Best Public Schools in Torrance, CA

The city of Torrance, California is home to 34 schools, including 20 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 6 high schools, all part of the Torrance Unified School District. This district is ranked 179 out of 1,560 districts in California and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger, indicating a strong overall performance.

Several standout schools emerge from the data, including South High School, which is ranked 133 out of 2,335 California high schools and has a 5-star rating, as well as West High School, ranked 175 out of 2,335 and also with a 5-star rating. These high schools boast exceptional graduation rates, low dropout rates, and strong test scores that exceed the district and state averages. At the elementary level, Walteria Elementary and Anza Elementary stand out with 5-star ratings and test scores that are well above the norm.

While the majority of schools in the Torrance Unified School District perform well, there are some areas of concern. The district's continuation high school, Shery (Kurt T.) High, has significantly lower graduation rates, higher dropout rates, and much lower test scores compared to the regular high schools. Additionally, there is a notable disparity in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from as low as 10.66% at Anza Elementary to as high as 91.72% at Meyler Street Elementary, which is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. This suggests the need for targeted interventions and support to ensure equitable access to educational resources across the district.