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Independence Charter Academy

Q: Is Independence Charter Academy a good school?

Independence Charter Academy ranks 1917 th of 2703 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

1917^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,703 California Alternative Schools

Better than 29% of California alternative schools

Summary

Independence Charter Academy is an alternative K–12 school in Helendale, California, serving 118 students. Its latest all-grade test scores rose in all three subjects: 34% in ELA, 31% in math, and 40% in science in 2025–2026. The most important concern is attendance: 47% of students were chronically absent, compared with 18% statewide and 11% in the district.

The school had the strongest latest all-grade results among the four nearby schools with comparable 2025–2026 scores: its ELA, math, and science results were 18, 29, and 33 percentage points above their respective averages. Against the state, however, the school remained 16 points behind in ELA and 7 points behind in math, while science was 4 points higher. Some grade-level results stand out: 11th-grade math was 62%, 30 points above the state, and eighth-grade science was 58%, 23 points above the state. Sixth-grade ELA was a weaker spot at 19%, 29 points below the state.

Scores have rebounded sharply after a dip in 2024–2025. Since 2022–2023, math rose 21 percentage points and science 27 points, while ELA rose 4 points; the state gaps narrowed in all three subjects, and science moved from below the state to above it. The school’s 2024–2025 student–teacher ratio was 25.9, higher than the nearby schools’ ratios. In 2024–2025, 62% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible; California provides free school meals statewide, so this figure is context rather than an explanation for results. SchoolDigger’s ranking information is for the Helendale Elementary district—not the school—which ranked 366th of 968, at the 62nd percentile, with 3 stars.

118

Students ?

25.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$33,763

Per pupil spending ?

61.9%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

15350 Riverview Rd.
Helendale, CA 92342

(760) 952-1760

District: Helendale Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.4%

White:

30.5%

African American:

7.6%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Independence Charter Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 12th percentile in 2022 → 72nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 60 percentile points since 2022

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (34% vs 42% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (47% vs 18% California)

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 16 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school34%

District avg34%

California avg42%

Middle school

1,917^th of 2,703

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 29%▲ up 26 pts since 2017

From bottom 3% (2017) to bottom 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

607^th of 2,137

California public high schools ?

Top 28%▲ up 27 pts since 2017

From bottom 45% (2017) to top 28% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Alternative Schools in the Helendale Elementary

366^th of 968Helendale 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	16.8	5190 of 5883	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	8.7	5556 of 5692	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	27.2	1917 of 2703	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	13.3	2540 of 2783	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	19.1	2304 of 2781	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.1	2439 of 2740	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.6	778 of 894	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	5.6	2441 of 2480	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	7.9	2429 of 2508	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	13.9	2211 of 2359	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	13.9	2385 of 2579	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	17.7	2259 of 2531	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.4	2264 of 2458	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.2	649 of 721	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	21.8	1980 of 2527	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	70.6	607 of 2137	71.6%	★★★★☆
2025	19.6	1699 of 2162	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	51.2	979 of 2159	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.2	1215 of 2170	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	18.8	1685 of 2123	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	1033 of 1290	19.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.9	1555 of 2133	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.9	1584 of 2017	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	45.5	1113 of 2021	44.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	75.2	435 of 1865	76.7%	★★★★☆
2022	17.4	1552 of 1858	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.6	1461 of 1760	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	598 of 1880	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	25.1	1404 of 1861	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	9.8	1739 of 1814	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	15.5	1376 of 1742	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	81.5	304 of 1999	84.8%	★★★★☆
2025	30.9	1403 of 2013	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	39.9	1178 of 2030	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	24.8	1449 of 1943	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	25.1	866 of 1126	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.2	1546 of 1862	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	62.3	678 of 1932	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	21.3	1473 of 1916	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	21.7	892 of 1122	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.1	1407 of 1880	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.4	1479 of 1834	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	64.1	420 of 1132	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	7.2	1064 of 1173	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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

Male (2022)22nd percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)8th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2022)6th percentile-5 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)85th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)77th percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2026)68th percentile-3 vs school

Male (2026)65th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)63rd percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

Science40%+4 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy34%-16 vs state

