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Betty Plasencia Elementary

Q: Is Betty Plasencia Elementary a good school?

Betty Plasencia Elementary ranks 4177 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

4177^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 29% of California elementary schools

Summary

Betty Plasencia Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 411 students in the Echo Park/Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, operating within the Los Angeles Unified district.

The school's academic performance, currently in the 29th percentile statewide, has fluctuated significantly over the past decade and is notably lower than some nearby schools with similar student populations, such as the higher-performing Castelar Street Elementary (56th percentile). An interesting finding is that Plasencia spends more per student than most comparison schools, yet this higher investment has not translated to stronger academic results. The school shows strengths in serving English Language Learners, who have shown dramatic improvement, and in reducing chronic absenteeism from its pandemic peak, though its current rate remains a challenge.

Academically, student performance in English Language Arts tends to improve in higher grades, while math proficiency declines—a pattern that differs from some peers. Science scores are a particular area for growth, lagging behind both other subjects and district averages. Compared to a mix of charter and traditional public schools in the area, like N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts and Union Avenue Elementary, Plasencia's outcomes are mixed, indicating that school type alone does not determine success in this community.

411

Students ?

20.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$30,428

Per pupil spending ?

95.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1321 Cortez St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026-5622

(213) 250-7450

District: Los Angeles Unified

Students who attend Betty Plasencia Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Sal Castro Middle
High:	Belmont Senior High
	Contreras Learning Center-Academic Leadership Community
	Contreras Learning Center-Los Angeles School of Global Studies
	Contreras Learning Center-School of Social Justice
	More...
	Edward R. Roybal Learning Center
	School of Business and Tourism at Contreras Learning Complex

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

87.6%

White:

3.9%

African American:

3.4%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Betty Plasencia Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 18th percentile in 2013 → 29th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 11 percentile points since 2013

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (29% vs 41% meeting standards)

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 17 pts below the California average

!Near the bottom of Los Angeles Unified's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

District avg39%

California avg41%

4,177^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 29%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 16% (2015) to bottom 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

388^th of 487Elementary Schools in the Los Angeles Unified

791^st of 1,543Los Angeles Unified 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	27.4	4177 of 5857	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.7	3801 of 5869	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.8	4185 of 5859	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.4	4210 of 5883	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.1	4352 of 5789	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.5	3250 of 5662	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.8	4185 of 5692	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	29.8	3789 of 5614	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	19.1	4716 of 5611	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	22.7	4550 of 5530	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	21.7	4543 of 5390	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	20.9	4617 of 5377	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	27.5	4051 of 5314	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.8	3649 of 5193	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	30.7	3528 of 5113	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	27.4	3746 of 5113	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	32.7	3129 of 4818	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2005	37.8	2846 of 4822	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	36.3	2850 of 4809	40.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	37.9	1963 of 3162	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.3	2646 of 3245	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.3	3187 of 3311	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	35.9	2062 of 3275	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.4	2158 of 3246	33.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	3682 of 5597	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	27.0	4066 of 5612	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.9	4140 of 5609	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.4	4083 of 5635	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.1	4705 of 5492	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.5	3179 of 5413	41.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.0	3239 of 5107	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.3	2735 of 5107	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.0	2896 of 5087	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	39.3	2953 of 5084	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.4	3431 of 4963	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	48.4	2327 of 4830	51.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.4	3395 of 5460	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.8	3163 of 5517	42.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	3479 of 5363	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.6	3213 of 5264	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.3	3488 of 5173	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.6	2135 of 5084	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	24.8	4302 of 5628	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.7	3307 of 5643	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.9	3872 of 5638	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.5	4004 of 5663	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	32.2	3607 of 5510	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.0	3110 of 5431	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)38th percentile+3 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)38th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)37th percentile+8 vs school

Female (2025)34th percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)24th percentile-5 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy32%-17 vs state

Mathematics28%-9 vs state

Science20%-13 vs state

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Monday, December 12, 2011

I attended Betty Plasencia Elementary back when it was Cortez Elementary and those were the best that I can remember in my child hood my 5th grade teacher Mrs Pollacheck and my 6th grade teacher Mr.Fitz again they brought something to me to were I am 42 years old and because of them I am who I am today and saw life different in general. Close Quote

