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Circle of Independent Learning

Q: Is Circle of Independent Learning a good school?

Circle of Independent Learning ranks 1525 th of 5857 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

1525^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Alternative Schools

Better than 74% of California alternative schools

Summary

Circle of Independent Learning is an alternative public school serving about 394 students in grades K-12 within the highly-rated Fremont Unified district, offering a non-traditional, independent study approach for families seeking a different educational model.

The school presents a mixed picture: it excels at keeping students engaged, with chronic absenteeism consistently and remarkably low, yet academic performance, while above state averages, lags significantly behind the district's high standards. A particularly concerning and urgent issue is the dramatic spike in the dropout rate to 26.6% for 2024-2025, which coincides with a drop in the graduation rate and demands immediate attention from school leadership. Furthermore, while per-student spending has increased, this investment has not yet translated into consistent academic improvement, especially in middle school math and science.

Compared to other alternative schools in the area, Circle of Independent Learning occupies a unique middle ground. It outperforms schools serving students with severe needs, like Santa Clara County Special Education, but is outperformed academically by nearby alternatives such as The Pleasanton Virtual Academy and Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay, which achieve stronger results with similar or fewer resources. The school's core challenge is converting its success in student attendance into consistent academic success and stable graduation outcomes.

394

Students ?

23.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$22,030

Per pupil spending ?

46.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4700 Calaveras Ave.
Fremont, CA 94538-1124

(510) 797-0100

District: Fremont Unified

Racial breakdown:

Asian:

49.5%

Hispanic:

25.9%

White:

12.7%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Circle of Independent Learning to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 79th percentile in 2022 → 87th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (47% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2022

✓Above the California median (74th percentile)

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the California average (69% vs 88%)

!Dropout rate above the California average (27% vs 8%)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school47%

District avg69%

California avg41%

Elementary school

1,525^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 26%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

944^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 34%▼ down 18 pts since 2015

From top 16% (2015) to top 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

291^st of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 26 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to top 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

185^th of 1,543Fremont Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	71.6	1525 of 5857	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	62.4	1964 of 5869	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.9	2237 of 5859	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	75.0	1405 of 5883	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	94.9	295 of 5789	94.9%	★★★★★
2018	91.0	572 of 5662	89.9%	★★★★☆
2017	70.4	1544 of 5692	72.9%	★★★★☆
2016	71.4	1471 of 5614	73.8%	★★★★☆
2015	73.7	1364 of 5611	75.7%	★★★★☆
2013	22.9	4535 of 5530	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	43.0	3077 of 5390	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	62.4	1881 of 5377	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	60.1	1983 of 5314	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	69.1	1484 of 5193	71.4%	★★★★☆
2008	72.4	1308 of 5113	74.4%	★★★★☆
2007	67.2	1503 of 5113	70.6%	★★★★☆
2006	54.7	1974 of 4818	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	68.3	1408 of 4822	70.8%	★★★★☆
2004	77.9	985 of 4809	79.5%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	52.6	730 of 1205	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	74.0	274 of 1149	76.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	83.5	945 of 5643	83.3%	★★★★☆
2022	89.2	674 of 5663	88.1%	★★★★☆
2019	90.9	522 of 5510	90.5%	★★★★★
2018	92.5	415 of 5431	92.4%	★★★★★

