Downtown Value

Downtown Value is a K-8 elementary school serving 395 students in Los Angeles, located within the Downtown Value District, which has a lower overall state ranking compared to the large Los Angeles Unified district that surrounds many other local schools.

The school serves a high-need community and, while its test scores are below state averages, it shows important strengths in serving its specific student population, performing better for Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students than many other schools with similar demographics across California. However, it faces significant challenges, including a high and rising chronic absenteeism rate of 30.8%, which is worse than most neighbors like Vermont Avenue Elementary (19.1%), and particularly low proficiency in science. Performance varies greatly by grade, with 3rd graders doing relatively well but 4th graders struggling, and support for English Learners has been inconsistent in recent years.

When compared to nearby schools, Downtown Value operates with a higher student-teacher ratio and lower per-student spending than many, such as Tenth Street Elementary. Nearby charter schools like Equitas Academy Charter generally have higher test scores and lower absenteeism with similar student demographics. While Downtown Value has improved its statewide ranking recently, some nearby traditional public schools, like Magnolia Avenue Elementary, have shown more rapid improvement over the same period.