- Enrollment
- 1,093
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Santa Cruz, CA
Ark Independent Studies
Federal NCES profile for Ark Independent Studies, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 10/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 063560007869
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ark Independent Studies earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of California schools.
- #6 of 6
- schools in Santa Cruz · Resource Index
- 10
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28:1
- large classes for California
- 42.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Ark Independent Studies has class sizes larger than 93% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ark Independent Studies ranks #6 of 6 schools in Santa Cruz, CA.
School address
District: Santa Cruz City High · California
NCES ID 063560007869 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Ark Independent Studies grew from 47 students in 2022-23 to 52 in 2023-24 (+10.6%).
Teacher FTE held 2.4 → 2.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+5 students YoY 063560007869 · Santa Cruz, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
56 enr · 28:1 · 42.6% lunch · RII 10
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Cruz High (1,093 students)
Ark Independent Studies grew from 47 students in 2022-23 to 52 in 2023-24 (+10.6%). Teacher FTE held 2.4 → 2.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Ark Independent Studies 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 56
Ark Independent Studies
56 students
What this shows Ark Independent Studies reports 56 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ark Independent Studies compares
Ark Independent Studies is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 28:1 | ▲ 30% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.6% | ▼ 23% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 56 | top 93% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
56
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
28:1
students per teacher
- 30% above state mean
Top 93% in California - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
98.2%
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.
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
Hispanic or Latino 50.0%
White 44.6%
Two or More 5.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.8, Ark Independent Studies is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
How Ark Independent Studies Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Soquel High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harbor High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mission Hill Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Branciforte Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ark Independent Studies'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
Alternative Family Education
Alternative education program
110 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
Santa Cruz County Special Education
Special-education school
105 students 7.5:1 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 (~56 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ark Independent Studies
How many students attend Ark Independent Studies?
Ark Independent Studies has 56 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Santa Cruz, CA. CCD year-over-year: 47 (2022-23) → 52 (2023-24), up 5.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ark Independent Studies?
The student-teacher ratio at Ark Independent Studies is 28:1, which is 30% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 78% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ark Independent Studies?
42.6% of students at Ark Independent Studies are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ark Independent Studies?
The largest demographic group at Ark Independent Studies is Hispanic or Latino at 50.0% of enrollment, in Santa Cruz, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ark Independent Studies?
Ark Independent Studies has a Resource Investment Index of 10/100 (lower 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 Ark Independent Studies rank among schools in Santa Cruz?
By Resource Investment Index, Ark Independent Studies ranks #6 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 Ark Independent Studies, 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.