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Keith McCarthy Academy

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

5013^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Alternative Schools

Better than 14% of California alternative schools

Summary

Keith McCarthy Academy is a K-12 alternative school serving 332 students in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, an area where many families face economic challenges.

The school presents a unique profile: while its students' scores on state tests in English, math, and science are significantly lower than those at nearby schools like Temecula Preparatory or Santa Rosa Academy, it excels in other critical areas. Keith McCarthy has achieved a remarkable 96.3% graduation rate, which now surpasses both district and state averages, and has dramatically reduced chronic student absenteeism to a rate better than most comparisons.

This combination of high graduation success alongside lower test scores suggests the school is highly effective at supporting student persistence and completion. Compared to other local alternatives such as Val Verde Academy, Keith McCarthy shows a strong, positive trend in keeping students engaged and on track to graduate, indicating a school culture focused on overcoming barriers to education.

332

Students ?

18.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,602

Per pupil spending ?

78.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1405 Education Way
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530-2711

(951) 253-7777

District: Lake Elsinore Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

56.6%

White:

30.1%

Two or more races:

4.8%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Keith McCarthy Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 34th percentile in 2022 → 16th in 2025

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (13% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 18 percentile points since 2022

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school13%

District avg30%

California avg41%

Elementary school

5,013^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 14%▲ up 4 pts since 2023

From bottom 10% (2023) to bottom 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

2,646^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 4%▼ down 14 pts since 2016

From bottom 18% (2016) to bottom 4% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

1,809^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 14 pts since 2015

From bottom 30% (2015) to bottom 16% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1075^th of 1,543Lake Elsinore 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	18.0	5013 of 5857	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	16.4	5176 of 5869	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	15.5	5266 of 5859	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	14.9	5131 of 5612	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.9	5379 of 5609	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	3599 of 5107	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.1	4174 of 5107	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.4	4156 of 5087	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	14.1	5114 of 5460	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.3	5246 of 5517	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	11.4	5226 of 5363	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	19.6	4765 of 5643	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	22.6	4481 of 5638	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	9.1	2646 of 2761	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.1	2661 of 2783	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.1	2355 of 2781	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.0	2451 of 2740	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	2439 of 2715	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.6	2335 of 2480	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	16.8	2157 of 2508	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	19.8	2037 of 2497	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	25.0	500 of 637	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	17.5	1516 of 1531	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	7.7	2489 of 2533	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.6	2476 of 2551	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.7	2126 of 2531	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	13.3	2332 of 2509	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.0	2287 of 2380	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	7.9	2203 of 2262	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.1	2246 of 2395	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.7	2313 of 2388	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.0	2026 of 2374	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.4	2077 of 2359	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	8.4	2475 of 2542	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	8.9	2517 of 2579	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.1	2392 of 2531	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	13.1	2323 of 2458	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	31.4	1628 of 2369	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.0	2367 of 2534	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	11.4	2431 of 2552	4.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.3	2168 of 2538	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	17.9	2159 of 2527	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	6.9	1467 of 1537	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.8	1517 of 1555	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	14.9	1809 of 2162	16.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.6	1691 of 2159	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.8	1676 of 2170	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.9	1404 of 2123	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.0	1488 of 2133	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	24.1	1448 of 2017	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	17.2	1548 of 2021	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.3	1313 of 2039	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	27.0	1394 of 1994	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	23.2	1533 of 2426	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	23.9	1473 of 2354	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	20.6	1617 of 2367	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	18.6	1674 of 2281	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	61.9	412 of 2238	81.6%	★★★★☆
2008	53.5	599 of 2117	71.7%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	14.2	1616 of 1906	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	20.7	1509 of 1915	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.0	1445 of 1915	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.9	1166 of 1858	37.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	27.1	1325 of 1833	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.6	1370 of 1760	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	13.0	1653 of 1900	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.4	1495 of 1902	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.7	1553 of 1917	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.2	1219 of 1861	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	18.0	1443 of 1814	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.3	1230 of 1742	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	11.2	1822 of 2013	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	18.9	1639 of 2026	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	1596 of 2030	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.2	1409 of 1943	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.7	1438 of 1937	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	33.6	1262 of 1862	32.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.8	1667 of 1942	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.7	1585 of 1948	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.6	1673 of 1963	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.1	1458 of 1916	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.2	1370 of 1880	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.0	1360 of 1834	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	20.4	1077 of 1216	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	6.4	1076 of 1155	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	10.8	1050 of 1173	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	9.4	1084 of 1193	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	14.7	1042 of 1204	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.7	994 of 1222	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	9.5	1044 of 1173	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

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

Hispanic (2025)30th percentile+15 vs school

Male (2024)16th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2024)9th percentile-3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)6th percentile-8 vs school

Middle school

African American (2022)22nd percentile+11 vs school

Male (2025)7th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)6th percentile~ school

White (2024)5th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)3rd percentile~ school

Female (2025)2nd percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)1st percentile-10 vs school

High school

Female (2025)15th percentile~ school

Male (2025)14th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)13th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2024)11th percentile-10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)9th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)7th percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy24%-25 vs state

Mathematics6%-31 vs state

Science5%-28 vs state

★

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Schools Near Keith McCarthy Academy

