Enrollment
3,933
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · San Juan Capistrano, CA
California Connections Academy Southern California
Federal NCES profile for California Connections Academy Southern California, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 060185110983Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
California Connections Academy Southern California earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #1 of 4
- schools in San Juan Capistrano · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23.1:1
- students per teacher
- 47.4%
- free-lunch eligible
California Connections Academy Southern California has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, California Connections Academy Southern California ranks #1 of 4 schools in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
School address
NCES ID 060185110983 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
170.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
23.1:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
47.4%
vs 55.5% California avg
-15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How California Connections Academy Southern California compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at California Connections Academy Southern California
California Connections Academy Southern California is a large charter combined-grade school in San Juan Capistrano, California, enrolling 3,933 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 23.1:1 puts it in the larger third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 47.4% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in California, bigger than 99% of state schools at 3,933 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 62 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (37%) and White (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 334 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
17.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding California Connections Academy Southern California District spends $10,194 per pupil, 38% below the California average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among San Juan Capistrano's public schools, it stands alongside Opportunities for Learning - Capistrano (185 students): California Connections Academy Southern California is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (23.1:1 vs 46.3:1).
California Connections Academy Southern California District is a single-school charter district, so California Connections Academy Southern California operates independently rather than alongside district-mates. At 3,933 students, it is also among the largest single-school districts in California, well beyond the enrollment of a typical standalone charter.
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 California Connections Academy Southern California compares
California Connections Academy Southern California on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.1:1 | ▲ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.4% | ▼ 15% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 3,933 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.1:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
3,933
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
47.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
23.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 63% in California - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
17.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$10,194
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
Counselors11.8 FTE
Per 334 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
Hispanic or Latino 37.4%
White 31.1%
Two or More 13.7%
African American 10.7%
Asian 6.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 37.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.9, California Connections Academy Southern California is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for California Connections Academy Southern California District, which includes California Connections Academy Southern California.
$10,194
Per student
-38%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-39%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 71.0%
State 23.6%
Federal 5.4%
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.
Similar other schools in San Juan Capistrano
3 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 (~3,933 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on California Connections Academy Southern California's federal record.
- Compare California Connections Academy Southern California against another school. Compare schools
- California Connections Academy Southern California District'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 California Connections Academy Southern California
How many students attend California Connections Academy Southern California?
California Connections Academy Southern California has 3,933 students enrolled. It is a public school in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at California Connections Academy Southern California?
The student-teacher ratio at California Connections Academy Southern California is 23.1:1, which is 7% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 47% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at California Connections Academy Southern California?
47.4% of students at California Connections Academy Southern California are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of California Connections Academy Southern California?
The largest demographic group at California Connections Academy Southern California is Hispanic or Latino at 37.4% of enrollment, in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for California Connections Academy Southern California?
California Connections Academy Southern California has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical 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 California Connections Academy Southern California rank among schools in San Juan Capistrano?
By Resource Investment Index, California Connections Academy Southern California ranks #1 of 4 schools in San Juan Capistrano, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in San Juan Capistrano on the city page.
Is California Connections Academy Southern California a good school?
California Connections Academy Southern California earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California. 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 California Connections Academy Southern California District?
None; California Connections Academy Southern California District is a single-school charter district, and California Connections Academy Southern California is its only campus.
Related tools
Compare schools
Side-by-side comparison tool
Schools in California
All public schools in California
California Connections Academy Southern California District
All schools in this district
Schools in San Juan Capistrano
All schools in this city
School districts
Ranked by enrollment & spending
Rankings
Best schools by state & type
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.