Gorman Elementary

Gorman Elementary is a small, rural K-8 school serving about 118 students in the remote, mountainous area of northern Los Angeles County within the Gorman Joint district.

This school is a real success story, having dramatically improved from one of the lower-ranked schools in the state a decade ago to now performing in the top third of all California schools. It stands out for its strong academic results, particularly in English Language Arts and Science, where it outperforms both the district and state averages. A key strength is its effectiveness with students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Interestingly, it achieves these results with fewer resources per student and larger class sizes than many schools, including the nearby Frazier Park Elementary in the El Tejon Unified district, which it outperforms by a significant margin.

While the school's academic performance is a strength, it does face the challenge of a higher rate of chronic student absenteeism compared to the state average. Performance also varies by grade, with middle school math being an area noted for potential growth. Overall, Gorman Elementary demonstrates how a rural school can deliver high-quality education and continuous improvement for its community.