- Enrollment
- 2,029
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Merced, CA
Independence High (Alternative)
Federal NCES profile for Independence High (Alternative), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 062466008164
👥 S:T ratio 61
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence High (Alternative) earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of California schools.
- #2 of 7
- high schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.7:1
- small classes for California
- 83.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence High (Alternative) has class sizes smaller than 96% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High (Alternative) ranks #2 of 7 high schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced Union High · California
NCES ID 062466008164 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Independence High (Alternative) shrank from 119 students in 2022-23 to 92 in 2023-24 (-22.7%).
Teacher FTE added 9.9 → 12.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 062466008164 · Merced, CA High · SMALL · TRAD
87 enr · 9.7:1 · 83.2% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Atwater High (2,029 students)
Independence High (Alternative) shrank from 119 students in 2022-23 to 92 in 2023-24 (-22.7%). Teacher FTE added 9.9 → 12.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Independence High (Alternative) in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Atwater High
Atwater High
2,029 students
- Merced High
Merced High
1,943 students
- Golden Valley
Golden Valley High
1,917 students
- El Capitan Hig
El Capitan High
1,793 students
- Buhach Colony
Buhach Colony High
1,704 students
- This school 87
Independence High (Alternative)
87 students
What this shows Independence High (Alternative) reports 87 students on the CCD universe file.
How Independence High (Alternative) compares
Independence High (Alternative) is a shrinking 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 | 9.7:1 | ▼ 55% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 83.2% | ▲ 50% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 87 | top 91% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.7:1
Leaner classes than 90% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
87
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
83.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.7:1
students per teacher
- 55% below state mean
Top 4% in California - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$16,578
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 70.1%
White 14.9%
African American 10.3%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 70.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.5, Independence High (Alternative) is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Merced Union High reports $16,578 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Independence High (Alternative) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Merced High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Golden Valley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| El Capitan High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Buhach Colony High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence High (Alternative)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,943
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,917
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,793
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,704
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar high schools in Merced
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Merced High
Standard public school
1,943 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Golden Valley High
Standard public school
1,917 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
El Capitan High
Standard public school
1,793 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Yosemite High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
342 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Come Back Charter
Standard public school
128 students 42.7:1 students per teacher
Sequoia High
Alternative education program
77 students 8.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~87 students)
Frequently asked questions about Independence High (Alternative)
How many students attend Independence High (Alternative)?
Independence High (Alternative) has 87 students enrolled. It is a high school in Merced, CA. CCD year-over-year: 119 (2022-23) → 92 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence High (Alternative)?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence High (Alternative) is 9.7:1, which is 55% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 38% 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 Independence High (Alternative)?
83.2% of students at Independence High (Alternative) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence High (Alternative)?
The largest demographic group at Independence High (Alternative) is Hispanic or Latino at 70.1% of enrollment, in Merced, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence High (Alternative)?
Independence High (Alternative) has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting. 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 Independence High (Alternative) rank among high schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High (Alternative) ranks #2 of 7 high schools in Merced, 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 Merced on the city page.
What other schools are in Merced Union High?
Besides Independence High (Alternative), Merced Union High also operates Atwater High (2,029 students), Merced High (1,943 students), and Golden Valley High (1,917 students). See the Merced Union High district page for the complete list.