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.2	944 of 2761	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.4	954 of 2783	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.7	1231 of 2781	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	74.2	594 of 2740	78.3%	★★★★☆
2019	84.4	381 of 2715	86.0%	★★★★☆
2018	80.8	436 of 2480	82.4%	★★★★☆
2017	73.2	595 of 2508	76.3%	★★★★☆
2016	74.7	555 of 2497	77.8%	★★★★☆
2015	81.3	401 of 2477	83.8%	★★★★☆
2013	81.6	274 of 2379	88.5%	★★★★☆
2012	65.3	692 of 2259	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.8	553 of 2236	75.3%	★★★★☆
2010	65.1	656 of 2179	69.9%	★★★☆☆
2009	53.7	891 of 2063	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	72.2	445 of 2005	77.8%	★★★★☆
2007	62.9	623 of 1999	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2006	65.3	530 of 1804	70.6%	★★★★☆
2005	69.3	455 of 1777	74.4%	★★★★☆
2004	71.8	392 of 1769	77.8%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.4	520 of 739	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.1	555 of 743	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.5	596 of 715	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.2	525 of 733	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.5	541 of 745	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	45.6	450 of 700	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	45.6	1218 of 2533	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.5	894 of 2551	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.1	1004 of 2531	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	82.3	389 of 2509	84.5%	★★★★☆
2019	72.6	571 of 2380	76.0%	★★★★☆
2018	60.4	779 of 2262	65.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	25.8	1795 of 2395	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	39.8	1423 of 2542	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.0	1376 of 2579	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	22.0	2081 of 2531	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	66.8	580 of 2458	76.4%	★★★★☆
2019	86.1	200 of 2369	91.6%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	65.1	732 of 2534	71.1%	★★★★☆
2024	65.6	709 of 2552	72.2%	★★★★☆
2023	47.4	1145 of 2538	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.7	707 of 2527	72.0%	★★★★☆
2019	88.0	282 of 2407	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	89.3	238 of 2273	89.5%	★★★★☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	85.8	291 of 2162	86.5%	★★★★☆
2024	58.9	801 of 2159	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.7	650 of 2170	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	76.1	436 of 2123	79.5%	★★★★☆
2019	69.8	543 of 2133	74.5%	★★★★☆
2018	78.1	439 of 2017	78.2%	★★★★☆
2017	56.2	882 of 2021	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	70.2	555 of 2039	72.8%	★★★★☆
2015	58.3	782 of 1994	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	53.3	702 of 2426	71.1%	★★★★☆
2012	54.4	686 of 2354	70.9%	★★★★☆
2011	49.9	802 of 2367	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	52.2	696 of 2281	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	53.1	657 of 2238	70.6%	★★★★☆
2008	46.1	764 of 2117	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2007	56.2	527 of 2063	74.5%	★★★★☆
2006	71.2	263 of 1968	86.6%	★★★★☆
2005	48.6	624 of 1901	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	50.4	484 of 1653	70.7%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.5	397 of 585	32.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.7	459 of 573	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.5	463 of 591	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.8	436 of 581	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.9	467 of 582	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.7	410 of 581	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	81.0	335 of 1906	82.4%	★★★★☆
2024	46.7	968 of 1915	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.0	673 of 1915	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.4	611 of 1858	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.2	635 of 1833	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.0	758 of 1760	56.9%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	74.2	413 of 1900	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	40.6	1143 of 1902	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.1	1265 of 1917	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.6	1047 of 1814	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.3	1004 of 1742	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	79.3	346 of 2013	82.8%	★★★★☆
2024	46.3	1041 of 2026	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.2	802 of 2030	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.4	636 of 1943	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	51.6	891 of 1937	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.7	626 of 1862	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	81.5	339 of 1942	82.5%	★★★★☆
2024	64.4	606 of 1948	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.1	570 of 1963	71.0%	★★★★☆
2022	84.7	246 of 1916	87.2%	★★★★☆
2019	75.9	396 of 1880	78.9%	★★★★☆
2018	94.5	105 of 1834	94.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	70.8	207 of 1197	82.7%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	21.3	940 of 1173	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.5	865 of 1193	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.2	629 of 1204	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.9	416 of 1222	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.8	429 of 1173	63.4%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Male (2024)83rd percentile+17 vs school

Asian (2024)39th percentile-27 vs school

Middle school

Male (2025)71st percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)52nd percentile-14 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)44th percentile-22 vs school

Asian (2025)30th percentile-36 vs school

Hispanic (2025)25th percentile-41 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)83rd percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2023)83rd percentile+13 vs school

Male (2025)83rd percentile-4 vs school

Female (2025)82nd percentile-4 vs school

Hispanic (2025)78th percentile-8 vs school

Asian (2025)32nd percentile-54 vs school

White (2024)20th percentile-43 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy58%+9 vs state

Mathematics40%+3 vs state

Science39%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Circle of Independent Learning

