Venture Academy

Venture Academy is a K-12 alternative school serving 1,657 students in Stockton, operating as its own Venture Academy District with a student-teacher ratio of 21:1 and serving a predominantly economically disadvantaged population.

The school has two standout strengths: it graduates students at a rate well above the state average (92.8% vs. 86.4%) and has remarkably low chronic absenteeism (10.2% vs. 19.4% state average), significantly outperforming nearby alternative schools like Independence (48.9% absenteeism). However, academic proficiency in core subjects like English and Math lags behind state averages, creating an interesting contrast where students are present and graduating but test scores remain a challenge. This pattern differs from a nearby online option, California Online Public Schools Northern California, which has higher test scores but lower graduation rates and higher absenteeism.

Compared to other schools sharing its location on Transworld Drive, Venture Academy's outcomes are distinct. For instance, one.Charter has much lower proficiency and graduation rates, while San Joaquin County Community has a significantly higher dropout rate. The school's per-student spending is moderate compared to peers—higher than the online school but lower than ABLE Charter. This suggests Venture Academy has developed effective support systems for attendance and graduation, which are critical for its student population, while academic achievement remains an area for growth.