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Murrieta Canyon Academy

Public, Alternative Grades K-12

265^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Alternative Schools

Better than 90% of California alternative schools

Summary

Murrieta Canyon Academy is a small, K-12 alternative public school serving 296 students within the well-regarded Murrieta Valley Unified school district, notable for its high graduation rates and significant investment per student.

The school presents a complex picture with some clear strengths and challenges. On the positive side, it boasts a very high graduation rate of over 96%, exceeding the state average, and offers small class sizes with a low student-teacher ratio. However, it struggles with an extremely high rate of chronic student absenteeism, more than double the district and state averages, and academic performance varies dramatically by grade. For example, middle school students often outperform their peers in the district, while 11th-grade proficiency rates, especially in math, are very low. Compared to nearby schools like Temecula Preparatory or Santa Rosa Academy, Murrieta Canyon Academy spends significantly more per student but has much higher absenteeism.

In summary, Murrieta Canyon Academy serves a high-need population and is highly successful at ensuring students graduate, likely through flexible and supportive programs. Yet, the severe attendance issues and uneven test scores, particularly in high school, indicate ongoing challenges in consistent engagement and academic preparation. Its profile is distinct from other local alternative schools, combining high investment and graduation success with significant hurdles in student attendance.

296

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$40,045

Per pupil spending ?

62.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

24150 Hayes Ave.
Murrieta, CA 92562-9461

(951) 696-1661

District: Murrieta Valley Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

49.7%

White:

30.7%

Two or more races:

7.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Murrieta Canyon Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 69th percentile in 2022 → 35th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 10% of California alternative schools

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

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (38% vs 19% California)

!Ranking has slipped — down 34 percentile points since 2022

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg54%

California avg41%

Middle school

265^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 10%▲ up 21 pts since 2022

From top 31% (2022) to top 10% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

1,404^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 35%▼ down 40 pts since 2015

From top 25% (2015) to bottom 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

322^nd of 1,543Murrieta Valley 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
2024	62.7	1944 of 5869	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.2	2002 of 5859	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.6	2097 of 5883	64.4%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	56.7	2097 of 5609	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.9	1897 of 5635	66.3%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	70.2	1176 of 5087	76.9%	★★★★☆
2022	60.7	1604 of 5084	68.5%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	62.0	1682 of 5517	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.4	2409 of 5363	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.0	1568 of 5264	70.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	70.7	1473 of 5643	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	60.1	1939 of 5638	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.7	2202 of 5663	61.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	41.1	1705 of 2726	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.5	265 of 2761	90.4%	★★★★★
2024	60.7	866 of 2783	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.1	841 of 2781	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.5	842 of 2740	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	91.6	205 of 2533	91.9%	★★★★★
2024	71.9	597 of 2551	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	51.6	1016 of 2531	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.1	966 of 2509	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	98.9	21 of 2395	99.1%	★★★★★
2023	51.5	943 of 2374	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	58.2	773 of 2359	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	93.6	111 of 2542	95.6%	★★★★★
2024	43.5	1246 of 2579	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.8	363 of 2531	85.7%	★★★★☆
2022	56.4	825 of 2458	66.4%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	310 of 2534	87.8%	★★★★☆
2023	71.3	591 of 2538	76.7%	★★★★☆
2022	67.1	680 of 2527	73.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	29.4	1110 of 1555	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.8	1404 of 2162	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.2	1482 of 2159	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.5	1359 of 2170	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	33.7	1337 of 2123	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.0	1388 of 2133	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.8	1414 of 2017	29.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	27.8	1410 of 2021	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2016	69.7	573 of 2039	71.9%	★★★★☆
2015	72.8	492 of 1994	75.3%	★★★★☆
2013	61.2	510 of 2426	79.0%	★★★★☆
2012	49.5	812 of 2354	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	71.3	284 of 2367	88.0%	★★★★☆
2010	53.6	659 of 2281	71.1%	★★★★☆
2009	60.3	465 of 2238	79.2%	★★★★☆
2008	69.0	288 of 2117	86.4%	★★★★☆
2007	81.0	109 of 2063	94.7%	★★★★★
2006	66.4	345 of 1968	82.5%	★★★★☆
2005	75.9	146 of 1901	92.3%	★★★★★
2004	79.4	78 of 1653	95.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.0	1192 of 1906	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.4	1451 of 1915	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	42.7	1042 of 1915	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.3	1245 of 1858	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.7	1338 of 1833	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.4	1300 of 1760	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.6	1192 of 1900	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.2	1193 of 1902	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.4	1236 of 1917	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.3	1307 of 1861	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.6	1256 of 1814	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	23.6	1267 of 1742	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	31.2	1397 of 2013	30.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.4	1333 of 2026	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.5	1424 of 2030	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	34.6	1256 of 1943	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.7	1308 of 1937	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.0	1330 of 1862	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	28.9	1358 of 1942	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.3	1279 of 1948	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.3	1481 of 1963	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.3	1240 of 1916	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.9	1227 of 1880	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	18.7	1396 of 1834	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	24.6	899 of 1155	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.8	878 of 1193	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.8	929 of 1204	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.2	1003 of 1222	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.1	1004 of 1173	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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

