- Enrollment
- 541
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Helendale, CA
Academy of Careers and Exploration
Federal NCES profile for Academy of Careers and Exploration, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 061686012368Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 57
📋 Attendance 9
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Academy of Careers and Exploration earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Helendale · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.4:1
- students per teacher
- 43.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Academy of Careers and Exploration has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Academy of Careers and Exploration ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Helendale, CA.
School address
District: Helendale Elementary · California
NCES ID 061686012368 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Academy of Careers and Exploration held near 284 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 14.2 → 14.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 061686012368 · Helendale, CA Other · SMALL · CHARTER
285 enr · 20.4:1 · 43.2% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Helendale Elementary (541 students)
Academy of Careers and Exploration held near 284 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 14.2 → 14.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Academy of Careers and Exploration in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Helendale Elem
Helendale Elementary
541 students
- This school
Academy of Careers and Exploration
285 students
- Riverview Midd 141
Riverview Middle
141 students
- Independence C 118
Independence Charter Academy
118 students
What this shows Academy of Careers and Exploration reports 285 students on the CCD universe file.
How Academy of Careers and Exploration compares
Academy of Careers and Exploration held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.4:1 | ▼ 5% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.2% | ▼ 22% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 285 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
285
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 38% in California - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
36.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,928
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.3 FTE
Per 214 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 52.6%
White 33.7%
African American 6.0%
Two or More 3.5%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 52.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.4, Academy of Careers and Exploration is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
District finance for Helendale Elementary reports $14,928 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Academy of Careers and Exploration Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helendale Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverview Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Independence Charter Academy | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Academy of Careers and Exploration's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 141
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 118
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Helendale
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~285 students)
Frequently asked questions about Academy of Careers and Exploration
How many students attend Academy of Careers and Exploration?
Academy of Careers and Exploration has 285 students enrolled. It is a public school in Helendale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 294 (2022-23) → 284 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Academy of Careers and Exploration?
The student-teacher ratio at Academy of Careers and Exploration is 20.4:1, which is 5% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Academy of Careers and Exploration?
43.2% of students at Academy of Careers and Exploration are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Academy of Careers and Exploration?
The largest demographic group at Academy of Careers and Exploration is Hispanic or Latino at 52.6% of enrollment, in Helendale, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Academy of Careers and Exploration?
Academy of Careers and Exploration has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Academy of Careers and Exploration rank among public schools in Helendale?
By Resource Investment Index, Academy of Careers and Exploration ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Helendale, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Helendale Elementary?
Besides Academy of Careers and Exploration, Helendale Elementary also operates Helendale Elementary (541 students), Riverview Middle (141 students), and Independence Charter Academy (118 students). See the Helendale Elementary district page for the complete list.