Clearlake Creativity

Clearlake Creativity is an alternative public school in Clearlake, California, serving grades K-12 with just 21 students. While the school has a unique focus on creativity and alternative learning approaches, it faces significant challenges, including very high chronic absenteeism rates, consistently low test scores, and an extremely high percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Clearlake Creativity's chronic absenteeism rates have ranged from 20.4% to 76.0% in recent years, far exceeding the state average. Its students' test scores on the Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics are also consistently lower than the state and local district averages, with only 8.33% of Clearlake Creativity students proficient or better in both subjects in 2024-2025, compared to 48.81% and 37.3% for the state, respectively. The school has a high per-student spending, ranging from $41,730 to $69,799, but this has not translated to improved academic outcomes.

In comparison, nearby alternative schools like Lakeport Alternative (Home School) and Kelseyville Learning Academy appear to have somewhat better academic performance and lower chronic absenteeism rates. Addressing the challenges at Clearlake Creativity will require a comprehensive approach, focusing on improving student engagement, providing effective academic support, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors that may be impacting student success.