Hispanic (2023)77th percentile+11 vs school

Male (2024)74th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)70th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2023)63rd percentile-3 vs school

White (2022)37th percentile-27 vs school

Middle school

Hispanic (2025)99th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)96th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)92nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)88th percentile-3 vs school

White (2022)29th percentile-41 vs school

High school

Female (2025)37th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)37th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)31st percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)30th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)22nd percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy59%+11 vs state

Science41%+9 vs state

Mathematics34%-4 vs state

★

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Schools Near Murrieta Canyon Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 (2025)
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 10th 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
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	$40,045	$39,996	$49
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							$24,679	$24,540	$139
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
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
Elite Academic Academy - Lucerne	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	43414 Business Park Dr.	Temecula	92590	Riverside County	Elite Academic Academy - Lucerne District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(866) 354-8302	1,070	68	15.6	55.4%	367 (34.3%)	114 (10.7%)	435 (40.7%)	35 (3.3%)	5 (0.5%)	7 (0.7%)	106 (9.9%)								(n/a)	34.7	49.1		48.7		44.8	48.2	44.1	45.8	50.5	61.8	57.0	66.7	54.0	39.3	39.7	29.6	35.2	56.4	47.2	46.1	42.7	30.0	43.3	55.0	35.0	38.3	38.3	$37,199	$36,856	$343
Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire	Public, Virtual, Charter, Alternative	K-12	43414 Business Park Dr.	Temecula	92590	Riverside County	Elite Academic Academy - Mountain Empire District	Yes	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(866) 354-8302	979	71	13.8	46.9%	442 (45.1%)	44 (4.5%)	324 (33.1%)	26 (2.7%)	4 (0.4%)	3 (0.3%)	132 (13.5%)								(n/a)	48.7	49.5		42.9		47.7	53.9	50.8	51.3	52.9	61.8	55.7	62.9	55.6	52.3	52.4	49.3	43.1	49.4	41.8	43.6	46.9	31.2	39.3	60.7	37.7	41.0	37.7	$33,320	$33,050	$270
JCS - Pine Hills	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	29141 Vallejo Ave.	Temecula	92592	Riverside County	JCS - Pine Hills District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 765-5500	745	41	18.3	43.4%	330 (44.3%)	32 (4.3%)	260 (34.9%)	19 (2.6%)	13 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	88 (11.8%)								(n/a)	30.0	35.3	55.8			41.2	49.0	36.4	54.0	42.9	56.9	54.9	69.7	52.1	52.9	33.3	32.0	34.7	29.4	33.3	42.4	37.0	58.9	63.0	74.0	61.6	63.0	58.9	$30,582	$30,236	$346
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Murrieta Canyon Academy

What district is Murrieta Canyon Academy in?

Murrieta Valley Unified

Is Murrieta Canyon Academy a good school?

Yes. Murrieta Canyon Academy ranks in the top 9.6% of California alternative schools.

What is the racial makeup of Murrieta Canyon Academy?

Students at Murrieta Canyon Academy are 50% Hispanic, 31% White, 7% Two or more races, 6% African American, 5% Asian, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Murrieta Canyon Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 296 students attended Murrieta Canyon Academy.

Rate Murrieta Canyon Academy!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.