Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley

Connecting Waters Charter School - Central Valley is a K-12 alternative public charter school in Modesto serving 776 students, operating as its own district, and stands out for its exceptional success in keeping students engaged and graduating them on time.

The school's most remarkable strengths are its near-perfect student attendance and high graduation rates; with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 0.5% and a 94.8% graduation rate, it dramatically outperforms both the state average and nearby alternative schools like Valley Oak Online Learning Academy (47% absenteeism) and California Online Public Schools Northern California (75.9% graduation). It even outperforms its sister school, Connecting Waters Charter in Waterford, in these key areas, suggesting particularly effective support systems at the Central Valley campus.

While the school excels at engagement, its standardized test scores in math, English, and science are generally below state averages, a common pattern among some alternative schools. However, it achieves these strong attendance and graduation outcomes with lower per-student spending than many comparable schools, such as Keyes to Learning Charter, indicating efficient use of resources. This profile makes Connecting Waters a compelling option for families seeking a supportive environment that prioritizes consistent participation and high school completion.