Original Research by School Decision on Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (buila)
Burbank Unified Independent Learning Academy (BUILA) is an alternative school in Burbank serving grades six through twelve. It sits within Burbank Unified and enrolls a small population, concentrated heavily in the upper grades, particularly grade eleven and twelve.
The school's student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Asian students; about a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on special populations including students with IEPs and English learners was not available.
On the most recent state assessments, BUILA's results place it well below proficiency across the tested subjects. In English language arts, fewer than two-fifths of students met proficiency standards. In math, proficiency was in the low double digits, marking a clear area of struggle. Science proficiency sat in the low-to-mid twenties. These numbers sit squarely in the lower range of outcomes, and a parent may want to explore further with the school what the program structure is, what populations it serves, and what support systems exist to help students progress.
A graduation rate for the school was not reported. The state testing results available are from a single year, so trend data showing improvement or decline over time was not present.
As an alternative school, BUILA operates outside the traditional comprehensive high school model. Alternative schools typically serve students who have struggled in or disconnected from traditional settings, were chronically absent, faced behavioral challenges, or are pursuing a different pace or pathway. The school's small enrollment and the concentration of students in upper grades, particularly juniors and seniors, suggests it may function partly as a re-engagement or completion pathway for students who did not graduate on schedule from Burbank's three comprehensive high schools. A parent interested in alternative education should ask the school directly about its population and approach: whether it emphasizes self-paced independent learning (as the name suggests), how it structures accountability and coursework, what counseling or support services it provides, and how its graduates fare in college and career placement.
Burbank itself is a mixed city of about seventeen square miles, defined by the entertainment industry and media studios. Warner Bros., Disney, Nickelodeon, and other studios anchor the local economy, supported by healthcare, aerospace, and retail employers. The city is pursuing significant downtown and transit-oriented development, with mixed-use projects adding apartments, retail, and hotel rooms near the Downtown Burbank Metrolink station. Housing values in the area are high relative to state and national benchmarks; monthly rents and estimated mortgage payments both reflect an expensive market. Parks, libraries, bike paths, and public transit (Metrolink, Burbank Bus) provide civic and transportation infrastructure. Neighborhoods range from the more walkable Downtown and Magnolia Park areas to residential stretches and commercial districts, giving families diverse settings within the compact city.
The Burbank Unified district serves the city and operates three comprehensive high schools at separate locations, plus this alternative program. No recent strategic changes or parent-relevant district initiatives were identified in available sources, leaving that context incomplete.
See more original research from School Decision →