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
Keith McCarthy Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	1405 Education Way	Lake Elsinore	92530	Riverside County	Lake Elsinore Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(951) 253-7777	332	18	18.4	78.9%	100 (30.1%)	15 (4.5%)	188 (56.6%)	9 (2.7%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	16 (4.8%)								(n/a)	6.7	4.7	5.0		5.1	30.8	14.3	53.3	25.8	11.1	20.5	25.9	23.7	23.1	7.1	13.3	10.0	0.0	4.7	3.3	6.2							$15,602	$3,464	$12,138
Santa Rosa Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	27587 La Piedra Rd.	Menifee	92584	Riverside County	Santa Rosa Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 672-2400	1,736	76	22.6	24.1%	575 (33.1%)	79 (4.6%)	848 (48.8%)	106 (6.1%)	7 (0.4%)	5 (0.3%)	116 (6.7%)								(n/a)	46.9	43.9	34.6		41.5	62.4	58.1	60.4	54.4	62.6	55.6	52.2	57.8	61.5	60.2	43.6	33.7	40.1	38.6	26.5	41.5	93.9	97.4	94.7	95.6	96.5	96.5	$11,238	$356	$10,882
Murrieta Canyon Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	24150 Hayes Ave.	Murrieta	92562	Riverside County	Murrieta Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 696-1661	296	24	12.2	62.5%	91 (30.7%)	18 (6.1%)	147 (49.7%)	16 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	21 (7.1%)								(n/a)		60.7	30.9		41.5				75.0	86.4	74.1	34.0	59.4				43.8	60.9	57.1	3.9	33.6	84.2	84.2	89.5	84.2	84.2	86.8	$20,992	$260	$20,732
Val Verde Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	972 Morgan St.	Perris	92571	Riverside County	Val Verde Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(951) 443-2450	151	11	13.8	85.4%	6 (4.0%)	19 (12.6%)	116 (76.8%)	2 (1.3%)	1 (0.7%)	3 (2.0%)	3 (2.0%)								(n/a)		18.8	31.6		25.7						43.8	73.7	60.4						18.8	10.5	18.8	96.7		96.7		96.7		$20,362	$491	$19,871
MethodSchools	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	38750 Sky Canyon Dr.	Murrieta	92563	Riverside County	MethodSchools District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(951) 461-4620	428	16	27.5	41.1%	179 (41.8%)	33 (7.7%)	172 (40.2%)	13 (3.0%)	5 (1.2%)	6 (1.4%)	15 (3.5%)								(n/a)	36.4	31.1	39.0		35.1		45.0	36.4	33.3	37.0	36.5	52.6	42.4		30.0	27.3	29.6	39.7	28.4	52.1	39.4							$18,309	$663	$17,646
Method Schools LA	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	27232 Via Industria	Temecula	92590	Riverside County	Method Schools LA District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(951) 461-4620	227	16	14.0	50.7%	89 (39.2%)	27 (11.9%)	87 (38.3%)	10 (4.4%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.4%)								(n/a)		33.3	40.4	16.7	35.8				13.3		25.0	64.4	48.8				20.0		45.8	50.9	45.1							$29,042	$966	$28,076
Temecula Preparatory	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	35777 Abelia St.	Winchester	92596	Riverside County	Temecula Preparatory District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 926-6776	1,086	54	20.1	15.7%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)	60.9	44.1	71.2		57.0	69.1	75.0	69.0	75.6	69.3	64.5	90.5	72.9	66.7	64.3	65.5	62.8	52.3	33.3	51.4	56.3	96.9				96.9		$12,020	$408	$11,612
Harbor Springs Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	27740 Jefferson Ave.	Temecula	92590	Riverside County	Harbor Springs Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 252-8800	299	17	17.6	60.5%	104 (34.8%)	23 (7.7%)	126 (42.1%)	22 (7.4%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (7.0%)								(n/a)	30.4	41.4			37.7	47.1	41.7	47.8	76.5	54.2	58.6	54.6	53.8	50.0	20.8	34.8	47.1	37.5	34.5	36.4	36.1	32.0	32.0	32.0	36.0	32.0	32.0
Empire Springs Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	27740 Jefferson Ave.	Temecula	92590	Riverside County	Empire Springs Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 252-8800	1,854	66	28.0	60.6%	547 (29.5%)	129 (7.0%)	988 (53.3%)	59 (3.2%)	10 (0.5%)	11 (0.6%)	110 (5.9%)								(n/a)	23.6	39.2	37.8		33.8	32.6	37.3	43.9	39.7	54.7	49.7	61.0	45.5	33.3	24.8	21.3	32.8	40.2	29.8	34.0	31.5	57.4	57.4	57.4	60.5	57.4	57.4
River Springs Charter	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	27740 Jefferson Ave.	Temecula	92590	Riverside County	River Springs Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(951) 252-8800	7,703	299	25.7	59.2%	2,465 (32.0%)	396 (5.1%)	4,132 (53.6%)	193 (2.5%)	22 (0.3%)	17 (0.2%)	478 (6.2%)								(n/a)	25.2	25.6	28.1		25.8	37.6	41.1	39.8	40.3	45.7	44.5	60.8	42.4	35.6	37.8	20.2	24.2	29.1	23.4	20.7	28.2	80.1	80.1	80.1	80.1	80.1	80.1

Frequently Asked Questions about Keith McCarthy Academy

How many students attend Keith McCarthy Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 332 students attended Keith McCarthy Academy.

Is Keith McCarthy Academy a good school?

Keith McCarthy Academy ranks in the bottom 14.4% of California alternative schools.

What is the racial makeup of Keith McCarthy Academy?

Students at Keith McCarthy Academy are 57% Hispanic, 30% White, 5% Two or more races, 5% African American, 3% Asian.

What district is Keith McCarthy Academy in?

Lake Elsinore Unified

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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.