Alameda Community Learning Center

1900 3rd Street

School District

Alameda Unified
Grade

6-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

charter

School Map for Alameda Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 20, 2025

Our time spent (6 years) at ACLC was a tremendous disappointment. In particular the last 2 years. The school's history and previous leadership made us feel like it was a good fit. And, for a short time, it was. In the end ACLC collapsed. Chaotic and very unsafe is how I describe it. Admin and 75% teacher turnover led to loud classrooms and constant fighting. Our children needed to leave. The middle school has very poor teaching now. The declining results and enrollment show the schools trajectory. I'm sorry to say it, ACLC should consider closing as Nea did.
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2023

ACLC is small enough for the Facilitators to know every Learner, but large enough to offer a well-funded Creative Tech (think Maker Space), a musical & Shakepearean theatre group, dances & prom, foreign language in 8th grade, and a REALLY fun community. You are getting a private school quality education for free, but with *much* better socio-economic diversity...in fact all kinds of diversity. There is so much to say about how great ACLC is! So I made a list: - small size PUBLIC school, free, facilitators know each learner- Better than AP: Our learners *Earn* College credit *during* school! (CoA is across the street). Two of our seniors are on track to graduate with their Associates degree this year!!!- STEM strength (See award in Niche), parent group spend thousands on “Creative Tech”, attended Maker Fair, Science fair. - College Prep. Well-staffed....especially in comparison to other schools (staffing is *really* short at some schools)Great for advanced learners: - All 8th grades can take a foreign language. - Math acceleration for advanced learners. - Public transit & great new bike trails (this is all Alameda schools tho...but I appreciate that my kid can bike to school and many take the bus)- Musical & Shakespearean Theatre program- Fun education..with *relevant* education field trips for every grade including boat trips on the Bay, Maker Fair, Art shows, theatre play performances. Also cardboard boat building/racing, gingerbread contests, Gain Some Knowledge day, and more!And I think that ACLC especially stands out in its judicial system where the Learners make the rules, and run the court (high level stuff is taken care of by Admin though).An All-Around fantastic school....Come!P.S. Parent/Guardian group are nice supportive folks too:)
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2023

ACLC made it possible for our son to love learning again. Our son started here in the 6th grade & is now finishing his junior year. He is looking ahead to college. Had we stayed in our home school district I do not think he would belooking forward to furthering his education.The teachers & staff have been excellent. The class size, curriculum & accountability make ACLC perfect for those looking for a smaller, kinder learning environment ACLC is worth tha try.We have especially loved the help from the SPED resource department. They have been remarkable and a true God send for our son to confidently learn alongside his peers. Our son has been able to go from graduating w/a certificate to graduating w/his diploma. He would not have not achieved this in his old school district. Thank you ACLC!!!
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2023

We spent quite a bit of time reviewing middle schools and trying to find a good fit for our 6th grade daughter. After touring a few middle schools including our district school (Wood), other Charters (Academy of Alameda, NEA), and possible inter-district transfer schools (Bay Farm Middle School) we decided ACLC was the best fit because of school size (smaller, staff will know your child), curriculum (good balance of academic focus and college preparation), and a focus on learner participation and self-governance (lots of activities are learner-led and there is a fair amount of "independence" on how to accomplish work).Overall we feel like ACLC has been a great fit after a semester there. - CURRICULUM: The curriculum seems to be well-balanced with a mix of knowledge-based learning (learning math principles and math worksheets) along with more open-ended projects (team-based science fair project which seems largely student-run in groups)- SMALL SIZE: A smaller school has meant knowing most of our daughter's facilitators as well as the principal (aka Lead Facilitator) and other staff- INDEPENDENCE: The school makes it a point to really involve the students in self-governance, leading activities, and learning to manage themselves. For example, we were really impressed that all 6th graders had an overnight camping trip at the beginning of school (Hannah Camp, named after the student who founded the program) which was organized by ACLC high schoolers (with staff supervision) to welcome new 6th graders.Other "Pros":- It sounds like other AUSD middle schools are dealing with some bullying issues. So far (fingers crossed) it seems that ACLC hasn't experienced as much.- There seems to be good accountability from staff to students. Issues seem to be addressed quickly and students seem to be involved in much of the process.- Good communication. There are weekly updates from the principal. There's a portal where we can contact teachers directly and they respond quickly. There's a Slack channel for the PTA and the wider ACLC community."Cons":- Homework load is light. We came from an elementary school that didn't assign any homework. We expected a little more work than they've received- Campus is pretty small and spare compared to many of the newly renovated middle schools- It seems like mobile phones and other devices are pretty prevalent and distracting... including in classrooms. Facilitators should try to manage this better.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2023

