Enrollment
88
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Irvine, CA
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High
Federal NCES profile for Alternative Education-San Joaquin High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 068450009467
👥 S:T ratio 76
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 91
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Irvine · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 5.9:1
- small classes for California
- 27.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High has class sizes smaller than 99% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative Education-San Joaquin High ranks #1 of 3 schools in Irvine, CA.
School address
District: Irvine Unified · California
NCES ID 068450009467 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
5.9:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-73% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
27.5%
vs 55.5% California avg
-50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Alternative Education-San Joaquin High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Alternative Education-San Joaquin High
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High is a small combined-grade school in Irvine, California, enrolling 88 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 5.9:1, Alternative Education-San Joaquin High is leaner than roughly 99% of California schools and 73% under the state's 21.5:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 27.5% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 91% of California schools, with 88 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 97% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 115 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #11, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (37%) and Asian (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 44 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 56.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Irvine Unified spends $13,289 per pupil, 20% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Irvine's public schools, it stands alongside Excel Academy Charter (1,069 students): Alternative Education-San Joaquin High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (5.9:1 vs 18.4:1).
Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students) and University High (2,307 students) alongside Alternative Education-San Joaquin High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Alternative Education-San Joaquin High compares
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 5.9:1 | ▼ 73% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.5% | ▼ 50% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 88 | top 91% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
5.9:1
Leaner classes than 98% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
88
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
27.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
5.9:1
students per teacher
- 73% below state mean
Top 1% in California - lower ratio than 99% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
56.8%
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
$13,289
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 44 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 36.8%
Asian 33.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.1%
Two or More 6.9%
African American 5.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Largest group: White at 36.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.0, Alternative Education-San Joaquin High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Irvine Unified, which includes Alternative Education-San Joaquin High.
$13,289
Per student
-20%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 62.4%
State 31.0%
Federal 6.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Alternative Education-San Joaquin High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portola High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| University High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodbridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Irvine High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alternative Education-San Joaquin High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,693
- Students per teacher
- 32.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,307
- Students per teacher
- 28.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,244
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,232
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,964
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Irvine
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~88 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Alternative Education-San Joaquin High's federal record.
- Compare Alternative Education-San Joaquin High against another school. Compare schools
- Irvine Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Alternative Education-San Joaquin High
How many students attend Alternative Education-San Joaquin High?
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High has 88 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Irvine, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alternative Education-San Joaquin High?
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative Education-San Joaquin High is 5.9:1, which is 73% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 62% lower 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 Alternative Education-San Joaquin High?
27.5% of students at Alternative Education-San Joaquin High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alternative Education-San Joaquin High?
The largest demographic group at Alternative Education-San Joaquin High is White at 36.8% of enrollment, in Irvine, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alternative Education-San Joaquin High?
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alternative Education-San Joaquin High rank among schools in Irvine?
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative Education-San Joaquin High ranks #1 of 3 schools in Irvine, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Irvine on the city page.
Is Alternative Education-San Joaquin High a good school?
Alternative Education-San Joaquin High earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Irvine Unified?
Besides Alternative Education-San Joaquin High, Irvine Unified also operates Portola High (2,693 students), University High (2,307 students), and Northwood High (2,244 students). See the Irvine Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.