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Academy of Careers and Exploration

Q: Is Academy of Careers and Exploration a good school?

Academy of Careers and Exploration ranks 1235 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 7-12

1235^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 43% of California high schools

Summary

Academy of Careers and Exploration (ACE) is a public 7-12 grade high school with about 285 students in Helendale, CA, part of the Helendale Elementary district, and it stands out for its exceptional success in getting students to graduate.

ACE's most defining strength is its graduation rate, which at 96.7% is significantly higher than both the state average and nearly all nearby schools, including those in the higher-profile Victor Valley Union High district; its dropout rate has also fallen to 0%. While its state test scores are below average, they are generally on par with or better than similar local schools like Lakeview Leadership Academy and are far above alternative schools such as Alta Vista Innovation High. The school also benefits from very high per-student spending and maintains better daily attendance than many of its geographic peers.

This creates an interesting profile: ACE is highly effective at supporting students through to graduation, but there is a clear gap in standardized test proficiency. The school's career-focused model may engage students differently, and it operates in a region with extreme performance variations, from top-ranked schools like University Preparatory to those that struggle. Recent data shows concerning performance declines for specific student groups, indicating areas for focused improvement alongside its graduation success.

285

Students ?

19.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,317

Per pupil spending ?

45.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

13943 Rivers Edge Rd.
Helendale, CA 92342

(760) 952-1266

District: Helendale Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

52.6%

White:

33.7%

African American:

6.0%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Academy of Careers and Exploration to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 84th percentile in 2015 → 43rd in 2025

Strengths

✓97% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (25% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 41 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg31%

California avg41%

1,235^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Bottom 43%▼ down 41 pts since 2015

From top 16% (2015) to bottom 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1024^th of 1,543Helendale Elementary 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
2019	5.9	2658 of 2715	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	21.0	1985 of 2497	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	4.0	2454 of 2477	0.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.1	1235 of 2162	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.6	865 of 2159	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	34.7	1352 of 2170	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.7	1136 of 2123	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.6	612 of 1290	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	56.6	822 of 2133	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.9	1101 of 2017	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	62.6	740 of 2021	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	75.1	461 of 2039	77.4%	★★★★☆
2015	81.9	323 of 1994	83.8%	★★★★☆
2013	52.9	713 of 2426	70.6%	★★★★☆
2012	50.9	776 of 2354	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	58.8	559 of 2367	76.4%	★★★★☆
2010	59.0	537 of 2281	76.5%	★★★★☆
2009	65.6	329 of 2238	85.3%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2018	35.6	362 of 582	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	34.7	696 of 1161	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	26.3	1408 of 1906	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.6	1348 of 1915	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.1	1338 of 1915	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.3	1097 of 1858	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.2	391 of 1054	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	47.2	914 of 1833	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.5	1124 of 1760	36.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.2	1114 of 1900	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.3	950 of 1902	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.4	558 of 1917	70.9%	★★★★☆
2022	46.2	923 of 1861	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.9	779 of 1814	57.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.3	859 of 1742	50.7%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	24.7	1513 of 2013	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	38.7	1252 of 2026	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.1	1433 of 2030	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.0	1125 of 1943	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	66.1	318 of 1126	71.8%	★★★★☆
2019	52.2	868 of 1937	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	31.8	1279 of 1862	31.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	49.5	924 of 1942	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.5	555 of 1948	71.5%	★★★★☆
2023	36.7	1176 of 1963	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.8	1034 of 1916	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.2	682 of 1122	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	60.5	649 of 1880	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.3	970 of 1834	47.1%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	871 of 1155	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	48.7	624 of 1173	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	8.4	1098 of 1193	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	21.9	958 of 1204	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	66.6	390 of 1222	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	43.7	720 of 1173	38.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

High school

Male (2025)52nd percentile+10 vs school

Hispanic (2025)41st percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)40th percentile-6 vs school

African American (2018)38th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2025)26th percentile-17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)25th percentile-18 vs school

White (2025)25th percentile-18 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy32%-17 vs state

Science22%-11 vs state

Mathematics21%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near Academy of Careers and Exploration

