Enrollment
159
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Atascadero, CA
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)
Federal NCES profile for Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 060330010317
👥 S:T ratio 0
📚 AP courses 5
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of California schools.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Atascadero · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26.5:1
- large classes for California
- 29.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) has class sizes larger than 87% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Atascadero, CA.
School address
District: Atascadero Unified · California
NCES ID 060330010317 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
6.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
26.5:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
29.1%
vs 55.5% California avg
-48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) is a small high school in Atascadero, California, enrolling 159 students.
Class loads run heavy: 26.5:1 is larger than about 87% of California schools and 23% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 29.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 159 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 208 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #192, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (68%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%) (diversity index 47/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 1 Advanced Placement course.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 795 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 57.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Atascadero Unified spends $13,091 per pupil, 21% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Atascadero's high schools, it stands alongside Atascadero High (1,157 students): Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (26.5:1 vs 19.3:1).
Atascadero Unified also operates Atascadero High (1,157 students) and Atascadero Middle (845 students) alongside Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace).
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 Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) compares
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26.5:1 | ▲ 23% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.1% | ▼ 48% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 159 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.5:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
159
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
29.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
26.5:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 87% in California - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
57.2%
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.
Funding equity
$13,091
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 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 67.9%
Hispanic or Latino 25.2%
Two or More 3.8%
Asian 1.9%
African American 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 67.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.4, Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Atascadero Unified, which includes Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace).
$13,091
Per student
-21%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 63.5%
State 30.2%
Federal 6.3%
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 Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atascadero High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Atascadero Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Benito Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Monterey Road Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,157
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 26.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 382
- Students per teacher
- 27.3:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 25.1:1
- Resource Index
- 7/100
Similar high schools in Atascadero
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high 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 (~159 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~26.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)'s federal record.
- Compare Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) against another school. Compare schools
- Atascadero 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 Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)
How many students attend Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)?
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) has 159 students enrolled. It is a high school in Atascadero, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)?
The student-teacher ratio at Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) is 26.5:1, which is 23% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 69% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)?
29.1% of students at Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)?
The largest demographic group at Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) is White at 67.9% of enrollment, in Atascadero, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace)?
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 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 Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) rank among high schools in Atascadero?
By Resource Investment Index, Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Atascadero, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Atascadero on the city page.
Is Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) a good school?
Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace) earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of 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 Atascadero Unified?
Besides Atascadero Choices in Education Academy (Ace), Atascadero Unified also operates Atascadero High (1,157 students), Atascadero Middle (845 students), and San Benito Elementary (403 students). See the Atascadero 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.