Enrollment
420
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · San Pablo, CA
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy
Federal NCES profile for Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 063255010198
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #1 of 10
- public schools in San Pablo · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for California
- 46.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy has class sizes smaller than 95% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy ranks #1 of 10 public schools in San Pablo, CA.
School address
District: West Contra Costa Unified · California
NCES ID 063255010198 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
41.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.2:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-53% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
46.7%
vs 55.5% California avg
-16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy is a mid-sized combined-grade school in San Pablo, California, enrolling 420 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 10.2:1, Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy is leaner than roughly 95% of California schools and 53% 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 46.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 420 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Among 1,292 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need California schools statewide, it ranks #113, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (47%) and African American (17%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 76.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
West Contra Costa Unified also operates El Cerrito High (1,460 students) and Richmond High (1,280 students) alongside Vista Independent Study / Virtual 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 Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy compares
Vista Independent Study / Virtual 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 | 10.2:1 | ▼ 53% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.7% | ▼ 16% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 420 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
420
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
46.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% 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
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 53% below state mean
Top 5% in California - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
76.9%
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
$17,537
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
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
Hispanic or Latino 47.0%
African American 17.2%
Asian 14.6%
White 10.7%
Two or More 8.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.9, Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Contra Costa Unified, which includes Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy.
$17,537
Per student
+6%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.1%
State 46.9%
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 Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Richmond High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pinole Valley High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| De Anza High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hercules High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,280
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,245
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 767
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 (~420 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy's federal record.
- Compare Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy against another school. Compare schools
- West Contra Costa 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 Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy
How many students attend Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy?
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy has 420 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in San Pablo, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy is 10.2:1, which is 53% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 35% 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 Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy?
46.7% of students at Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy?
The largest demographic group at Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 47.0% of enrollment, in San Pablo, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy?
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy rank among public schools in San Pablo?
By Resource Investment Index, Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy ranks #1 of 10 public schools in San Pablo, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in San Pablo on the city page.
Is Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy a good school?
Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 West Contra Costa Unified?
Besides Vista Independent Study / Virtual Academy, West Contra Costa Unified also operates El Cerrito High (1,460 students), Richmond High (1,280 students), and Pinole Valley High (1,245 students). See the West Contra Costa 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.