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Verdugo Academy

Q: Is Verdugo Academy a good school?

Verdugo Academy ranks 627 th of 2761 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades K-12

627^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Alternative Schools

Better than 77% of California alternative schools

Summary

Verdugo Academy is a small, K-12 alternative public school in Glendale, serving about 135 students within the high-performing Glendale Unified district, and it stands out for its exceptional strength in English Language Arts and its success in getting students to attend class regularly.

The school's performance is a story of notable strengths and significant challenges. Students at Verdugo Academy excel in English, scoring well above both the district and state averages, and they have a remarkably low rate of chronic absenteeism, especially when compared to other alternative schools like College View (which shares its campus) or CIS Academy in Pasadena Unified. However, the school struggles with mathematics proficiency, which lags behind the district average, and has a high and fluctuating dropout rate that is a major concern for student retention.

When compared to similar schools in other districts, such as those in Los Angeles Unified, Verdugo Academy often performs better academically and with far better attendance, though it operates with much lower per-student spending than its Glendale peers like Jewel City Community Day. This paints a picture of a relatively cost-effective program that successfully engages many students in learning, particularly in English, but one that must urgently address its math gap and work to ensure more students stay in school and graduate.

135

Students ?

17.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,905

Per pupil spending ?

53.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1700 East Mountain St.
Glendale, CA 91207-1246

(818) 548-0740

District: Glendale Unified

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.7%

Hispanic:

25.9%

Asian:

11.1%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Verdugo Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 52nd percentile in 2024 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (51% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 23% of California alternative schools

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 67th (2025) from a 52nd-percentile low (2024)

Worth a look

!Graduation rate below the California average (79% vs 88%)

!Dropout rate above the California average (15% vs 8%)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school51%

District avg54%

California avg41%

Middle school

627^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 23%▼ down 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

708^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 33%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From top 27% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

352^nd of 1,543Glendale 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	54.6	2315 of 5869	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.7	1503 of 5859	74.3%	★★★★☆
2022	66.3	1773 of 5883	69.9%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	65.5	1711 of 5635	69.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	74.6	977 of 5264	81.4%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	64.9	1724 of 5663	69.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	39.3	1754 of 2726	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	72.6	627 of 2761	77.3%	★★★★☆
2024	51.9	1113 of 2783	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	72.0	637 of 2781	77.1%	★★★★☆
2022	66.1	755 of 2740	72.4%	★★★★☆
2019	84.6	376 of 2715	86.2%	★★★★☆
2016	76.5	525 of 2497	79.0%	★★★★☆
2013	81.3	283 of 2379	88.1%	★★★★☆
2012	77.6	361 of 2259	84.0%	★★★★☆
2010	84.7	197 of 2179	91.0%	★★★★★
2009	73.2	437 of 2063	78.8%	★★★★☆
2008	72.6	437 of 2005	78.2%	★★★★☆
2007	88.2	157 of 1999	92.1%	★★★★★
2005	39.2	1010 of 1777	43.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	55.5	919 of 2509	63.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	68.3	548 of 2458	77.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	71.3	595 of 2527	76.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	47.7	786 of 1543	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.7	938 of 1555	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	51.5	763 of 1602	52.4%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.2	708 of 2162	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.5	1039 of 2159	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	70.1	570 of 2170	73.7%	★★★★☆
2022	54.0	852 of 2123	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	71.6	334 of 1290	74.1%	★★★★☆
2019	51.9	935 of 2133	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	84.2	325 of 2017	83.9%	★★★★☆
2017	63.4	716 of 2021	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.3	710 of 2039	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	70.7	532 of 1994	73.3%	★★★★☆
2013	59.4	548 of 2426	77.4%	★★★★☆
2012	59.8	541 of 2354	77.0%	★★★★☆
2011	62.8	445 of 2367	81.2%	★★★★☆
2010	80.5	133 of 2281	94.2%	★★★★★
2009	64.7	343 of 2238	84.7%	★★★★☆
2008	67.7	310 of 2117	85.4%	★★★★☆
2007	78.6	143 of 2063	93.1%	★★★★★
2006	63.8	390 of 1968	80.2%	★★★★☆
2005	39.1	820 of 1901	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	46.1	568 of 1653	65.6%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	61.7	639 of 1915	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	85.9	253 of 1915	86.8%	★★★★☆
2022	50.7	803 of 1858	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.8	783 of 1833	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	82.4	303 of 1760	82.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	80.1	267 of 1861	85.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	54.3	856 of 2026	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.8	545 of 2030	73.2%	★★★★☆
2022	35.9	1229 of 1943	36.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.0	1123 of 1937	42.0%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.8	461 of 1942	76.3%	★★★★☆
2022	47.1	889 of 1916	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	82.8	189 of 1122	83.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	28.0	862 of 1155	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.0	1030 of 1173	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	45.6	663 of 1193	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	21.6	961 of 1204	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	36.7	800 of 1222	34.5%	★★☆☆☆

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

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)81st percentile+12 vs school

Female (2022)70th percentile~ school

Male (2022)70th percentile~ school

White (2022)36th percentile-34 vs school

Middle school

Low Socio Economic Status (2022)78th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2022)76th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2022)63rd percentile-9 vs school

