Original Research by School Decision on Excelsior Charter District
Excelsior Charter District is a multi-campus charter network spanning grades seven through twelve across the Inland Empire and High Desert of San Bernardino County. It started as a single Victorville charter and has grown to include a North Victorville campus (branded the School of Business and Innovation), plus separate sites in San Bernardino, Ontario, and Corona-Norco. This geographic spread gives families across a wide region access to no-cost charter seats and choice in where they attend.
The district enrolls a student body that is primarily Hispanic, with a substantial Black enrollment and a meaningful population of white students; Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Native American students make up a smaller share. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and on English learner and special education enrollment was not available, so understanding the full socioeconomic and language-support profile requires asking the schools directly.
On the attendance front, Excelsior stands out. Its chronic absenteeism rate places it in the top tier among San Bernardino County's districts, meaning the district is successfully keeping students engaged and showing up. That said, no state proficiency data or graduation rates were available, which is typical for a charter or alternative district and reflects how California reports and measures performance across its many school types. A parent considering this district would want to request recent academic outcomes and graduation data directly from the administrative office or individual campuses.
Per-pupil spending at Excelsior sits in the lower-to-middle range compared with other county districts, a realistic budget position for a charter network.
The district has built tangible career and college pathways. Excelsior Academy of Beauty is a tuition-free cosmetology program where the district covers all kits, materials, and state board exam fees; the program has already produced its first licensed cosmetologist while a student was still enrolled. For high school students, free dual enrollment through College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) with Victor Valley College lets them earn transferable college credit during the school day with no tuition or textbook costs.
Enrollment is flexible by design. Students can attend on-campus or blended classes, join live synchronous virtual instruction over Zoom, or enroll in a full-time supported independent study program. On-campus classes operate on a space-available basis with waitlists once capacity is reached; students not placed in an in-person class are moved into independent study. This menu means families should confirm whether the specific campus location and learning model they prefer has open seats before committing.
One item worth noting: the district's charter is undergoing renewal based on a middle-tier performance review tied to its 2024 and 2025 California School Dashboard results. Charter renewals directly affect whether a school continues to operate. This is not unusual for growing or alternative networks, but it is a material fact for a family making a multiyear enrollment decision. Current families and prospective families should monitor the renewal timeline and outcome, which the authorizing county office of education typically publishes.
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