Schools Near Betty Plasencia Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CSA Spanish Overall (2025)				CSA Spanish Listening (2025)				CSA Spanish Writing (2025)				CSA Spanish Reading (2025)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	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 All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Betty Plasencia Elementary	Public	K-5	1321 Cortez St.	Los Angeles	90026	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 250-7450	411	21	20.0	95.1%	16 (3.9%)	14 (3.4%)	360 (87.6%)	14 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	27.4	4177^th of 5857 public elementary schools	28.7%		31.7	3801^st of 5869 public elementary schools	35.2%	376																	19.7		19.7	28.3	29.7	39.0				32.1	32.8	28.0	24.6				28.4	94.9		94.9		95.9	$30,428	$6,125	$24,303
Union Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	150 South Burlington Ave.	Los Angeles	90057	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 483-1345	809	37	21.8	93.9%	6 (0.7%)	8 (1.0%)	775 (95.8%)	16 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.5%)	33.4	3685^th of 5857 public elementary schools	37.1%		36.9	3373^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	42.5%	312																	23.4		23.4	34.5	40.0	37.5				37.1	32.7	30.8	28.2				30.7	95.5	96.7	97.2	96.7	97.8	$21,870	$4,992	$16,878
Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars (GLAYS)	Public	K-5	309 Lucas Ave.	Los Angeles	90017	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 250-2932	408	20	20.4	96.3%	15 (3.7%)	56 (13.7%)	326 (79.9%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	20.8	4758^th of 5857 public elementary schools	18.8%		30.2	3912^th of 5869 public elementary schools	33.3%	846																	15.1		15.1	21.9	27.3	32.4				27.4	29.0	23.8	20.6				24.3	92.5	92.5	92.5	92.5		$26,392	$5,188	$21,204
N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts	Public, Charter	K-5	379 South Loma Dr.	Los Angeles	90017	Los Angeles County	N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 413-9183	417	18	23.1	97.4%	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	410 (98.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	39.6	3251^st of 5857 public elementary schools	44.5%		39.6	3199^th of 5869 public elementary schools	45.5%	52	19.2	16.7	6.4	14.0	59.6	28.6	42.6	44.1	25.5	33.3	4.3	20.6	10.6	16.7	6.4	11.0	16.7		16.7	31.8	55.2	43.9				43.2	38.5	45.8	19.7				34.2						$22,269	$3,110	$19,159
Logan Academy of Global Ecology	Public	K-8	1711 West Montana St.	Los Angeles	90026	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 413-6353	362	22	16.5	93.6%	5 (1.4%)	15 (4.1%)	325 (89.8%)	16 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	33.3	3697^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.9%		20	4868^th of 5869 public elementary schools	17.1%	1171																	26.5	26.4	26.4	20.5	33.3	38.2	40.0	47.8	45.3	38.0	24.4	47.2	17.1	35.6	19.2	22.6	27.2	90.9	95.5	95.5	92.4	95.5	$31,839	$5,108	$26,731
Lake Street Primary	Public	K-1	135 North Lake St.	Los Angeles	90026	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 413-3305	104	6	17.3	94.2%	1 (1.0%)	7 (6.7%)	80 (76.9%)	14 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.9%)								(n/a)																																							$48,692	$6,725	$41,967
Camino Nuevo Charter Academy #4	Public, Charter	K-8	1018 Mohawk St.	Los Angeles	90026	Los Angeles County	Camino Nuevo Charter Academy #4 District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 353-5300	475	24	19.4	92.4%	2 (0.4%)	8 (1.7%)	447 (94.1%)	12 (2.5%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19.4	4881^st of 5857 public elementary schools	16.7%		18.5	4985^th of 5869 public elementary schools	15.1%	104																	11.1	16.4	14.2	25.0	20.4	28.9	25.0	29.8	39.3	28.6	27.5	20.0	20.0	25.9	17.2	19.4	21.4						$21,036	$1,109	$19,927
Rosemont Avenue Elementary	Public	2-5	421 North Rosemont Ave.	Los Angeles	90026	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 413-5310	157	7	22.4	94.3%	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)	115 (73.2%)	29 (18.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.5%)	34.2	3638^th of 5857 public elementary schools	37.9%		39.6	3201^st of 5869 public elementary schools	45.5%	437																	18.4		18.4	32.3	22.6	44.7				34.9	35.5	25.0	40.4				34.6						$35,516	$8,352	$27,164
Gabriella Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	1435 Logan St.	Los Angeles	90026	Los Angeles County	Gabriella Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 413-5741	396	21	18.7	88.4%	10 (2.5%)	6 (1.5%)	354 (89.4%)	13 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)	23.3	4562^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	22.1%		39.8	3184^th of 5869 public elementary schools	45.7%	1378																	40.6	16.4	25.3	20.8	25.0	40.6	28.9	46.3	47.3	34.8	25.0	23.3	21.9	11.5	28.3	20.0	21.6						$21,983	$1,871	$20,112
Castelar Street Elementary	Public	K-8	840 Yale St.	Los Angeles	90012	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(213) 626-3674	626	31	20.1	85.5%	99 (15.8%)	16 (2.6%)	179 (28.6%)	298 (47.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (5.4%)	50.1	2585^th of 5857 public elementary schools	55.9%		56.1	2232^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	62.0%	353																	19.6	33.3	22.7	50.6	43.8	38.6	45.0	74.3	61.5	48.7	63.4	47.3	28.3	34.8	35.1	40.7	44.1	95.7					$23,381	$3,952	$19,429

Frequently Asked Questions about Betty Plasencia Elementary

What district is Betty Plasencia Elementary in?

Los Angeles Unified

What schools do graduates of Betty Plasencia Elementary attend?

Students who attend Betty Plasencia Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sal Castro Middle
High : Belmont Senior High
High : Contreras Learning Center-Academic Leadership Community
High : Contreras Learning Center-Los Angeles School of Global Studies
High : Contreras Learning Center-School of Social Justice
High : Edward R. Roybal Learning Center
High : School of Business and Tourism at Contreras Learning Complex

Is Betty Plasencia Elementary a good school?

Betty Plasencia Elementary ranks 4177^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Betty Plasencia Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 411 students attended Betty Plasencia Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Betty Plasencia Elementary?

Students at Betty Plasencia Elementary are 88% Hispanic, 4% White, 3% African American, 3% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

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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.