Suspended at least onceGoal 3 · Community Engagement and Climate	12.1%	2.4%	down 9.7 pts

Goal 4 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

Improve Academic Outcomes for Critical Learner Groups · $2,123,535
Enhancing Instructional Capacity and Professional Growth · $1,770,390
Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction for All Students, Especially Our Critical Learners · $1,459,278

The full plan4 goals, 53 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 ($10.1 million).

Where does the money go?

53% to Goal 1, Support for All Learners. Each box is one action, sized by its planned dollars. Tap a box to open its goal.

Every goal, in the plan’s order

Goal 1Support for All Learners$5.4 million53% of action budgets

“Strategic Focus: Systemic Equity, Vertical Alignment, and Tier 1 Proficiency The Goal: Close the achievement gap for all students—especially English Learners and Students with Disabilities—by standardizing our best teaching methods and aligning them across all grade levels. -- This goal has been updated to reflect MWA's new WASC goals after the conclusion of our self-study and related needs assessment. For all information on the goal before it was changed, please see the description of changes below in the Goal Analysis section” p. 34 ↗

3 funded actions

Largest funded actions

Improve Academic Outcomes for Critical Learner Groups$2.1 millionaction 1.3 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $2.0 million is state funding counted toward those services
Enhancing Instructional Capacity and Professional Growth$1.8 millionaction 1.2 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.1 million is state funding counted toward those services
Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction for All Students, Especially Our Critical Learners$1.5 millionaction 1.1 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $1.4 million is state funding counted toward those services

How the plan measures it · 19 measures · 2 quoted

Teacher credentials and assignments % of total teachers credentialed and properly assigned (LCFF A) p. 36 ↗
Baseline
58.3% (2022-23)
Target for year 3
75%
% of Teachers Who Participate in PD p. 37 ↗
Baseline
55% (2022-23)
Target for year 3
95%

17 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 2Starting Fall 2026 the description for this goal has changed to align with MWA's new WASC goals College and…$1.3 million13% of action budgets

“Starting Fall 2026 the description for this goal has changed to align with MWA's new WASC goals College and Career Readiness Strategic Focus: Pathway Value, Rigor, and Documented Excellence The Goal: Foster a culture of attainment where every student graduates with tangible wins— strengthening our Career & Technical Education programs and recognizing SAT/AP milestones as clear evidence of college and career readiness -- This goal has been updated to reflect MWA's new WASC goals after the conclusion of our self-study and related needs assessment. For all information on the goal before it was changed, please see the description of changes below in the Goal Analysis section” p. 62 ↗

4 funded actions

Largest funded actions

Graduation Pathways$904,074action 2.3 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
College and Career Pathway Scope and Sequence$165,559action 2.2 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Postsecondary Readiness Pathways$139,565action 2.4 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Improve Academic Outcomes for Critical Learner Groups$139,119action 2.1 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $129,084 is state funding counted toward those services

How the plan measures it · 13 measures · 3 quoted

A-G Course Completion % (LCFF A) p. 64 ↗
Baseline
100% (2022-23)
Target for year 3
100%
AP Pass Rate 3 or higher (LCFF G) p. 65 ↗
Baseline
42% (2022-23)
Target for year 3
46%
CCI Percent identified as prepared on College and Career Indicator (LCFF H) p. 66 ↗
Baseline
Overall: 54.7% …
Target for year 3
60%

10 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 3Community Engagement and Climate$2.4 million24% of action budgets

“Strategic Focus: Systemic Belonging, Safety as a Lever for Rigor, and Family Partnerships The Goal: Build on our culture of safety by turning our best ideas into everyday practice and investing in proactive, "upstream" support that ensures every student feels seen, safe, and supported. -- This goal has been updated to reflect MWA's new WASC goals after the conclusion of our self-study and related needs assessment. For all information on the goal before it was changed, please see the description of changes below in the Goal Analysis section” p. 80 ↗

