- Enrollment
- 462
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Modesto, CA
Petersen Alternative Center for Education
Federal NCES profile for Petersen Alternative Center for Education, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 069104107887
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Petersen Alternative Center for Education earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of California schools.
- #5 of 6
- schools in Modesto · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.6:1
- large classes for California
- 86.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Petersen Alternative Center for Education has class sizes larger than 91% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Petersen Alternative Center for Education ranks #5 of 6 schools in Modesto, CA.
School address
District: Stanislaus County Office of Education · California
NCES ID 069104107887 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+34 students YoY
Petersen Alternative Center for Education grew from 83 students in 2022-23 to 117 in 2023-24 (+41.0%).
Teacher FTE added 5.5 → 8.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+34 students YoY 069104107887 · Modesto, CA Other · SMALL · TRAD
138 enr · 27.6:1 · 86.7% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Stanislaus County Special Education (462 students)
Petersen Alternative Center for Education grew from 83 students in 2022-23 to 117 in 2023-24 (+41.0%). Teacher FTE added 5.5 → 8.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Petersen Alternative Center for Education in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Stanislaus Cou
Stanislaus County Special Education
462 students
- This school 138
Petersen Alternative Center for Education
138 students
- Stanislaus Mil 125
Stanislaus Military Academy at Teel
125 students
- John B Allard 112
John B Allard
112 students
- Stanislaus Cou 56
Stanislaus County West Campus
56 students
What this shows Petersen Alternative Center for Education reports 138 students on the CCD universe file.
How Petersen Alternative Center for Education compares
Petersen Alternative Center for Education is a growing 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 | 27.6:1 | ▲ 28% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.7% | ▲ 56% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 138 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.6:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
138
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
86.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
27.6:1
students per teacher
- 28% above state mean
Top 91% in California - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
76.8%
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.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 138 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 76.6%
White 16.8%
African American 3.6%
Two or More 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 76.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.3, Petersen Alternative Center for Education is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
How Petersen Alternative Center for Education Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanislaus County Special Education | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Stanislaus Military Academy at Teel | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John B Allard | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Stanislaus County West Campus | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Petersen Alternative Center for Education's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 125
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 112
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 56
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar other schools in Modesto
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley
Standard public school
776 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
617 students 32.5:1 students per teacher
Stanislaus County Special Education
Special-education school
462 students 11:1 students per teacher
Hart-Ransom Academic Charter
Standard public school
436 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Stanislaus County West Campus
Alternative education program
56 students 14:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~138 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~27.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Petersen Alternative Center for Education
How many students attend Petersen Alternative Center for Education?
Petersen Alternative Center for Education has 138 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Modesto, CA. CCD year-over-year: 83 (2022-23) → 117 (2023-24), up 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Petersen Alternative Center for Education?
The student-teacher ratio at Petersen Alternative Center for Education is 27.6:1, which is 28% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 76% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Petersen Alternative Center for Education?
86.7% of students at Petersen Alternative Center for Education are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Petersen Alternative Center for Education?
The largest demographic group at Petersen Alternative Center for Education is Hispanic or Latino at 76.6% of enrollment, in Modesto, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Petersen Alternative Center for Education?
Petersen Alternative Center for Education has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Petersen Alternative Center for Education rank among schools in Modesto?
By Resource Investment Index, Petersen Alternative Center for Education ranks #5 of 6 schools in Modesto, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Modesto on the city page.
What other schools are in Stanislaus County Office of Education?
Besides Petersen Alternative Center for Education, Stanislaus County Office of Education also operates Stanislaus County Special Education (462 students), Stanislaus Military Academy at Teel (125 students), and John B Allard (112 students). See the Stanislaus County Office of Education district page for the complete list.