Our daughter is in 9th grade, new to ACLC. The school is super small, relaxed, and promotes independence. Regular project periods provide freedom to manage her own time. Soon she will take some college classes nearby. Facilitators (ACLC’s teachers) are on a first name basis with learners (ACLC’s students). When I signed my kid out early, I stated her first name and the office staff knew exactly who she was. In September, she had a large Scout project to complete. The principal, head facilitator, parents, and learners helped her refurbish the school stage. She even appeared before the school’s funding board; it was empowering. Her favorite event to date is a mock trial field trip to San Francisco. The class then staged their own trial, using the Of Mice and Men storyline. The school isn’t perfect, but works well for us She is being prepared to go out on her own, in an environment that suits her introverted, artistic self. Plus, the parent community is wonderful!
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2023

I have two learners here (8th and 10th) and they have been here 3 years now. This school focuses on academic basics and leadership - and not letting anyone fall through the cracks. There is also art and engineering but focus is the basics (math, English, writing, history, and critical thinking!). Also the leadership part means that learners are expected to initiate projects and take ownership - it's not just tests. Both my children have some learning challenges and this school has helped them with needed supports and they are growing academically and socially. The other thing I like a lot is the small size, so there is more attention and support, and it's easier to be different and still fit in. There are not as many electives and basically no team sports, compared to Wood, Encinal, or AHS.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2023

Pros: Teachers, college prep, a great place to find your people and fit in, small school size so your child will receive lots of attention.Cons: Attendance system is terrible. They really need to figure out taking accurate attendance. The result is multiple calls/texts each day to excuse absences that never occurred. I can't stress how frustrating this is.The student-led judicial system is useless. Any student can write another up and the end result isn't always fair.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2023

If you see CEO potential in your kid, ACLC is the school for them! I'm the parent of an 8th and 12th grader, and it's been great for both. ACLC’s unique structure nurtures students’ leadership skills and provides them with numerous opportunities to practice them. At ACLC, students maintain and enforce the school’s rules. They meet weekly to vote on proposals and take turns serving on a judicial committee which hears cases for alleged rule-breaking and mediates disputes.Students lead all of the campus events at ACLC as well as the clubs. My daughter created a light-saber club with a friend in 6th grade that is still going strong 3 years later. Learning is sometimes messy, so ACLC events may not be as well-organized as adults would like and the hallway culture might look a little chaotic, but as a parent I value the trust that the school puts into its students. That includes letting them fail sometimes, in a safe environment. These experiences are necessary for the leaders of tomorrow.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2023

A middle school (and high school) that fosters independence, resilience and community with "facilitators" rather than "teachers" and "principals" in this student-centered and very positive charter school. We love that there is community built across grade levels and that kids who might not be "seen" in a larger institution are given focused attention by peers and facilitators. The lead facilitator (principal) is a thoughtful, motivating and fair-minded leader whose gregarious and laid-back manner belies an astute approach and strong academic background. We know our eighth-grader son is in a school that strives to bring out the best in its students not only academically, but also socially and in terms of instilling initiative and responsibility. There is a personal and almost avuncular feeling that you are being looked out for. Kids in the middle school and high school also enjoy the respect and liberty they are granted with some personal project time. We like best the confident feeling of the kids and the attentiveness of the facilitators and admin team. Though there has been some teacher turnaround in this pandemic era, the school has mostly seasoned and highly approachable instructors, but they have brought in--as other schools have--some new hires, all good though. We have enjoyed being involved as parents though we wish at times the school had a slightly bigger budget for extracurriculars. The campus is a bit small, but it is given some love by volunteer parents like us, and it feels very communal. It is a friendly and lively school accepting of all kinds of kids. We are also like to see some location diversity, too. Most, but not all families are in Alameda, but there are also students from Oakland, San Leandro and San Lorenzo in attendance. We live in San Leandro and carpool with an Oakland family. We love the warm and independent spirit of ACLC, and we love, especially, seeing it grow and evolve with parental involvement and care.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2023

