ACE Charter High District

The ACE Charter High District consists of a single charter high school, ACE Charter High, serving grades 9-12 in San Jose, California, with a notable 90% of its 313 students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

This school stands out for its significant recent improvement, having risen in statewide rankings from the 19th to the 35th percentile over three years, and for its substantial per-student spending of over $18,000, which is well above the state average. Despite these resources and positive momentum, the school faces considerable challenges, including academic proficiency rates in math and science that are less than half the state average, a high chronic absenteeism rate of 48.4%, and a graduation rate that, while improving, remains below the state average.

Key takeaways for parents include understanding that the school is showing progress in a difficult context, but major hurdles in student attendance and academic achievement persist. The data suggests that addressing chronic absenteeism should be a critical focus, as it likely impacts both dropout rates and test scores. While the school's trajectory is improving, families should consider how the school's specific support systems align with their student's needs to navigate these challenges successfully.