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)								% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Circle of Independent Learning	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4700 Calaveras Ave.	Fremont	94538	Alameda County	Fremont Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 797-0100	394	17	23.7	46.2%	50 (12.7%)	20 (5.1%)	102 (25.9%)	195 (49.5%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.3%)	17 (4.3%)								(n/a)	38.5	35.0		38.3	38.7		57.1	61.5	70.0	47.4	42.5	67.3	57.8		42.9	30.8	50.0	21.1	32.5	50.9	40.5							$22,030	$78	$21,952
California School for the Deaf-Fremont	Public, Alternative	K-12	39350 Gallaudet Dr.	Fremont	94538	Alameda County	California School for the Deaf-Fremont (State Special Schl)	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 794-3666	279	65	4.3	98.9%	50 (17.9%)	16 (5.7%)	161 (57.7%)	30 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	18 (6.5%)								(n/a)		0.0	0.0		5.7				0.0		8.3	15.8	11.4				0.0		0.0	0.0	4.2
California School for the Blind	Public, Alternative	K-12	500 Walnut Ave.	Fremont	94536	Alameda County	California School for the Blind (State Special Schl)	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 794-3800	42	8	5.2	40.5%	5 (11.9%)	1 (2.4%)	25 (59.5%)	9 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.4%)	1 (2.4%)								(n/a)													22.2								6.3
Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	703 C St.	Union City	94587	Alameda County	Connecting Waters Charter - East Bay District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 874-1119	540	30	17.9	30.4%	115 (21.3%)	21 (3.9%)	48 (8.9%)	242 (44.8%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	108 (20.0%)								(n/a)	57.9	40.5	57.9		52.5	60.0	55.6	71.1	73.8	66.7	69.1	92.1	69.8	55.0	66.7	55.3	50.0	57.1	47.6	50.0	54.3	56.8	65.9	81.8	65.9	61.4	65.9	$12,990	$143	$12,847
Decoto School for Independent Study	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	725 Whipple Rd.	Union City	94587	Alameda County	New Haven Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(510) 476-2696	233	10	23.0	65.2%	21 (9.0%)	15 (6.4%)	101 (43.3%)	73 (31.3%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.4%)	13 (5.6%)								(n/a)			48.7		42.9					57.1		53.9	60.0					35.7		43.6	43.5							$23,914	$2,348	$21,566
Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori	Public, Charter, Alternative	1-12	951 Palisade St.	Hayward	94542	Alameda County	Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 370-3334	643	18	34.9	37.9%	94 (14.6%)	23 (3.6%)	297 (46.2%)	91 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	131 (20.4%)								(n/a)	28.9	30.0		20.0	26.9	40.0	41.7	37.8	50.0	47.6	38.3	33.3	41.5	44.4	35.4	24.4	40.0	34.9	31.7	7.1	31.9							$15,892	$1,422	$14,470
Alameda County Community	Public, Alternative	K-12	313 West Winton Ave.	Hayward	94544	Alameda County	Alameda County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 670-4590	73	5	13.8	58.9%	2 (2.7%)	8 (11.0%)	55 (75.3%)	5 (6.8%)	1 (1.4%)	1 (1.4%)	1 (1.4%)								(n/a)		0.0			0.0						7.1	9.1	7.1						0.0		0.0							$101,571	$31,752	$69,819
The Pleasanton Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	4750 First St.	Pleasanton	94566	Alameda County	Pleasanton Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(925) 426-4260	138	9	15.2	14.5%	51 (37.0%)	2 (1.4%)	20 (14.5%)	46 (33.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	18 (13.0%)								(n/a)			41.2		61.5						90.9	72.2	85.5						81.8	44.4	71.7							$9,829	$289	$9,540
Santa Clara County Special Education	Public, Alternative	K-12	1290 Ridder Park Dr. MC273	San Jose	95131	Santa Clara County	Santa Clara County Office of Education	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(408) 453-6542	771	108	7.1	47.6%	108 (14.0%)	34 (4.4%)	343 (44.5%)	269 (34.9%)	3 (0.4%)	6 (0.8%)	8 (1.0%)								(n/a)					0.0				0.0				0.0				0.0				0.0	70.0	75.0	82.5	70.0	70.0	70.0	$145,936	$2,591	$143,345
Packard Children's Hospital/Stanford	Public, Alternative	K-12	725 Welch Rd.	Palo Alto	94304	Santa Clara County	Palo Alto Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(650) 497-8230	15	3	4.9	20.0%	4 (26.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (53.3%)	1 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (13.3%)								(n/a)																												$67,732	$947	$66,785

Frequently Asked Questions about Circle of Independent Learning

What district is Circle of Independent Learning in?

Fremont Unified

Is Circle of Independent Learning a good school?

Circle of Independent Learning ranks 1525^th of 5857 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Circle of Independent Learning?

In the 2024-25 school year, 394 students attended Circle of Independent Learning.

What is the racial makeup of Circle of Independent Learning?

Students at Circle of Independent Learning are 49% Asian, 26% Hispanic, 13% White, 5% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.