Alternative Family Education

840 N. Branciforte Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

bssc.sccs.net/

108 Students

Other K - 12th

School Overview

Alternative Family Education (AFE) is a unique, parent-cooperative K-12 program located in Santa Cruz, California, that operates as an alternative to the traditional classroom setting. Designed for families who prefer a home-based or individualized approach to learning, the program emphasizes a partnership between parents, students, and credentialed teachers. Instead of following a rigid, uniform curriculum, AFE allows families to personalize their educational plans, focusing on the specific interests, learning styles, and developmental needs of each child.

The school is characterized by its highly flexible, "resource center" model, where families have access to professional guidance, academic support, and a community of like-minded peers. While the program promotes significant autonomy, it remains rooted in state educational standards, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive foundation in core subjects. By blending the structure of the Santa Cruz City Schools district with the freedom of homeschooling, AFE fosters a collaborative environment that encourages self-directed learning, intellectual curiosity, and strong family involvement.

108

Total Students

4.8

Full-Time Teachers

22.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

35.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Alternative Family Education
Demographic	Student Count
White	56
Hispanic	28
Black	8
Asian	4
Two or More	10
American Indian	2

White
56 (51.9 %)
Hispanic
28 (25.9 %)
Two or More
10 (9.3 %)
Black
8 (7.4 %)
Asian
4 (3.7 %)
American Indian
2 (1.9 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Other
School Type:	Alternative School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Santa Cruz City High
Phone:	(831)429-3898
Website:	http://bssc.sccs.net/
Grade Range:	K - 12th
Total Students:	108
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	4.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	22.5
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	37
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 4

Grade 1 6

Grade 2 6

Grade 3 9

Grade 4 3

Grade 5 8

Grade 6 7

Grade 7 8

Grade 8 15

Grade 9 7

Grade 10 11