5 funded actions

Largest funded actions

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Support$823,852action 3.4 · p. 130 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student Support Services for Suspended Students$609,153action 3.1 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services · of which $558,363 is state funding counted toward those services
Increase in School Connectedness$447,607action 3.3 · p. 130 ↗
504 Coordination and Implementation$334,400action 3.5 · p. 130 ↗
Annual Communication Planning$221,193action 3.2 · p. 129 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

How the plan measures it · 17 measures · 3 quoted

Chronic Absenteeism Rate % who are absent, excused or unexcused, more than 10% of school days (LCFF B) p. 81 ↗
Baseline
Overall: 22.7% …
Target for year 3
15%
Attendance Rate ADA (Average Daily Attendance) Rates (LCFF A) p. 82 ↗
Baseline
95% (2022-23)
Target for year 3
96%
Suspension Rate (LCFF A) p. 82 ↗
Baseline
Overall: 12.5% …
Target for year 3
9%

14 more measures in the plan’s table.

Goal 4Targeted Interventions$941,6609% of action budgets

“Strategic Focus: Compliance Integrity, Targeted Intervention, and Accountability for Critical Learner Groups The Goal: Ensure rigorous adherence to state-mandated LCAP requirements by providing dedicated focus to actions triggered by school performance data. This goal serves as a bridge between long- term WASC strategic efforts and immediate, data-driven interventions required for Differentiated Assistance (DA), specifically addressing the needs of English Learners (ELs), Long-Term English Learners (LTELs), and Students with Disabilities (SWD) to eliminate performance gaps and "Red" indicators on the California School Dashboard. -- This is a new goal as of Fall 2026 that does not appear in MWA's WASC” p. 108 ↗

4 funded actions

Largest funded actions

Language Acquisition Program (ELs)$344,837action 4.1 · p. 130 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Language Acquisition Program (LTELs)$326,877action 4.2 · p. 130 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Student Support Services for Suspended Students (LTELs)$160,436action 4.4 · p. 130 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services
Academic Support (LTELs)$109,510action 4.3 · p. 130 ↗ · marked as contributing to high-need services

How the plan measures it · 4 measures

None of these has an all-students line we can quote; the plan’s table lists them from p. 108 ↗.

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 Making Waves 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: makingwavesacademy.org ↗Office: (510) 262-1511Administrator: Alton Nelson

Location and visiting

Get directions

4123 Lakeside Drive, Richmond 94806

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

Questions for your visit

What extra help do students who are behind get, and how do you know it’s working? 74% in math scored at the Developing or Minimal level, grade 11, spring 2026 (116 students tested); California: 68%
How does the school help students who don’t go to college plan what comes next?
When a child starts missing school, who calls the family, and how soon?
What extra help do English learners get, and how do you know it’s working? 7% of English learners scored Proficient or Advanced in math, grades 5–8 and 11, spring 2026 (148 students tested); the same group across California: 8%
Which courses and career pathways does the school run, and who can enroll?
What support is available when a student falls behind on graduation requirements?

Office (510) 262-15114123 Lakeside Drive, directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Nearby high schoolsClosest first, by straight-line distance

The closest high schools, by straight-line distance from this campus. Distance isn’t an attendance boundary.

Nearby high schoolsPercentile among California high schools, 2025

Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory AcademyWest Contra Costa Unified · 0.8 mi · Charter school. Check how it admits students.
55thSolidScope Score 57
Summit Public School: TamalpaisWest Contra Costa Unified · 0.8 mi · Charter school. Check how it admits students.
38thDevelopingScope Score 52
Vista Independent Study / Virtual AcademyWest Contra Costa Unified · 1.4 mi
4thNeeds SupportScope Score 34
Middle College HighWest Contra Costa Unified · 1.5 mi · Check how it admits students.
95thStrongScope Score 82
Pinole Valley HighWest Contra Costa Unified · 2.5 mi
32ndDevelopingScope Score 50

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 · 2024–25 · ranked #689 of 1,498 California high schools we score · #3 of 4 in Contra Costa County Office of Education

Score factors, 2024–25
Factor	School	Index	Weight
Graduation rate	94%	58	25%
Exceeded standardaverage of English and math	14%	48	22%
Ready for college or career (state measure)	81%	72	20%
Met or exceededaverage of English and math	44%	56	18%
Chronically absent	14 in 100	62	5%
Suspension rate	12.1% (132 of 1,092)	16	5%
English learners: top level	29%	—	5%

Index is where the school's value sits among the California high schools we score, from 0 to 100, where 50 is their average; it is not a percentile. School values are from 2024–25. 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.