White (2023)49th percentile-28 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2022)86th percentile+26 vs school

Male (2025)76th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2024)67th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)58th percentile+6 vs school

White (2025)25th percentile-42 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy68%+19 vs state

Science42%+10 vs state

Mathematics39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Verdugo 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
Verdugo Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	1700 East Mountain St.	Glendale	91207	Los Angeles County	Glendale Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 548-0740	135	8	17.9	53.3%	82 (60.7%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (25.9%)	15 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)								(n/a)		58.8	27.8		42.5						61.1	72.2	68.3						29.4	27.8	38.7							$18,905	$6,048	$12,857
College View	Public, Alternative	K-12	1700 East Mountain St.	Glendale	91207	Los Angeles County	Glendale Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 246-8363	118	12	9.8	30.5%	62 (52.5%)	3 (2.5%)	32 (27.1%)	17 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.4%)								(n/a)																												$44,854	$14,980	$29,874
Jewel City Community Day	Public, Alternative	7-10	440 West Lomita	Glendale	91204	Los Angeles County	Glendale Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 549-4812	9	3	3.5	66.7%	1 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (88.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)																												$55,628	$539	$55,089
Renaissance Arts Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2558 North San Fernando Rd.	Los Angeles	90065	Los Angeles County	Renaissance Arts Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 259-5700	475	26	18.5	63.6%	115 (24.2%)	46 (9.7%)	237 (49.9%)	54 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.7%)								(n/a)	96.4	87.3		94.1	91.5	83.3	88.4	75.9	78.3	86.1	80.4	97.2	84.1	87.5	90.7	93.1	91.3	88.4	87.3	97.2	90.6							$17,689	$2,022	$15,667
Anahuacalmecac International Univ Prep of N. America	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4736 Huntington Dr. South	Los Angeles	90032	Los Angeles County	Anahuacalmecac International Univ Prep of N. America Distri	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 352-3148	252	17	14.4	89.7%	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	63 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	155 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.7%)								(n/a)	29.4	21.7			27.9		25.0	52.9	33.3	53.3	56.5	84.2	46.7		20.8	47.1	55.6	60.0	52.2	42.1	43.7							$28,524	$2,355	$26,169
Leadership & Public Service Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	474 Hartford Ave.	Los Angeles	90017	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(213) 316-9840	573	21	27.1	91.8%	48 (8.4%)	77 (13.4%)	419 (73.1%)	13 (2.3%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	13 (2.3%)								(n/a)	22.7	34.4	28.6	23.8	29.4	15.0	35.7	15.4	35.7	38.8	45.3	38.0	35.9	35.0	20.0	17.4	41.4	49.2	41.0	30.2	37.0							$18,805	$3,594	$15,211
Virtual Academy STEAM	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	4010 East Ramboz Dr.	Los Angeles	90063	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(323) 673-5544	816	42	19.6	82.6%	67 (8.2%)	110 (13.5%)	590 (72.3%)	27 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	21 (2.6%)								(n/a)	28.3	43.8	43.4	50.0	39.9	40.0	23.6	34.5	34.2	36.6	46.2	58.1	40.3	37.8	25.5	30.0	41.6	43.9	47.4	43.4	39.4							$18,522	$3,198	$15,324
Berenece Carlson Home Hospital	Public, Alternative	K-12	10952 Whipple St.	North Hollywood	91602	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 509-8759	381	97	3.9	86.1%	52 (13.6%)	30 (7.9%)	244 (64.0%)	24 (6.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (7.9%)								(n/a)					18.2								39.3								25.0							$48,975	$7,047	$41,928
UCLA Community K-12	Public, Alternative	K-12	700 South Mariposa Ave.	Los Angeles	90005	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 480-3750	887	47	18.8	97.3%	21 (2.4%)	19 (2.1%)	751 (84.7%)	89 (10.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	5 (0.6%)								(n/a)	12.2	22.6	28.6		23.1	22.0	20.7	18.0	37.3	33.3	29.5	58.2	34.1	21.6	10.5	10.0	15.1	17.5	14.5	20.4	16.1	83.6	91.8	96.7	88.5	95.1	96.7	$23,119	$5,356	$17,763
New Open World Academy K-12	Public, Alternative	K-12	3201 West Eighth St.	Los Angeles	90005	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 480-3700	911	49	18.4	97.6%	24 (2.6%)	32 (3.5%)	799 (87.7%)	42 (4.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.4%)								(n/a)	8.2	8.6	18.0		12.7	33.3	23.6	26.1	21.1	33.3	23.8	51.1	31.6	24.6	20.3	16.3	22.4	15.9	13.9	26.1	20.0	94.3	94.3		97.1	95.7	97.1	$18,935	$3,344	$15,591

Frequently Asked Questions about Verdugo Academy

What district is Verdugo Academy in?

Glendale Unified

How many students attend Verdugo Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 135 students attended Verdugo Academy.

Is Verdugo Academy a good school?

Verdugo Academy ranks 627^th of 2761 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Verdugo Academy?

Students at Verdugo Academy are 61% White, 26% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

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Schools in Glendale, CA

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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.