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Making Waves Academy

Q: Is Making Waves Academy a good school?

Making Waves Academy ranks 618 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 5-12

618^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 71% of California high schools

Summary

Making Waves Academy is a public charter high school serving 1,078 students in grades 5-12 in Richmond, CA, and it stands out for achieving strong academic results while serving a community where a high percentage of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school performs well above most other local schools with similar student populations, ranking in the 71st percentile statewide. It has a strong 86% graduation rate, a very low dropout rate of 3.2%, and significantly fewer students are chronically absent compared to the state average and nearby schools like John F. Kennedy High or Richmond High. It is particularly effective in supporting Hispanic students, students from low-income families, and English Learners, with these groups ranking in the top percentiles statewide. A key factor is its substantial funding, spending over $24,000 per student, which supports smaller classes and extensive student services.

While the school excels in many areas, math proficiency remains a challenge, lagging behind the state average—a common issue across the Richmond area. An interesting comparison is Middle College High, a nearby school that achieves exceptional results with far less funding, suggesting program design is also crucial. Overall, Making Waves Academy in the Making Waves Academy District is a high-performing option that demonstrates what is possible with significant resources and targeted support for students in need.

1,078

Students ?

19.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

79.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4123 Lakeside Dr.
Richmond, CA 94806-1942

(510) 262-1511

District: Making Waves Academy District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

87.6%

African American:

6.8%

Asian:

3.9%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Making Waves Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 71st percentile in 2019 → 71st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the California median (71st percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school36%

California avg41%

Middle school

1,425^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 48%▲ up 1 pts since 2019

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

618^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 29%▲ up 1 pts since 2019

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

552^nd of 1,543Making Waves Academy District 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.2	1425 of 2761	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.9	1074 of 2783	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.2	1334 of 2781	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.1	1859 of 2740	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.3	553 of 894	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.3	1438 of 2715	47.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	74.1	121 of 627	80.7%	★★★★☆
2023	74.7	104 of 613	83.0%	★★★★☆
2022	66.8	171 of 637	73.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	44.0	669 of 1531	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.8	244 of 354	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	64.1	222 of 1478	85.0%	★★★★☆
2023	62.3	241 of 1521	84.2%	★★★★☆
2022	43.0	659 of 1540	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.9	121 of 363	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.4	286 of 1442	80.2%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	44.4	1256 of 2533	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.3	1028 of 2551	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.8	1189 of 2531	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.3	1722 of 2509	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.2	456 of 738	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.6	1405 of 2380	41.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.9	896 of 2395	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.4	606 of 2388	74.6%	★★★★☆
2023	55.0	841 of 2374	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	34.6	1472 of 2359	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.5	699 of 2213	68.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.3	829 of 2542	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.0	647 of 2579	74.9%	★★★★☆
2023	57.3	814 of 2531	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	38.3	1391 of 2458	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	52.1	279 of 721	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.2	777 of 2369	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.4	1426 of 2534	43.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.4	991 of 2552	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.7	1263 of 2538	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.4	1721 of 2527	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.6	458 of 763	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.7	1218 of 2407	49.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	54.7	472 of 1531	69.2%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	69.1	618 of 2162	71.4%	★★★★☆
2024	70.4	561 of 2159	74.0%	★★★★☆
2023	54.9	871 of 2170	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.0	695 of 2123	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.9	649 of 1290	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.8	622 of 2133	70.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	74.8	99 of 1085	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	27.1	928 of 1064	12.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	66.5	133 of 1044	87.3%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	67.4	571 of 1906	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	69.3	510 of 1915	73.4%	★★★★☆
2023	46.7	964 of 1915	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.5	572 of 1858	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.8	628 of 1054	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.8	718 of 1833	60.8%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.2	353 of 1900	81.4%	★★★★☆
2024	80.7	283 of 1902	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	66.8	536 of 1917	72.0%	★★★★☆
2022	71.9	396 of 1861	78.7%	★★★★☆
2019	80.3	266 of 1814	85.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	76.0	413 of 2013	79.5%	★★★★☆
2024	79.2	345 of 2026	83.0%	★★★★☆
2023	66.8	542 of 2030	73.3%	★★★★☆
2022	71.1	423 of 1943	78.2%	★★★★☆
2021	52.2	517 of 1126	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	80.6	279 of 1937	85.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	66.9	568 of 1942	70.8%	★★★★☆
2024	66.6	566 of 1948	70.9%	★★★★☆
2023	59.2	687 of 1963	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	753 of 1916	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	46.9	552 of 1122	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.4	474 of 1880	74.8%	★★★★☆

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)

Middle school

English Language Learner (2024)85th percentile+24 vs school

African American (2024)81st percentile+19 vs school

Special Education (2023)69th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)67th percentile+19 vs school

Hispanic (2025)63rd percentile+14 vs school

Disabled (2022)56th percentile+24 vs school

Female (2025)50th percentile~ school

Male (2025)44th percentile-5 vs school

High school

English Language Learner (2024)91st percentile+17 vs school

Hispanic (2025)81st percentile+10 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2025)71st percentile~ school

Female (2025)70th percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy47%~ state avg

