At a glance
Reported students
245
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
13.32
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
18.4:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
09–12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Michigan high enrollment
46th percentile
Compared with 978 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
563
UCS Alternative Learning Center: 245 reported students.
State peer staffing position
54th percentile
18.4:1 reported; state peer median 18.1:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 181
- Teachers (FTE)
- 8.17
- Student–teacher ratio
- 22.2:1
What the reported data says about UCS Alternative Learning Center
UCS Alternative Learning Center is a public high school serving grades 09–12 in Sterling Heights. It is one of 37 current school records connected to Utica Community Schools. NCES reports 245 students for 2024–25.
Among 978 high schools in Michigan with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 280 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 46th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 18.4:1, close to the Michigan median of 18.1:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (70.2%) and Black (14.3%). English learners represent 21% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 10.5%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking UCS Alternative Learning Center
- 1How do the reported 18.4:1 student–teacher ratio and 13.32 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Have the reported academic programs changed since the 2021–22 CRDC collection?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 1 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 21%
- Students with disabilities
- 10.5%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 71%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 1
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0.1
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0.4
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White70.2%
- Hispanic7.3%
- Black14.3%
- Asian1.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial6.1%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
AP student enrollment
No students enrolled reported
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
Computer science
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Utica Community Schools
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Joan C Sergent Instructional Resource Center
High · Grades 09–12
0 reported students
Utica High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,391 reported students
Eisenhower High School
High · Grades 10–12
1,625 reported students
Henry Ford II High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,663 reported students
Adlai Stevenson High School
High · Grades 09–12
1,881 reported students
Messmore Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–06
332 reported students
Public schools near UCS Alternative Learning Center
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adlai Stevenson High School High · Utica Community Schools | 09–12 | 1,881 | 1.2 mi |
| Henry Ford II High School High · Utica Community Schools | 09–12 | 1,663 | 1.3 mi |
| Joan C Sergent Instructional Resource Center High · Utica Community Schools | 09–12 | 0 | 2.8 mi |
| Warren Consolidated Community High School High · Warren Consolidated Schools | 09–12 | 103 | 3.2 mi |
| Utica High School High · Utica Community Schools | 09–12 | 1,391 | 3.3 mi |
| Sterling Heights Senior HS High · Warren Consolidated Schools | 09–12 | 1,262 | 3.3 mi |
Frequently asked questions about UCS Alternative Learning Center
What grades does UCS Alternative Learning Center serve?
UCS Alternative Learning Center reports grades 09–12 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a high school (alternative school) in Utica Community Schools.
How many students attend UCS Alternative Learning Center?
UCS Alternative Learning Center reported 245 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 46th percentile among 978 Michigan high schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 181 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at UCS Alternative Learning Center?
The calculated ratio is 18.4:1, based on 245 students and 13.32 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Michigan median for the same school level is 18.1:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is UCS Alternative Learning Center a public, charter, or magnet school?
UCS Alternative Learning Center is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Utica Community Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of UCS Alternative Learning Center students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
71% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is UCS Alternative Learning Center in?
UCS Alternative Learning Center is part of Utica Community Schools, based in Sterling Heights, MI, which operates 37 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near UCS Alternative Learning Center?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Adlai Stevenson High School (1.2 mi), Henry Ford II High School (1.3 mi), Joan C Sergent Instructional Resource Center (2.8 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.