Original Research by School Decision on Ace Charter High District
ACE Charter High District serves a single high school in Santa Clara County, drawing a nearly entirely Hispanic student body of small overall size, distributed relatively evenly across grades nine through twelve. The school operates under a charter model, meaning it has more autonomy over its curriculum and operations than a traditional public school, though it must still meet state accountability measures and serve its community.
The student population is notably concentrated: a very large majority of enrolled students identify as Hispanic, with only a small handful from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Demographic breakdowns for free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and for students with disabilities or English learner status were not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the economic and linguistic profile of students it serves. Those details matter for understanding how much academic support and wraparound services the school provides.
On state testing and graduation outcomes, no proficiency data or graduation rates were reported. This gap is worth clarifying with the school, as California reports those measures for traditional public schools; charter schools sometimes report differently or have reporting exemptions depending on their authorization and accountability agreement. Without those metrics, it is difficult to gauge academic attainment directly from state measures.
What does show up in the comparison data is chronic absenteeism, where ACE sits in the bottom quartile among Santa Clara County's districts. Absenteeism at this level is a signal worth taking seriously. Regular attendance is foundational to academic progress, and a high rate suggests either barriers to showing up or insufficient intervention when students miss school. A parent considering ACE should ask the school what drives the absenteeism, whether it reflects transportation barriers, health issues, family circumstances, or student engagement challenges, and what the school does to support consistent attendance.
Per-pupil spending at ACE falls in the upper-middle range for county districts, suggesting the school has resources comparable to many of its peers, though not at the highest end.
Two recent policy shifts have material bearing on enrollment and daily life. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, ACE eliminated its application and lottery process in favor of open enrollment, meaning any family completing the enrollment form will be admitted. For families in San Jose and surrounding areas, this removes uncertainty from the admissions process. The school has also adopted a cell-phone-free policy during the school day, intended to reduce distraction and strengthen academic focus. This is a day-to-day reality that shapes the classroom environment and is something families with teenagers should be aware of when weighing whether this school fits their expectations.
A prospective family should use ACE's website and direct contact to understand what graduation and college-readiness outcomes look like, what the school's academic programming emphasizes at each grade level, and what specific supports exist for students who struggle with attendance or academics. The open enrollment process makes access straightforward, but the absenteeism data warrants a closer conversation about how the school keeps students engaged and on track.
See more original research from School Decision →