Woodruff Academy: Top Alternative School in Downey, CA (2026 List)

About Woodruff Academy

Woodruff Academy is a public alternative school in Downey, California that only serves about 15 students in grades 7 through 12. With a student-to-teacher ratio of about 8:1, it is one of the best schools for personalized attention. This small setting lets teachers customize their lessons to meet the unique academic and social-emotional needs of each of their students. Woodruff Academy is one of the best schools for personalized pathways. It focuses on foundational growth and completing credits to make sure that students make progress. The school also helps students move forward by giving them access to college entrance exams like the SAT and ACT. With an investment of about $14,037 per student, the campus offers a safe and welcoming school environment. In the end, the academy is known as one of the best schools because it is committed to providing equal resources and encouraging academic success through a flexible and caring learning model, and it is one of the best high school in California.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 0%

Reading 0%

State average proficiency is 0% in Math and 0% in Reading.

2

Full-time Teachers

9 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

15

Total Students

$58409

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 0%

Asian 0%

Hispanic 100%

Black 0%

Two+ Races 0%

Native Am. 0%

White

0%

Asian

0%

Hispanic

100%

Black

0%

Two+ Races

0%

Native Am.

0%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 15

33.33%

5 Female

66.67%

10 Male

Student Population

15 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 9 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

75 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Woodruff Academy Contact Information

Address

12330 Woodruff Ave., Downey, CA, 90241

View on Map

Phone

(562) 904-3552

Call Now

Website

http://www.dusd.net/columbus/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

For the 2025–2026 school year, Woodruff Academy will continue to use its unique way of teaching. The main goal will be to create individualized pathways that help students get ready for college or go back to full high schools. The district has a strong Career Technical Education (CTE) program that lets students learn by doing in fields that are in high demand, like welding and media makeup. This is good for the academy. The district's larger strategic funding plan also includes the campus. This plan makes sure that every student has access to modern technology and counseling services.

FAQ

Q1. Are students able to look in to STEM options?

Ans. Yes, for sure! There are science, technology, engineering, and math programs that let students learn through practical activities.

Q2. Are there programs that help kids stay fit?

Ans. Of course! Woodruff Academy helps students' mental, emotional, and social health by giving them counseling and wellness programs.

Q3. Do students have lockers?

Ans. Yes, students are given lockers in the hallways at the start of the school year.

Q4. Can students take the SAT and ACT?

Ans. Yes, Woodruff Academy lets students who want to go to college take both the SAT and the ACT.

Q5. Does Woodruff Academy encourage people to get involved in their community?

Ans. Yes, students can help out with community programs and volunteer projects to learn about civic duty.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

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What Parents Say