Scope Score by year2018–19 to 2024–25 · each year’s inputs, and the score for each year we could verify

The 2024–25 Scope Score, in the current-formula row below, uses the state’s college-or-career readiness measure, 2024–25. No verified earlier Scope Scores are available here.

Scope Score

School year	Scope Score	Percentile	Rank	Comparison group
2024–25	57	54	#689	California high schools · 1,498 schools · current formula

2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 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
2018–19	not on file	not on file
2021–22	not on file	not on file
2022–23	not on file	not on file
2023–24	18 in 100	15.3% (170 of 1,114)
2024–25	14 in 100	12.1% (132 of 1,092)

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

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	597	14%	50%
2026 · Math	594	13%	33%
2025 · English	631	15%	47%
2025 · Math	628	8%	27%
2024 · English	708	16%	49%
2024 · Math	708	8%	25%
2023 · English	720	13%	45%
2023 · Math	719	6%	21%
2022 · English	752	13%	39%
2022 · Math	751	5%	15%
2019 · English	646	16%	50%
2019 · Math	646	11%	26%
2018 · English	520	12%	44%
2018 · Math	520	10%	25%
2017 · English	517	12%	44%
2017 · Math	517	7%	21%

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 5 · English	106	42%
2025 · Grade 6 · English	111	38%
2025 · Grade 7 · English	150	53%
2025 · Grade 8 · English	152	37%
2025 · Grade 11 · English	112	68%
2025 · Grade 5 · Math	105	29%
2025 · Grade 6 · Math	110	22%
2025 · Grade 7 · Math	150	38%
2025 · Grade 8 · Math	151	26%
2025 · Grade 11 · Math	112	20%
2024 · Grade 5 · English	110	24%
2024 · Grade 6 · English	151	37%
2024 · Grade 7 · English	146	60%
2024 · Grade 8 · English	153	52%
2024 · Grade 11 · English	148	68%
2024 · Grade 5 · Math	110	14%
2024 · Grade 6 · Math	151	28%
2024 · Grade 7 · Math	146	38%
2024 · Grade 8 · Math	153	23%
2024 · Grade 11 · Math	148	22%
2023 · Grade 5 · English	158	37%
2023 · Grade 6 · English	158	37%
2023 · Grade 7 · English	162	56%
2023 · Grade 8 · English	157	45%
2023 · Grade 11 · English	85	52%
2023 · Grade 5 · Math	158	11%
2023 · Grade 6 · Math	158	18%
2023 · Grade 7 · Math	159	36%
2023 · Grade 8 · Math	159	21%
2023 · Grade 11 · Math	85	14%
2022 · Grade 5 · English	161	29%
2022 · Grade 6 · English	166	25%
2022 · Grade 7 · English	164	47%
2022 · Grade 8 · English	163	36%
2022 · Grade 11 · English	98	72%
2022 · Grade 5 · Math	160	9%
2022 · Grade 6 · Math	166	11%
2022 · Grade 7 · Math	164	19%
2022 · Grade 8 · Math	162	12%
2022 · Grade 11 · Math	99	25%
2019 · Grade 5 · English	167	41%
2019 · Grade 6 · English	169	42%
2019 · Grade 7 · English	111	50%
2019 · Grade 8 · English	112	54%
2019 · Grade 11 · English	87	78%
2019 · Grade 5 · Math	167	17%
2019 · Grade 6 · Math	169	28%
2019 · Grade 7 · Math	111	18%
2019 · Grade 8 · Math	112	31%
2019 · Grade 11 · Math	87	40%
2018 · Grade 5 · English	111	43%
2018 · Grade 6 · English	111	32%
2018 · Grade 7 · English	110	52%
2018 · Grade 8 · English	108	32%
2018 · Grade 11 · English	80	69%
2018 · Grade 5 · Math	111	27%
2018 · Grade 6 · Math	111	13%
2018 · Grade 7 · Math	110	39%
2018 · Grade 8 · Math	108	16%
2018 · Grade 11 · Math	80	34%
2017 · Grade 5 · English	112	28%
2017 · Grade 6 · English	112	38%
2017 · Grade 7 · English	112	41%
2017 · Grade 8 · English	113	50%
2017 · Grade 11 · English	68	79%
2017 · Grade 5 · Math	112	10%
2017 · Grade 6 · Math	112	15%
2017 · Grade 7 · Math	112	21%
2017 · Grade 8 · Math	113	25%
2017 · Grade 11 · Math	68	44%