Mathematics31%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Independence Charter 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 Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				CAST Science (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)								% Completely Immunized (2022)	% DTP (2022)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	% DTP KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Independence Charter Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	15350 Riverview Rd.	Helendale	92342	San Bernardino County	Helendale Elementary	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 952-1760	118	5	25.9	61.9%	36 (30.5%)	9 (7.6%)	63 (53.4%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.4%)	1 (0.8%)	4 (3.4%)								(n/a)		58.3	36.0		39.6				19.1		25.0	51.7	33.7				10.0		27.3	62.1	31.1			$33,763	$33,754	$09
Riverside Preparatory	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	19900 National Trails HWY	Oro Grande	92368	San Bernardino County	Riverside Preparatory District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 243-5884	2,453	107	22.8	77.5%	354 (14.4%)	391 (15.9%)	1,552 (63.3%)	32 (1.3%)	22 (0.9%)	23 (0.9%)	79 (3.2%)								(n/a)																						97.0	97.0	$20,906	$20,500	$406
Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	11336 Bartlett Ave.	Adelanto	92301	San Bernardino County	Taylion High Desert Academy/Adelanto District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 843-6622	803	34	23.8	80.1%	153 (19.1%)	145 (18.1%)	437 (54.4%)	4 (0.5%)	9 (1.1%)	1 (0.1%)	52 (6.5%)								(n/a)
Academy for Academic Excellence	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	17500 Mana Rd.	Apple Valley	92307	San Bernardino County	Academy for Academic Excellence District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 946-5414	1,489	68	21.8	35.5%	595 (40.0%)	43 (2.9%)	692 (46.5%)	52 (3.5%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (6.9%)								(n/a)																						98.4	98.4
Mojave River Academy - Route 66	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	14554 Seventh St.	Victorville	92368	San Bernardino County	Mojave River Academy - Route 66 District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 245-3222	450	21	21.6	90.9%	92 (20.4%)	27 (6.0%)	299 (66.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.3%)								(n/a)	0.0	4.4	7.5	0.0	5.3	21.4	0.0	7.1	4.6	21.1	12.5	22.1	16.3	7.1	0.0	7.1	0.0	2.7	2.1	0.0	1.6			$22,717	$22,616	$101
Mojave River Academy - Oro Grande	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	12384 Palmdale Rd.	Victorville	92368	San Bernardino County	Mojave River Academy - Oro Grande District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 245-3222	862	39	22.2	85.8%	210 (24.4%)	53 (6.1%)	540 (62.6%)	4 (0.5%)	7 (0.8%)	3 (0.3%)	40 (4.6%)								(n/a)	9.7	8.5	6.2	12.5	7.6	11.1	8.0	9.1	13.0	29.5	14.1	24.5	19.7	3.7	7.1	0.0	0.0	13.0	3.3	0.5	3.3			$19,459	$19,370	$89
Mojave River Academy - Silver Mountain	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2151 West Main St.	Barstow	92368	San Bernardino County	Mojave River Academy - Silver Mountain District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 245-3222	677	27	25.1	84.9%	193 (28.5%)	68 (10.0%)	342 (50.5%)	2 (0.3%)	8 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (8.7%)								(n/a)	10.6	9.9	6.7		7.9	10.3	6.3	16.7	15.7	10.7	12.7	28.5	18.3	3.5	3.1	2.1	4.3	3.6	5.6	0.6	2.8			$18,952	$18,842	$110
High Desert Premier Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	21950 Nisqually Rd.	Apple Valley	92308	San Bernardino County	Apple Valley Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(760) 240-4252	208	14	14.9	80.8%	50 (24.0%)	10 (4.8%)	137 (65.9%)	5 (2.4%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)								(n/a)		18.2	2.9		4.7						15.4	8.9	10.4						0.0	1.3	1.0			$42,627	$42,020	$607

Frequently Asked Questions about Independence Charter Academy

Is Independence Charter Academy a good school?

Independence Charter Academy ranks 1917^th of 2703 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Independence Charter Academy?

Students at Independence Charter Academy are 53% Hispanic, 31% White, 8% African American, 3% American Indian, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Independence Charter Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 118 students attended Independence Charter Academy.

What district is Independence Charter Academy in?

Helendale Elementary

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Latest California data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

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.