ACLC is the hidden gem of the bay. Small, inclusive, my daughter is having a confidence building middle school experience. My learner is in the sixth grade and has been at ACLC for six months. The focus of the school is on cultivating stewards of the community with an eye on social justice and civic responsibility.The greatest asset ACLC has is its strong community and clear vision. There are many project based opportunities that develop strong community bonds across grade levels. I highly recommend ACLC as a delightful alternative to AUSD schools.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2018

Excellent staff, tight-knit community, strong academics. Our son much preferred this environment to the large high school scene.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2017

My daughter started at ACLC in middle school and has stayed for high school. She is flourishing here. It is a small, welcoming community where she feels both safe and empowered. There are leadership opportunities here for all ages, and encouragement of personal responsibility (and the opportunity to rise to the occasion). I know she benefits from the personal attention of the staff and is grateful for their approach-ability during bi-weekly office hours. I can attest to the fairness and thoroughness of the response of the staff and administrators in an instance of bullying in middle school that needed to be escalated beyond the student-led judicial process. I appreciate the personal attention to my daughter's unique medical needs at school -- and the careful adherence to our 504 plan. My daughter is challenged academically (something she welcomes) and encouraged to "fly" with projects and ideas that grab her interest. She has taken 2 college courses so far as part of the high school expectation and loves that this gives her more choices in coursework. I am so glad we could find the right fit for our daughter here and am grateful she is eager to be on campus every day.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2016

Our child has been at ACLC for 3 years now for middle school and we have watched our child grow socially, academically and maturing to wanting to become involved in her community. Our child feels heard and respected by facilitators. ACLC has college-like schedule with open periods and varied class schedules as the school feels it improves learner experience and performance. In middle school my child is learning time management with having a free period. My understanding that for High School this flexible scheduling allows high schoolers to take college classes. Taking a college course is an ACLC graduation requirement that also makes the school appealing to us as parents. We plan to stay at ACLC for High School. Our child also has a 504 and IEP and by far ACLC has met her needs far better than the previous private and public schools she has attended (Elementary) Her state test scores have increased significantly since coming to ACLC.
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2016

During his middle school years at ACLC , my son has matured into the kind of young man I want him to be. He found a caring community of students (we loved the older students who took him under their wings following "Hannah Camp") and creative and rigorous teachers, especially in English and history. Our son feels like he plays a real part in the life of the school.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2016

This school has no stability. Teachers are fired mid semester, administration refuses to address faculty issues. Problem students are repeatedly suspended- till they leave the school-instead of looking into the problems plaguing the student. Typical charter school siphoning money with nothing in return.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2016

I was excited when we first started at ACLC, but the experience is going down hill. I have trouble getting staff and administration to return my calls and emails when I have questions. My daughter has reported teachers not showing up to class, no substitute called in, and the class given a "free period." My questions to the office about this go unanswered. When I came to check my kids in after a Dr. appointment I was told my the staff on duty that he didn't know the procedure to check them in. I got calls later saying they were unexcused. The teachers are reporting assignments not turned in by my students, and my kids report that the teachers lost them. Of course I not inclined to believe this, and then a few other parents confirmed to me that they were sure some teachers were losing assignments. Doing my own in depth test, I did find that 1 out of the 4 "missing" assignments was lost. Things there just seem out of control. I attended a board meeting last year where they spoke about the schools enrollment hopes for 2016, and I think they have just grown faster than they have staffed for. My kids want to leave the school, but they are attached to their friends. We are shopping around.
Submitted by principal on October 20, 2015

Our experience with ACLC has been very positive over the six years my child has attended the school. She has developed time and task management skills with her studies, as well as becoming involved in planning and implementing school events. This school helps prepare kids for life by encouraging them to take responsibility and teaching them valuable life skills, not just academics.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2015

My middle-schooler and high schooler both love ACLC. They love that they have a real voice as members of the community. They feel valued and respected. They come home eager to discuss what they are learning, and are motivated to pursue topics in depth on their own time. I'm so happy for, and proud of them both.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2015

ACLC is a super-welcoming place and the vast majority of learners thrive here. The school's focus on project-based learning has been exactly what both of my kids needed to stay engaged and build self-reliance. Unbeatable leadership opportunities, too.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2015

HIGH TEACHER TURN OVER. MAJOR problems with Lead facilitator. Electives are offered for two semesters at most and then replaced. My child needs to find sign language at another school because the teacher's contract won't be renewed and the teacher won't be replaced. Teachers are fired mid-semester with no reason given. Don't waste your child's time.