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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 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Academy of Careers and Exploration	Public, Charter	7-12	13943 Rivers Edge Rd.	Helendale	92342	San Bernardino County	Helendale Elementary	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 952-1266	285	15	19.4	45.3%	96 (33.7%)	17 (6.0%)	150 (52.6%)	8 (2.8%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	10 (3.5%)	41.1	1235^th of 2162 public high schools	42.9%		55.6	865^th of 2159 public high schools	59.9%	370		24.6		21.5			36.8	31.9			22.4	21.4	$30,317	$29,622	$695
Goodwill High	Public	9-12	16350 Mojave Dr.	Victorville	92395	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 955-3201	58	6	9.5	86.2%	3 (5.2%)	11 (19.0%)	42 (72.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.4%)	8.7	2085^th of 2162 public high schools	3.6%		10.5	2045^th of 2159 public high schools	5.3%	40		0.0		3.3			12.5	12.5			0.0	0.0
Victor Valley High	Public	9-12	16500 Mojave Dr.	Victorville	92395	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 955-3300	2,255	95	23.7	91.0%	128 (5.7%)	345 (15.3%)	1,619 (71.8%)	38 (1.7%)	8 (0.4%)	8 (0.4%)	104 (4.6%)	23	1630^th of 2162 public high schools	24.6%		28.5	1530^th of 2159 public high schools	29.1%	100		9.2	16.7	9.4			35.1	35.1			8.5	8.5
Goodwill Independent Study	Public	7-12	16350 Mojave Dr.	Victorville	92395	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 955-3440	187	6	30.2	87.7%	6 (3.2%)	44 (23.5%)	121 (64.7%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (7.5%)	13.8	1843^rd of 2162 public high schools	14.8%		13.7	1861^st of 2159 public high schools	13.8%	18		3.2	0.0	2.4			17.7	17.7			7.6	7.6
Victor Valley Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	7-12	16350 Mojave Dr.	Victorville	92395	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(760) 955-3201	91	3	28.1	79.1%	2 (2.2%)	16 (17.6%)	67 (73.6%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (4.4%)	85	313^th of 2162 public high schools	85.5%		61.1	742^nd of 2159 public high schools	65.6%	429	29.4	46.7		37.5	23.1	39.4	63.3	46.1	23.1	32.4	63.3	42.9
University Preparatory	Public	7-12	13853 Seneca Rd.	Victorville	92392	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 243-5940	1,136	44	26.1	74.6%	117 (10.3%)	60 (5.3%)	807 (71.0%)	103 (9.1%)	4 (0.4%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (3.7%)	99.1	12^th of 2162 public high schools	99.4%		98.3	31^st of 2159 public high schools	98.6%	19	67.4	87.7		76.9	90.0	86.7	96.7	91.0	66.3	68.9	76.5	70.4
Silverado High	Public	9-12	14048 Cobalt Rd.	Victorville	92392	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 955-3353	2,165	99	21.7	81.4%	99 (4.6%)	429 (19.8%)	1,475 (68.1%)	44 (2.0%)	6 (0.3%)	10 (0.5%)	96 (4.4%)	37.9	1313^th of 2162 public high schools	39.3%		33.4	1416^th of 2159 public high schools	34.4%	103		18.0	22.2	18.2			47.8	47.8			14.8	14.8
Cobalt Institute of Math and Science	Public	7-12	14045 Topaz Rd.	Victorville	92392	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 955-2530	1,058	44	24.0	80.0%	90 (8.5%)	60 (5.7%)	823 (77.8%)	39 (3.7%)	5 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	38 (3.6%)	84.2	330^th of 2162 public high schools	84.7%		87.4	273^rd of 2159 public high schools	87.4%	57	37.2	46.8		41.1	66.1	68.3	87.8	72.9	47.0	49.2	36.0	44.8
Options for Youth-Victor Valley Charter	Public, Charter	7-12	14120 Bear Valley Rd.	Victorville	92392	San Bernardino County	Options for Youth-Victor Valley Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 241-8300	886	30	29.4	85.6%	106 (12.0%)	122 (13.8%)	596 (67.3%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	43 (4.9%)	47.1	1097^th of 2162 public high schools	49.3%		33.9	1400^th of 2159 public high schools	35.2%	303	9.8		17.8	13.6	16.9	18.3	54.4	35.7	4.2	9.8	15.2	11.1
Lakeview Leadership Academy	Public	7-12	12484 Tamarisk Rd.	Victorville	92395	San Bernardino County	Victor Valley Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 955-3400	901	50	18.1	82.7%	84 (9.3%)	153 (17.0%)	603 (66.9%)	14 (1.6%)	4 (0.4%)	7 (0.8%)	35 (3.9%)	45.2	1138^th of 2162 public high schools	47.4%		43.7	1155^th of 2159 public high schools	46.5%	17	8.8	19.1		9.9	21.1	23.9	61.9	24.9	16.5	5.5	14.3	11.3

Frequently Asked Questions about Academy of Careers and Exploration

What district is Academy of Careers and Exploration in?

Helendale Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Academy of Careers and Exploration?

Students at Academy of Careers and Exploration are 53% Hispanic, 34% White, 6% African American, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is Academy of Careers and Exploration a good school?

Academy of Careers and Exploration ranks 1235^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Academy of Careers and Exploration?

In the 2024-25 school year, 285 students attended Academy of Careers and Exploration.

Rate Academy of Careers and Exploration!

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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.