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	383	7%	22%	59%	12%

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	516	49%	—	+8
Hispanic or Latino	521	49%	—	+8
English learners	149	15%	—	+7

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	−4	512	Average	0	509	Average
Hispanic or Latino	−3	452	Average	+1	449	Average
Low-income	−3	436	Average	0	435	Average
English learners	−1	276	Average	+4	274	Average
Recently reclassified as fluent in English	−3	141	not categorized	+4	140	not categorized
English learners only	+3	135	not categorized	+5	134	not categorized
English-only students	+5	118	not categorized	+12	117	not categorized
Long-term English learners (grades 6–8 only)	−4	76	Average	−7	76	Moderate
Students with disabilities	−1	37	Average	+3	37	Average
Black or African American	−1	29	Average	+7	29	Accelerated
Asian	−2	14	Average	+5	14	Accelerated

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. Long-term English learner counts cover grades 6–8 only (CDE’s rule), so that row is not comparable to the All students row. 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 5–8. 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−4 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 5–8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

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

All students, grades 5–8

512 students

CDE growth category: Average

State model · math0 pts vs expected

matched students, grades 5–8

CDE California growth model · 2025 Dashboard

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

All students, grades 5–8

509 students

CDE growth category: Average

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 5–8, 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 · 14 in 100 → 2025–26 · 15 in 100 · +1 in 100
Suspension rate2024–25 · 12.1% (132 of 1,092) → 2025–26 · 2.4% (24 of 1,012) · −9.7 percentage points

Group	2018–19	2025–26	Change
Female	—	16 in 100	—
Male	—	14 in 100	—
Asian	—	12 in 100	—
Black or African American	—	25 in 100	—
Filipino	—	0 in 100	—
Hispanic or Latino	—	15 in 100	—
White	—	14 in 100	—
Students with disabilities	—	17 in 100	—
English learners	—	15 in 100	—
Low-income	—	14 in 100	—
All students	—	15 in 100	—

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

Graduation and readinessstate records · each rate for its own year and class of students

Measure	Source record
This school · CCI overall Prepared	CDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · all students in the current four-year graduation cohort, plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. Overall CCI Prepared rate 81% · numerator 116 students classified Prepared · denominator 144 CCI students.
California · CCI overall Prepared	CDE statewide CCI cohort · CCI source year 2025 · all students · overall Prepared rate 52% · numerator 257,567 students classified Prepared · denominator 497,814 CCI students.

AP pathway among CCI Prepared studentsCDE College/Career Indicator · CCI source year 2025 · all students · AP pathway rate 78% · AP-pathway numerator 90 · denominator 116 (CCI Prepared students). This measure uses Prepared students as its denominator, not the whole CCI cohort; it is not an AP exam-taking rate or a count of AP courses offered. That cohort includes all students in the current four-year graduation cohort plus only Prepared fifth-year graduates from the prior cohort. In 2025 the pathway accepts two qualifying AP exams, two qualifying AP courses, or a combination of one of each in different subjects.

CDE's overall Prepared rate is the college-readiness factor in the Scope Score (20% of the high school score). The school rate is 116 of 144 CCI students, not the AP-only pathway or A–G completion rate. The California figure is CDE's statewide CCI student cohort, not an average of SchoolScope's comparable high schools or the SchoolScope school-rank pool.

