Visions in Education, Carmichael CA

Original Research by School Decision on Visions in Education

Visions In Education is a kindergarten-through-12th-grade public charter school based in Carmichael, in northeastern Sacramento County. Its enrollment is very large for a charter, and the grade distribution tells a striking story: the school carries far more students in the upper high school years than in the elementary grades, with the senior class nearly four times the size of the kindergarten cohort. That pattern is unusual and worth understanding before enrolling, as it suggests the school draws heavily from families seeking an alternative pathway at the secondary level rather than serving as a traditional feeder school from the youngest grades.

Publicly reported information describes Visions In Education as a home-study or independent study charter, meaning the academic model is structured around students working from home with teacher oversight rather than attending a physical classroom campus each day. Parents considering this school should clarify directly with the school exactly what that structure looks like, how much in-person time is expected or available, and how support is provided across the grade span.

On California's statewide assessments, the picture is mixed. In English language arts, proficiency rates climb steadily through the middle grades, reaching solid footing by 7th and 8th grade, and the school's overall ELA performance lands above the midpoint among the districts in Sacramento County. Math proficiency is more modest across all tested grades, with the middle school years running somewhat lower than the elementary grades, and the school's aggregate math figure sits below its ELA results. Science, measured at 5th and 8th grade, falls in a comparable range to math. The school lands in the top quartile on the overall proficiency index relative to districts in Sacramento County, which is a meaningful position, though a parent should weigh that against the context of an independent study model where student motivation and family involvement carry more weight than in a conventional classroom setting.

Trend data covers only a single year, so there is no multi-year trajectory to describe. Chronic absenteeism and graduation rate data were not available in what was provided, which are gaps a parent of a high schooler in particular may want to follow up on directly with the school.

A substantial share of enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting an economically diverse student body. The student population spans multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds, with white and Hispanic students each representing sizable portions of enrollment. IEP and English learner figures were not available in the data, so the depth of special education and language support services is unclear from what is provided here.

The Carmichael community surrounding the school's listed address is a mature, largely built-out suburban area. The housing market here is well above the national median and modestly above many comparable Sacramento-area communities, though values have been roughly flat year over year. Rents have edged up slightly. The neighborhood character is predominantly single-family, mid-century ranch homes on larger lots, car-oriented, and without a traditional downtown core. Commercial life runs along Fair Oaks Boulevard, and the community sits adjacent to the American River Parkway with trail access and park amenities. Because Carmichael is unincorporated, it is served by county services rather than a city government, and is covered by more than one school district.

No parent-relevant changes or announced strategic priorities for the Visions In Education District were surfaced in research, so that section was left out rather than guessed at. Families interested in program specifics, college counseling, or elective offerings should ask the school directly, as program data was not available in what was provided.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

79.0%Cohort of 1,161 students · Class of 2021

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 336%

School 36% · district not reported

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · district not reported

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 531%

School 31% · district not reported

even with state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 628%

School 28% · district not reported

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 740%

School 40% · district not reported

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

Grade 840%

School 40% · district not reported

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

English language arts

Grade 341%

School 41% · district not reported

even with state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · district not reported

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 549%

School 49% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 647%

School 47% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 755%

School 55% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 853%

School 53% · district not reported

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Science

Grade 541%

School 41% · district not reported

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 845%

School 45% · district not reported

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 23 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 3Lower-income31%Higher-income52%21 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income42%Higher-income55%13 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income40%Higher-income58%18 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income38%Higher-income58%20 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income47%Higher-income66%19 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income40%Higher-income72%32 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income28%Higher-income47%18 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income25%Higher-income44%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income24%Higher-income37%13 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income22%Higher-income35%13 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income33%Higher-income50%17 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income34%Higher-income49%16 pp gap