Enrollment
140
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Burbank, CA
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)
Federal NCES profile for Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 69/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 060645013886
👥 S:T ratio 69
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) earns 69/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 97% of California schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Burbank · Resource Index
- 69
- Resource Index · Higher
- 7.8:1
- small classes for California
- 34.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) has class sizes smaller than 97% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) ranks #1 of 3 schools in Burbank, CA.
School address
District: Burbank Unified · California
NCES ID 060645013886 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
7.8:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-64% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.7%
vs 55.5% California avg
-37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) is a small combined-grade school in Burbank, California, enrolling 140 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 7.8:1, Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) is leaner than roughly 97% of California schools and 64% 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 34.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 140 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 99% of the 9,998 California schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 222 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #4, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (84% of enrollment) (diversity index 28/100).
Among Burbank's public schools, it stands alongside Magnolia Park (33 students): Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (7.8:1 vs 16.5:1).
Burbank Unified also operates Burbank High (2,457 students) and Burroughs High (2,283 students) alongside Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila).
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 Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) compares
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 7.8:1 | ▼ 64% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.7% | ▼ 37% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 140 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.8:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
140
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% 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
7.8:1
students per teacher
- 64% below state mean
Top 3% in California - lower ratio than 97% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$14,677
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
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.
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 84.2%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
Two or More 2.9%
Asian 1.4%
African American 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: White at 84.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.0, Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Burbank Unified, which includes Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila).
$14,677
Per student
-11%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.7%
State 52.3%
Federal 11.0%
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 Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burbank High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Burroughs High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Muir Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Luther Burbank Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dolores Huerta Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,457
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 2,283
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,353
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,030
- Students per teacher
- 27.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 931
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Burbank
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 (~140 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~7.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)'s federal record.
- Compare Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) against another school. Compare schools
- Burbank 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 Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)
How many students attend Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)?
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) has 140 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Burbank, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)?
The student-teacher ratio at Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) is 7.8:1, which is 64% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 50% 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 Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)?
34.7% of students at Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)?
The largest demographic group at Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) is White at 84.2% of enrollment, in Burbank, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila)?
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) has a Resource Investment Index of 69/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) rank among schools in Burbank?
By Resource Investment Index, Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) ranks #1 of 3 schools in Burbank, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Burbank on the city page.
Is Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) a good school?
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila) earns 69/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 97% 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 Burbank Unified?
Besides Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (Buila), Burbank Unified also operates Burbank High (2,457 students), Burroughs High (2,283 students), and John Muir Middle (1,353 students). See the Burbank 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.