Graduation rate

94%

AP route, among those ready for college or career

78%

2025 CDE CCI cohort · AP courses, exams, or both; share of students ready for college or career (CDE’s “Prepared”), not course offerings

Finished the UC/CSU course list (A–G)

100%

A–G are the 15 courses (across 7 subjects) required for UC/CSU eligibility

College-going rate

83%

These source periods and populations differ: graduation uses an adjusted cohort, while A–G completion and college-going use separately reported groups. The rates are shown individually, without a shared performance tier.

UC admissions, universitywidefall 2016–2025 · applied, admitted, enrolled, mean GPA · summed across CEEB codes

Year	Applied	Admitted	Enrolled	Mean GPA (applied)	Mean GPA (admitted)	Mean GPA (enrolled)
2025	68	63	21	3.79	3.81	3.92
2024	39	36	24	3.76	3.80	3.79
2023	64	60	31	3.81	3.82	3.94
2022	54	54	18	3.75	3.75	4.03
2021	68	62	33	3.69	3.76	3.91
2020	66	58	33	3.68	3.76	3.90
2019	58	32	18	3.45	3.73	3.85
2018	39	14	10	3.42	3.70	3.76
2017	35	22	13	3.59	3.81	3.91
2016	32	22	14	3.77	3.95	3.91

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. GPA is each group's mean weighted, capped high-school GPA for 10th/11th-grade college-preparatory courses. SchoolScope leaves GPA unavailable when several CEEB codes contribute rather than combining their means. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here. Complete, matching counts can support a historical descriptive rate, but do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances. Series shown from 2016.

UC admissions by campuslatest falls on file · each campus counted separately

Campus	Year	Applied	Admitted	Enrolled
Berkeley	2025	49	9	4
Berkeley	2024	28	6	under 3
Berkeley	2023	47	13	7
Berkeley	2022	46	5	under 3
Berkeley	2021	45	17	13
Davis	2025	52	20	5
Davis	2024	28	14	7
Davis	2023	52	29	11
Davis	2022	47	17	6
Davis	2021	45	20	5
Irvine	2025	25	8	under 3
Irvine	2024	20	7	under 3
Irvine	2023	32	6	under 3
Irvine	2022	31	8	under 3
Irvine	2021	12	5	under 3
Los Angeles	2025	32	3	under 3
Los Angeles	2024	14	3	under 3
Los Angeles	2023	36	5	under 3
Los Angeles	2022	36	3	under 3
Los Angeles	2021	23	5	4
Merced	2025	49	49	5
Merced	2024	31	30	5
Merced	2023	44	44	3
Merced	2022	53	53	4
Merced	2021	57	53	6
Riverside	2025	24	21	under 3
Riverside	2024	10	5	under 3
Riverside	2023	13	8	under 3
Riverside	2022	22	13	under 3
Riverside	2021	15	5	under 3
San Diego	2025	19	4	under 3
San Diego	2024	12	6	under 3
San Diego	2023	15	7	under 3
San Diego	2022	18	8	under 3
San Diego	2021	19	6	under 3
Santa Barbara	2025	24	8	under 3
Santa Barbara	2024	13	6	under 3
Santa Barbara	2023	24	4	under 3
Santa Barbara	2022	27	7	under 3
Santa Barbara	2021	18	11	under 3
Santa Cruz	2025	37	17	under 3
Santa Cruz	2024	20	15	6
Santa Cruz	2023	35	18	3
Santa Cruz	2022	30	18	under 3
Santa Cruz	2021	38	23	5
Universitywide	2025	68	63	21
Universitywide	2024	39	36	24
Universitywide	2023	64	60	31
Universitywide	2022	54	54	18
Universitywide	2021	68	62	33

Source: UC admissions by source school. Dated fall first-year UC applicants, admitted students, and enrollees. Campus totals are not interchangeable with Universitywide; students can apply to several campuses. Universitywide is separately reported; never derive it by adding campus rows. Universitywide applicant and admit counts are unduplicated. UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or under 3 admits or enrollees, shown here as “under 5” or “under 3”; — means unavailable, and a reported zero remains zero. A + marks a partial SchoolScope sum of observed counts, not a complete total; missing contributions may be zero. No admit rate is computed here; these records do not establish a school's effect or predict individual chances.