Science33%~ state avg

Mathematics27%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Making Waves 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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)						Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)						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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 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 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	Total
Making Waves Academy	Public, Charter	5-12	4123 Lakeside Dr.	Richmond	94806	Contra Costa County	Making Waves Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 262-1511	1,078	56	19.1	79.9%	15 (1.4%)	73 (6.8%)	944 (87.6%)	42 (3.9%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	69.1	618^th of 2162 public high schools	71.4%		70.4	561^st of 2159 public high schools	74.0%	57	30.2	23.5	48.2		32.9	42.5	37.8	52.7	36.8	67.9	47.2	28.6	21.8	38.0	25.8	19.6	27.4
Summit Public School: Tamalpais	Public, Charter	7-12	3020 Hilltop Mall Rd.	Richmond	94806	Contra Costa County	Summit Public School: Tamalpais District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 374-4185	629	25	24.8	78.2%	16 (2.5%)	43 (6.8%)	491 (78.1%)	56 (8.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	20 (3.2%)	39.8	1263^rd of 2162 public high schools	41.6%		46.5	1086^th of 2159 public high schools	49.7%	177		17.4		27.5	22.0			27.0	32.7	37.1	32.1			24.8	13.6	6.4	15.3
Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	3040 Hilltop Mall Rd.	Richmond	94806	Contra Costa County	Aspire Richmond Ca. College Preparatory Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 684-8900	590	24	24.5	85.3%	8 (1.4%)	54 (9.2%)	434 (73.6%)	40 (6.8%)	2 (0.3%)	3 (0.5%)	49 (8.3%)	42.8	1192^nd of 2162 public high schools	44.9%		39.1	1262^nd of 2159 public high schools	41.5%	70		12.0	20.9		15.7		26.9	24.0	25.3	52.2	30.6		21.5	21.1	6.7	16.4	16.6
Middle College High	Public	9-12	2600 Mission Bell Dr.	San Pablo	94806	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 215-3881	294	10	30.6	65.0%	17 (5.8%)	29 (9.9%)	147 (50.0%)	84 (28.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (5.1%)	96.7	63^rd of 2162 public high schools	97.1%		97.2	63^rd of 2159 public high schools	97.1%				62.3		62.3					94.2	94.2					59.4	59.4
Pinole Valley High	Public	9-12	2900 Pinole Valley Rd.	Pinole	94564	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1442	1,245	50	24.7	61.8%	126 (10.1%)	181 (14.5%)	639 (51.3%)	228 (18.3%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	59 (4.7%)	71.6	567^th of 2162 public high schools	73.8%		57.9	818^th of 2159 public high schools	62.1%	251										58.0	58.0					38.4	38.4
Richmond High	Public	9-12	1250 23rd St.	Richmond	94804	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1450	1,280	57	22.3	96.8%	18 (1.4%)	59 (4.6%)	1,144 (89.4%)	39 (3.0%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.4%)	10 (0.8%)	29.7	1493^rd of 2162 public high schools	30.9%		21.8	1659^th of 2159 public high schools	23.2%	166			18.1	9.5	17.5					39.6	39.6					8.6	8.6
De Anza High	Public	9-12	5000 Valley View Rd.	Richmond	94803	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1440	1,047	46	22.9	86.1%	70 (6.7%)	182 (17.4%)	563 (53.8%)	179 (17.1%)	2 (0.2%)	7 (0.7%)	43 (4.1%)	28.9	1504^th of 2162 public high schools	30.4%		22.1	1646^th of 2159 public high schools	23.8%	142			15.2		15.2					37.0	37.0					12.3	12.3
Leadership Public Schools: Richmond	Public, Charter	9-12	880 Bissell Ave.	Richmond	94801	Contra Costa County	Leadership Public Schools: Richmond District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 235-4522	546	26	21.2	65.4%	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.4%)	522 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	8 (1.5%)	51.5	1006^th of 2162 public high schools	53.5%		46.8	1081^st of 2159 public high schools	49.9%	75			9.7		9.7					55.7	55.7					34.2	34.2
Greenwood Academy	Public	9-12	831 Chanslor Ave.	Richmond	94801	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1402	200	11	17.8	93.5%	9 (4.5%)	48 (24.0%)	126 (63.0%)	5 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	8 (4.0%)	8.3	2103^rd of 2162 public high schools	2.7%		9.2	2115^th of 2159 public high schools	2.0%	12			0.0	0.0	0.0					4.0	4.0					1.4	1.4
John F. Kennedy High	Public	9-12	4300 Cutting Blvd.	Richmond	94804	Contra Costa County	West Contra Costa Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(510) 231-1433	740	38	19.2	59.9%	8 (1.1%)	108 (14.6%)	557 (75.3%)	35 (4.7%)	7 (0.9%)	11 (1.5%)	11 (1.5%)	13.2	1875^th of 2162 public high schools	13.3%		16.2	1783^rd of 2159 public high schools	17.4%	92			1.8	0.0	1.5					15.7	15.7					8.8	8.8

Frequently Asked Questions about Making Waves Academy

Is Making Waves Academy a good school?

Making Waves Academy ranks 618^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Making Waves Academy?

Students at Making Waves Academy are 88% Hispanic, 7% African American, 4% Asian, 1% White.

How many students attend Making Waves Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,078 students attended Making Waves Academy.

What district is Making Waves Academy in?

Making Waves Academy District

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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.