Enrollment
61
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Madera, CA
Madera County Independent Academy
Federal NCES profile for Madera County Independent Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 069101712301Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 88
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Madera County Independent Academy earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of California schools.
- #9 of 10
- schools in Madera · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 30.5:1
- large classes for California
- 79.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Madera County Independent Academy has class sizes larger than 96% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Madera County Independent Academy ranks #9 of 10 schools in Madera, CA.
School address
District: Madera County Superintendent of Schools · California
NCES ID 069101712301 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
2.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
30.5:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+42% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
79.2%
vs 55.5% California avg
+43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Madera County Independent Academy compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Madera County Independent Academy
Madera County Independent Academy is a high-poverty, small charter combined-grade school in Madera, California, enrolling 61 students.
Class loads run heavy: 30.5:1 is larger than about 96% of California schools and 42% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 79.2% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 93% of California schools, with 61 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 178 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #124.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (85% of enrollment) (diversity index 27/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 61 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 73.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Madera County Superintendent of Schools spends $64,738 per pupil, 292% above the California average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 21.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Madera's public schools, it stands alongside Gould Educational Center (351 students): Madera County Independent Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (30.5:1 vs 8:1).
Madera County Superintendent of Schools also operates Gould Educational Center (351 students) and Pioneer Technical Center (207 students) alongside Madera County Independent Academy.
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 Madera County Independent Academy compares
Madera County Independent Academy on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 30.5:1 | ▲ 42% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.2% | ▲ 43% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 61 | top 93% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
30.5:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
61
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
79.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
30.5:1
students per teacher
- 42% above state mean
Top 96% in California - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
73.8%
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
$64,738
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 61 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 85.2%
White 8.2%
African American 3.3%
Two or More 3.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 85.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.5, Madera County Independent Academy is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Madera County Superintendent of Schools, which includes Madera County Independent Academy.
$64,738
Per student
+292%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+290%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.4%
State 46.1%
Federal 21.5%
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 Madera County Independent Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gould Educational Center | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pioneer Technical Center | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Juvenile Hall (Endeavor/Voyager Secondary) | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Madera County Independent Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 351
- Students per teacher
- 8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 207
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 29
- Students per teacher
- 9.7:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar other schools in Madera
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Gould Educational Center
Special-education school
351 students 8:1 students per teacher
Duane E. Furman Independent Study
Alternative education program
348 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Pioneer Technical Center
Alternative education program
207 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Freedom Home
Alternative education program
53 students 53:1 students per teacher
Ripperdan Community Day
Alternative education program
49 students 9.8:1 students per teacher
Juvenile Hall (Endeavor/Voyager Secondary)
Alternative education program
29 students 9.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~61 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Madera County Independent Academy's federal record.
- Compare Madera County Independent Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Madera County Superintendent of Schools'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 Madera County Independent Academy
How many students attend Madera County Independent Academy?
Madera County Independent Academy has 61 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Madera, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Madera County Independent Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Madera County Independent Academy is 30.5:1, which is 42% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 94% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Madera County Independent Academy?
79.2% of students at Madera County Independent Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Madera County Independent Academy?
The largest demographic group at Madera County Independent Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 85.2% of enrollment, in Madera, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Madera County Independent Academy?
Madera County Independent Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Madera County Independent Academy rank among schools in Madera?
By Resource Investment Index, Madera County Independent Academy ranks #9 of 10 schools in Madera, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Madera on the city page.
Is Madera County Independent Academy a good school?
Madera County Independent Academy earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% 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 Madera County Superintendent of Schools?
Besides Madera County Independent Academy, Madera County Superintendent of Schools also operates Gould Educational Center (351 students), Pioneer Technical Center (207 students), and Juvenile Hall (Endeavor/Voyager Secondary) (29 students). See the Madera County Superintendent of Schools 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.