<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000858915 <NAME> CALIFORNIA CULINARY ACADEMY, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1997 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 3383 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 2713 <ALLOWANCES> 280 <INVENTORY> 214 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 6963 <PP&E> 8810 <DEPRECIATION> 4129 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 12733 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 5976 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 988 <COMMON> 9112 <OTHER-SE> (4051) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 12733 <SALES> 535 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3529 <CGS> 415 <TOTAL-COSTS> 702 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2744 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6 <INCOME-PRETAX> 77 <INCOME-TAX> 31 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 46 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 46 <EPS-PRIMARY> $0.01 <EPS-DILUTED> $0.01