Enrollment
56
High
DISTRICT 571 · STATE 838
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·SANTA CRUZ CITY HIGH·NCES 063560007869
Ark Independent Studies
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 · (831) 429-3898 · Santa Cruz County
GRADES 06–12HIGH13-CITYTITLE IALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SCHOOL56 STUDENTS
Student : Teacher
27.2:1
2 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 20.9:1 · STATE 18.2:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
41%
23 students
DISTRICT 37% · STATE 65%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other high schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 9 | 3 | 5% |
| Grade 10 | 10 | 18% |
| Grade 11 | 14 | 25% |
| Grade 12 | 29 | 52% |
Student demographics
55%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 60% · STATE 62% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
CAASPP 2024-25 . % met or exceeded standardEnglish Language Arts
53.3%
own-school result
Math
13.3%
own-school result
State assessment results for this school reflect a specialized student population. The figures above are the school's own reported scores; they are not directly comparable to state averages or to general-enrollment schools, so the usual state-average comparison line is suppressed here.
Performance levels, 2024-25
| Subject | Standard Exceeded | Standard Met | Standard Nearly Met | Standard Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 20.0% |
| Math | 6.7% | 6.7% | 40.0% | 46.7% |
Share of tested students at each CAASPP level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
CAASPP results by year
| School year | English Language Arts | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 53.3% | 13.3% |
| 2023-24 | 56.3% | 20.0% |
| 2022-23 | 70.0% | 35.3% |
| 2021-22 | 68.0% | 17.4% |
% met or exceeded standard, all students and all tested grades.
Source: CAASPP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Not computed for this schoolBeatsExpectations is not computed for specialized-population schools (schools for the deaf or blind, therapeutic and behavioral-health placements, juvenile-justice and alternative-education settings, and similar). State ELA/Math proficiency rates are not a comparable metric for these populations, so a demographically-adjusted residual against general-enrollment peers would be misleading. About the methodology →
Where Ark Independent Studies ranks
Among high schools| Measure | This school | In California | In Santa Cruz County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 56 | #1,742 of 2,093 | #17 of 19 |
Ranked against other public high schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list.
7-year change
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
56
-5 (-8%) vs 2017
Student : Teacher
27.2:1
was 22.2:1
% White
45%
was 49%
% Hispanic
50%
was 43%
% Black
0%
was 0%
% Asian
0%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free or reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 56 | 2.1 | 27.2:1 | 41% (23) |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 2.4 | 21.7:1 | 37% (19) |
| 2022-23 | 47 | 2.4 | 19.6:1 | 43% (20) |
| 2017-18 | 61 | 2.8 | 22.2:1 | 39% (24) |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Ark Independent Studies.
About Ark Independent Studies
Ark Independent Studies is a very small high school in Santa Cruz, California, administered by Santa Cruz City High. There are 56 students enrolled, covering grades 6 through 12. On average, high schools in California enroll around 838, and this school is 93% below that mark.
Federal data list 9 schools in Santa Cruz City High, with 4,455 students enrolled.
The student body at Ark Independent Studies has no majority group. Hispanic students lead at 50%. The next largest groups are 45% White and 5% multiracial. The school's Hispanic share is 15 points above the 35% share among Santa Cruz County residents. Its diversity index, the chance that two randomly chosen students belong to different racial or ethnic groups, is 55%.
The school has 2.1 full-time-equivalent teachers and a ratio of 27.2 students per teacher. Statewide, high schools in California average 18.2:1. Of all students at Ark Independent Studies, 41% are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. On average, public schools in Santa Cruz County report 52%.
In Santa Cruz County, home to about 264,926 people, median household income comes to about $111,093, 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and about 6% of people live in poverty. There are 83 public schools in the county, enrolling about 36,316, Ark Independent Studies among them.
Less than a tenth of a mile separates Ark Independent Studies from the closest public school, Costanoa Continuation High. Other public schools within five miles: at least 8.
Locale data from NCES put Ark Independent Studies inside a principal city with a population under 100,000 (City: Small).
An 8% drop took enrollment from 61 in 2017-18 to 56 in 2024-25. Hispanic students went from 43% of enrollment in 2017-18 to 50% in 2024-25. The student-to-teacher ratio increased from 22.2:1 in 2017-18 to 27.2:1 in 2024-25.
You can use this page to share news and ask questions about fundraisers, report cards, and school supplies. Current and former families are welcome to add their experience.
Santa Cruz County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
264,926
Census ACS
Median income
$111,093
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
44%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
6%
Below federal line
Schools in county
83
36,316 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Santa Cruz City High
- Santa Cruz HighHigh · 1,093 students
- Soquel HighHigh · 1,074 students
- Harbor HighHigh · 1,013 students
- Mission Hill MiddleMiddle · 510 students
- Branciforte MiddleMiddle · 409 students
- Delta CharterHigh · 113 students
Other schools in Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz HighHigh · 1,093 students
- Harbor HighHigh · 1,013 students
- Santa Cruz County CommunityHigh · 730 students
- Pacific Collegiate CharterHigh · 536 students
- Mission Hill MiddleMiddle · 510 students
- Brook Knoll ElementaryElementary · 498 students
Nearby schools
- Costanoa Continuation High0.0 mi · 77
- Alternative Family Education0.0 mi · 110
- Santa Cruz City Elementary Alternative Education-Monarch0.1 mi · 114
- Branciforte Middle0.3 mi · 409
- Gault Elementary0.4 mi · 314
- Harbor High1.2 mi · 1,013
Frequently asked questions
About Ark Independent StudiesWhat is the total enrollment at Ark Independent Studies?
Ark Independent Studies enrolls approximately 56 students in grades 06-12.
What grades does Ark Independent Studies serve?
Ark Independent Studies serves grades 06-12.
How many students per teacher at Ark Independent Studies?
Approximately 27.2:1 students per teacher at Ark Independent Studies.
What is the racial breakdown of students at Ark Independent Studies?
At Ark Independent Studies, the student body is approximately 45% White, 50% Hispanic, 5% Two or more.
Is Ark Independent Studies public or private?
Ark Independent Studies is a public K-12 school, overseen by Santa Cruz City High.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.