Academy for Change

Academy for Change, a minimally staffed secondary school in Chico, California, run under Chico Unified, enrolls 31 students, covering grades 6 through 12. That puts it 96% smaller than the typical public school in California, which averages around 838 students.

Across the 22 schools in Chico Unified (12,260 students total), Academy for Change accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Demographically, Academy for Change records that 61% of the student body identifies as White. Beyond that, the school lists 19% Hispanic, 13% multiracial, 3% Black, 3% Native American. That is visibly less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 70%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Academy for Change has 3 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 11.7:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 18.2:1 average. Around 94% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal. That share is higher than Butte County's rate of about 63%.

In the surrounding community, ACS estimates for Butte County put median household income runs about $67,928, about 32% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate sits near 12%. Across Butte County's 96 public schools (combined enrollment of about 29,730 students), Academy for Change is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Oakdale, roughly 0.0 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Academy for Change.

The campus sits in a high-density setting.

Five-year trend. Academy for Change's enrollment has grew 182% since 2018, when it stood at 11 (now 31). Over the same period, the Hispanic share ticked down from 55% to 19%. Class-load math has widened: from 7.9:1 in 2018 to 11.7:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.