Summary:
The New Designs Charter School-Watts District contains a single charter high school, New Designs Charter School-Watts, which serves grades 6-12 in Los Angeles and has shown impressive academic improvement in recent years.
This school is on a strong upward trajectory, having significantly improved its statewide ranking from the 37th to the 63rd percentile in just two years. While its English and math scores are below state averages, it excels in science, with student proficiency exceeding the California average, particularly in 8th grade. The school also outperforms the state in key areas of student support, boasting a lower chronic absenteeism rate and a graduation rate above the state average, which suggests a positive and engaging school environment for its students, over 93% of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Areas for continued growth include strengthening foundational math skills in the early middle school grades and addressing a dropout rate that is currently higher than the state average. With substantial per-student funding and a reasonable class size, the school has the resources to build on its strengths in science and student retention, making it a compelling option for families in the Watts area seeking a school with a clear record of recent improvement.
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