AP course catalog2025–26 · College Board course authorizations

Subject	Authorization recorded for
Chemistry	this school
Computer Science Principles	this school
English Language and Composition	this school
Environmental Science	this school
Precalculus	this school
Spanish Language and Culture	this school
Statistics	this school
U.S. Government and Politics	this school
United States History	this school

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	8
AP enrollment (male/female)	196
IB participation	not reported
Dual enrollment	not offered
Algebra I in grade 8	not reported
Calculus sections	0
Physics sections	2
Chemistry sections	6
Reported male/female enrollment (CRDC)	1,102

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	30	33%
California State University	22	24%
California community college	15	17%
In-state private	4	5%
Out-of-state, 4-year	4	4%
Out-of-state, 2-year	0	0%
Not enrolled	15	17%

90 students who finished high school, class of 2023 · state-reported college-going rate 83% · % 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 — a different, older vintage than the fall 2025 UC admissions rows above.

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

Per-pupil spending

District · current expense$173,382 per pupil

NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 374 pupils

Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–⁠25 · SchoolScope calculation

Instruction 38%Instruction support 18%Student services 14%Administration 24%Buildings & maintenance 5%Other 1%

The arithmetic behind these shares · FY 2024–25
Group	Dollars	Share, to two decimals	Printed
Instruction	$36,845,474	37.69%	38%
Instruction support	$17,622,341	18.02%	18%
Student services	$13,332,420	13.64%	14%
Administration	$23,973,059	24.52%	24%
Buildings & maintenance	$5,248,666	5.37%	5%
Other	$746,253	0.76%	1%
Total	$97,768,212	100.00%	100%

These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $97,768,212 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$173,382 per pupil

2020$150,806 per pupil

2018$13,187 per pupil

2017$13,378 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 holders8.8%

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 94806 · not the school’s students

American Community Survey 5-year estimates · 2020–2024 · ZIP 94806 area
Measure	Estimate
Median household income	$86,034
Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+)	24%
ZIP-area population	62,546
Median age	36.7 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 94806 →

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

Embed this scorecard

<iframe
  src="https://schoolscope.co/embed/school/making-waves-academy-4470"
  width="100%" height="210" loading="lazy"
  style="border:0;border-radius:12px"
  title="Making Waves Academy — SchoolScope scorecard">
</iframe>

Free to embed with the credit link. Data updates automatically.

Its Scope Score is a high 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 2024–25 results, compared across 1,498 high 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 · UC fall first-year source records — UC blanks counts under 5 applicants or 3 admits or enrollees; “+” marks a partial count; the all-campus total is reported separately · 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

Making Waves Academy — Rating & test scores

Compare schools

Spring 2026 state test results

Common questions

How do I get in?

Is Making Waves Academy a good school?

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

How does math compare with English?

How do kids like mine do here?

What could my child study here?

Where do students go after finishing high school 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 elementary grades do?

English

Math

How do the middle grades do?

English

Math

How does math compare with English?

Have results changed?

English · top two levels · grade 11

Math · top two levels · grade 11

Each year’s results and tested counts

Who can act on Making Waves Academy’s results?

Where is its yearly plan?

How many students here graduate, and where do they go next?

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

Math & Computer Science 3

Sciences 2

English 1

History & Social Science 2

World Languages & Cultures 1

University of California

Each fall since 2016

California State University

Each fall since 2021

How often do students miss school or get suspended?

Chronically absent, 2025–26

Suspensions, 2025–26

How do kids like mine do here?

Who are the students?

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

Who are the families and teachers?

What does Making Waves Academy’s own plan commit to?

The 2026–27 plan in short

Where the money goes

Reading, math and catch-up help

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

Embed this scorecard

Did you find what you were looking for?