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Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy

Q: Is Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy a good school?

Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy ranks 736 th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 9-12

736^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,162 California High Schools

Better than 66% of California high schools

Summary

Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy is a public charter high school serving about 550 students in grades 9-12 in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, and it has shown impressive, steady improvement in recent years.

The school's greatest strength is ensuring students graduate, with a 98.3% graduation rate that far exceeds the state average and is among the highest in the area, alongside a very low dropout rate. Academically, it excels in English Language Arts, outperforming the state and most nearby schools like Animo Compton Charter and University Pathways Medical Magnet Academy. However, math proficiency is a notable challenge, though this is a common issue shared with many neighboring schools, with only top performers like Compton Early College High and King/Drew Medical Magnet High exceeding state averages.

When compared to other schools in Watts, Animo Watts holds a solid middle position, performing significantly better than struggling schools like Dorothy V. Johnson Community Day but not reaching the exceptional levels of the area's top performers. The school has room to grow in reducing chronic absenteeism, which is higher than the state average, and in strengthening support for special education students and English learners. Its trajectory of improvement from the 41st to the 66th percentile statewide suggests the school is on a positive path.

546

Students ?

19.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

92.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

12628 Avalon Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90061-2728

(323) 756-3930

District: Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy District

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

86.3%

African American:

10.1%

Two or more races:

2.7%

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At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 41st percentile in 2019 → 66th in 2025

Strengths

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (86%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2019

✓Above the California median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 15 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

California avg41%

736^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 25 pts since 2019

From bottom 41% (2019) to top 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

454^th of 1,543Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy District among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	63.2	736 of 2162	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.1	741 of 2159	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.7	972 of 2170	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.2	1147 of 2123	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.3	1256 of 2133	41.1%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	66.1	146 of 521	72.0%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	39.7	582 of 1161	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.6	780 of 1117	30.2%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	36.5	673 of 1085	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.7	537 of 1064	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.6	409 of 1044	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	28.3	823 of 941	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	59.2	724 of 1906	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.5	679 of 1915	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.7	947 of 1915	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.4	926 of 1858	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.1	966 of 1833	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	78.4	329 of 1900	82.7%	★★★★☆
2024	71.8	445 of 1902	76.6%	★★★★☆
2023	61.7	633 of 1917	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.0	725 of 1861	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.1	982 of 1814	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	73.2	466 of 2013	76.9%	★★★★☆
2024	68.4	530 of 2026	73.8%	★★★★☆
2023	59.1	728 of 2030	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.5	846 of 1943	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.4	1020 of 1937	47.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.7	659 of 1942	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.3	726 of 1948	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.8	873 of 1963	55.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	32.9	1228 of 1916	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.0	1296 of 1880	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.2	727 of 1252	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.4	580 of 1216	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	22.9	1036 of 1197	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Hispanic (2025)83rd percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)77th percentile+11 vs school

African American (2023)72nd percentile+17 vs school

Male (2025)66th percentile~ school

Female (2025)62nd percentile-4 vs school

Disabled (2022)50th percentile+4 vs school

Special Education (2025)42nd percentile-24 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)38th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy64%+15 vs state

Science36%+4 vs state

Mathematics22%-15 vs state

★

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Schools Near Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	12628 Avalon Blvd.	Los Angeles	90061	Los Angeles County	Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 756-3930	546	28	19.4	92.5%	3 (0.5%)	55 (10.1%)	471 (86.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (2.7%)	63.2	736^th of 2162 public high schools	66.0%		61.1	741^st of 2159 public high schools	65.7%	5		36.7		36.2				63.6	63.6				22.5	22.5
New Designs Charter School-Watts	Public, Charter	6-12	12714 South Avalon Blvd.	Los Angeles	90061	Los Angeles County	New Designs Charter School-Watts District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 418-0600	194	11	17.0	93.3%	8 (4.1%)	108 (55.7%)	61 (31.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	16 (8.2%)	61.2	792^nd of 2162 public high schools	63.4%		42.2	1187^th of 2159 public high schools	45.0%	395	46.2		24.2	33.9	0.0	22.7	18.5	53.3	28.9	0.0	0.0	29.6	30.0	18.9
Animo Compton Charter	Public, Charter	6-12	13305 South San Pedro St.	Los Angeles	90061	Los Angeles County	Animo Compton Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 565-1600	372	24	15.6	89.2%	7 (1.9%)	153 (41.1%)	202 (54.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	35.1	1379^th of 2162 public high schools	36.2%		15.8	1797^th of 2159 public high schools	16.8%	418	4.8	25.7		12.1	16.0	37.0	29.0	42.9	30.4	6.0	13.0	8.1	5.7	8.5
Centennial High	Public	9-12	2606 North Central Ave.	Compton	90222	Los Angeles County	Compton Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 635-2715	908	45	20.1	90.1%	1 (0.1%)	158 (17.4%)	734 (80.8%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.4%)	4 (0.4%)	5 (0.6%)	37	1328^th of 2162 public high schools	38.6%		32.4	1437^th of 2159 public high schools	33.4%	109		18.8		18.1				52.0	52.0				9.0	9.0	$21,100	$16,704	$4,396
Benjamin Banneker Career and Transition Center	Public	12	14024 South San Pedro St.	Los Angeles	90061	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 324-6668	196	19	10.1	95.4%	3 (1.5%)	36 (18.4%)	153 (78.1%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)								(n/a)
University Pathways Medical Magnet Academy	Public	9-12	11227 South San Pedro St.	Los Angeles	90061	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 241-4060	110	10	10.5	97.3%	0 (0.0%)	21 (19.1%)	87 (79.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.8%)	40.4	1250^th of 2162 public high schools	42.2%		21.6	1664^th of 2159 public high schools	22.9%	414		19.2		18.5				59.3	59.3				7.4	7.4	$57,706	$55,610	$2,096
King/Drew Medical Magnet High	Public	9-12	1601 East 120th St.	Los Angeles	90059	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 566-0420	1,381	71	19.4	90.2%	13 (0.9%)	654 (47.4%)	657 (47.6%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (3.7%)	83	358^th of 2162 public high schools	83.4%		80.9	399^th of 2159 public high schools	81.5%	41		46.5		46.4				74.7	74.7				39.4	39.4	$37,360	$35,100	$2,260
Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	325 East 111th St.	Los Angeles	90061	Los Angeles County	Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 420-2170	1,159	67	17.3	90.9%	29 (2.5%)	243 (21.0%)	878 (75.8%)	3 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.4%)	22	1652^nd of 2162 public high schools	23.6%		17.1	1756^th of 2159 public high schools	18.7%	104		12.0	18.2	12.3				28.1	28.1				9.5	9.5
Compton Early College High	Public	9-12	2601 North Wilmington Ave.	Compton	90222	Los Angeles County	Compton Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 604-2706	556	18	30.8	85.4%	3 (0.5%)	63 (11.3%)	485 (87.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	94.8	100^th of 2162 public high schools	95.4%		93.3	148^th of 2159 public high schools	93.1%	48		60.0		60.0				89.2	89.2				53.1	53.1	$24,967	$21,442	$3,525
Dorothy V. Johnson Community Day	Public	9-12	10601 South Grandee Ave.	Los Angeles	90002	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 568-8400	27	3	8.9	88.9%	2 (7.4%)	9 (33.3%)	16 (59.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)				0.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy

Is Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy a good school?

Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy ranks 736^th of 2162 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy?

Students at Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy are 86% Hispanic, 10% African American, 3% Two or more races.

How many students attend Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 546 students attended Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy.

What district is Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy in?

Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy District

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.