Higher Learning Academy District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Sacramento, California - 1 schools

An equity score of 38/100 ranks Higher Learning Academy District #1075 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,543 per pupil, Higher Learning Academy District ranks #1639 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

533
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$11,543
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Higher Learning Academy District operates 1 public schools serving 533 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Sacramento County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,543 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 14.9% local, 70.9% state, and 14.2% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #1075 of 1517 in California against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 519:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 43.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 39.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 16.4% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Higher Learning Academy, enrolling 519 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Higher Learning Academy accounts for 97.4% of all Higher Learning Academy District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Higher Learning Academy District a distant remainder — means Higher Learning Academy District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Higher Learning Academy District has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 76.4% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Higher Learning Academy District student-counselor ratio is 519:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Higher Learning Academy District chronic absenteeism rate is 43.9% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

14.2%
Federal
70.9%
State
14.9%
Local

Funding Equity

38
Equity Score
1075 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Higher Learning Academy District.

White 12.3%
Hispanic or Latino 39.7%
African American 16.4%
Asian 19.8%
Multiracial 6.4%
Other 5.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

519:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
43.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Higher Learning Academy District

School Enrollment
Higher Learning Academy
Charter
519

How Higher Learning Academy District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
East Bay Innovation Academy District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Pacific Collegiate Charter District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Aspire East Palo Alto Charter District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Fenton Primary Center District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Biggs Unified Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Higher Learning Academy District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs Higher Learning Academy District →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
Compare vs Higher Learning Academy District →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs Higher Learning Academy District →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
Compare vs Higher Learning Academy District →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs Higher Learning Academy District →

Compare Higher Learning Academy District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Higher Learning Academy District?

Higher Learning Academy District has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 533 students.

How much does Higher Learning Academy District spend per student?

Higher Learning Academy District spends $11,543 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #1075 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Higher Learning Academy District?

Higher Learning Academy District students are 39.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 16.4% African American, 12.3% White, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Higher Learning Academy District?

Higher Learning Academy District has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #1075 out of 1517 districts in California.