- Enrollment
- 1,093
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Santa Cruz, CA
Alternative Family Education
Federal NCES profile for Alternative Family Education, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 063560007437
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alternative Family Education earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of California schools.
- #3 of 6
- schools in Santa Cruz · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 27.5:1
- large classes for California
- 25.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Alternative Family Education has class sizes larger than 91% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative Family Education ranks #3 of 6 schools in Santa Cruz, CA.
School address
District: Santa Cruz City High · California
NCES ID 063560007437 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Alternative Family Education held near 110 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 4.8 → 4.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 063560007437 · Santa Cruz, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
110 enr · 27.5:1 · 25.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Cruz High (1,093 students)
Alternative Family Education held near 110 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 4.8 → 4.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Alternative Family Education in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Cruz Hig
Santa Cruz High
1,093 students
- Soquel High
Soquel High
1,074 students
- Harbor High
Harbor High
1,013 students
- Mission Hill M
Mission Hill Middle
510 students
- Branciforte Mi 409
Branciforte Middle
409 students
- This school 110
Alternative Family Education
110 students
What this shows Alternative Family Education reports 110 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alternative Family Education compares
Alternative Family Education 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 | 27.5:1 | ▲ 28% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.0% | ▼ 55% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 110 | top 89% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.5:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
110
Bigger than 11% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
27.5:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 91% in California - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
7.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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.
Student demographics
White 53.6%
Hispanic or Latino 22.7%
Two or More 14.5%
Asian 4.5%
African American 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: White at 53.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, Alternative Family Education is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
How Alternative Family Education Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Soquel High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harbor High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mission Hill Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Branciforte Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alternative Family Education's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,074
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 510
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 409
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Santa Cruz
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Santa Cruz County Community
Alternative education program
730 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Pacific Collegiate Charter
Standard public school
536 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Santa Cruz County Special Education
Special-education school
105 students 7.5:1 students per teacher
Ark Independent Studies
Alternative education program
56 students 28:1 students per teacher
Santa Cruz County Court
Alternative education program
20 students 5:1 students per teacher
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 (~110 students)
Frequently asked questions about Alternative Family Education
How many students attend Alternative Family Education?
Alternative Family Education has 110 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Santa Cruz, CA. CCD year-over-year: 108 (2022-23) → 110 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alternative Family Education?
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative Family Education is 27.5:1, which is 28% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 75% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Alternative Family Education?
25.0% of students at Alternative Family Education are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alternative Family Education?
The largest demographic group at Alternative Family Education is White at 53.6% of enrollment, in Santa Cruz, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alternative Family Education?
Alternative Family Education has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alternative Family Education rank among schools in Santa Cruz?
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative Family Education ranks #3 of 6 schools in Santa Cruz, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Santa Cruz on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Cruz City High?
Besides Alternative Family Education, Santa Cruz City High also operates Santa Cruz High (1,093 students), Soquel High (1,074 students), and Harbor High (1,013 students). See the Santa Cruz City High district page for the complete list.