Redwood Collegiate Academy, Ukiah CA

Original Research by School Decision on Redwood Collegiate Academy

Redwood Collegiate Academy is a small charter school serving grades seven through twelve in Ukiah, the county seat and commercial hub of Mendocino County. The school enrolls a modest population that spans middle and high school, with roughly equal representation across the first two grades and tapering enrollment in the upper grades. The student body is economically diverse; a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the wider Ukiah area, where employment centers on public administration, healthcare, education, agriculture, and retail.

Academically, the school shows a split profile. In English language arts, students demonstrate solid proficiency, with performance in the upper-middle range among the districts in Mendocino County. Mathematics presents a softer picture. Proficiency in math at both the seventh and eighth grade levels falls well below that in English, with the seventh grade rate notably low. Science proficiency data at the eighth grade level shows results somewhat below English. Across tested subjects and grades combined, Redwood Collegiate sits in the top quartile of Mendocino County schools on overall proficiency, a reflection chiefly of its English strength; a parent may want to look into how the school supports students who are struggling in math, what interventions or additional resources are available, and whether the school is taking steps to close that gap.

The school's enrollment profile is small but steady across the middle grades and shrinks noticeably once students reach high school. This is a pattern that warrants a conversation with the school: whether upper-grade enrollment reflects student choice to leave, transitions to work or alternative paths, or other factors. Data on the school's graduation rate, special education population, and English learner services were not available, which is not uncommon for a small charter in its early reporting cycle; prospective families should ask the school directly about these numbers and about programs supporting students with disabilities or language needs.

Ukiah itself is a compact town with a walkable downtown anchored on State Street and School Street, historically brick architecture, local shops, galleries, and a year-round farmers market. The city is actively pursuing infill housing, missing-middle development, and complete streets principles, earning recognition for housing-friendly policies. Public transit is available through the Mendocino Transit Authority, which connects Ukiah to Mendocino College and other regional destinations. Housing costs in the Ukiah zip code are below the state benchmark, with median home values showing slight decline year-over-year and rental prices rising modestly. Parks, recreation, and library services are anchored by Todd Grove Park and the Mendocino County Library.

Redwood Collegiate is operated as its own district, a structure that concentrates governance and resources in one school. For a family considering enrollment, the key questions are whether the school's small size and independent governance create agility and specialized attention, whether the English strength is sustained through senior year, how math instruction is configured, and whether the upper-grade drop-off reflects intentional design or retention challenges.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

>=80%Cohort of 23 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

2,394 schools plotted. 142 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 732%

School 32% · district not reported

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 847%

School 47% · district not reported

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 763%

School 63% · district not reported

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Grade 863%

School 63% · district not reported

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Science

Grade 844%

School 44% · district not reported

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 8Lower-income57%Higher-income73%16 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 8Lower-income33%Higher-income73%39 pp gap