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Richard Henry Dana Middle

Q: Is Richard Henry Dana Middle a good school?

Richard Henry Dana Middle ranks 1677 th of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

1677^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Middle Schools

Better than 39% of California middle schools

Summary

Richard Henry Dana Middle is a large public school serving about 1,355 students in grades 6-8 in San Pedro, part of the Los Angeles Unified school district.

Academically, the school faces significant challenges, with student proficiency in core subjects like math (25%) and English (38%) falling well below both district and state averages. A major concern is chronic absenteeism, with nearly 30% of students missing a significant amount of school, which is higher than the average for Los Angeles Unified and the state. While the school serves a high-need population, it performs below other nearby schools with similar student demographics, such as Stephen M. White Middle and Alexander Fleming Middle, suggesting other factors are influencing results.

Comparisons with nearby schools highlight notable disparities. For instance, Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle, just a few miles away in the same district, has significantly higher test scores and lower absenteeism. Schools in neighboring districts like Torrance Unified and Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified, such as Ridgecrest Intermediate, perform at much higher levels academically. The school spends more per student than many of these higher-performing schools, raising questions about how effectively its resources are being used to support student achievement.

1,355

Students ?

21.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,221

Per pupil spending ?

82%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1501 South Cabrillo Ave.
San Pedro, CA 90731-4617

(310) 241-1100

District: Los Angeles Unified

Students who attend Richard Henry Dana Middle usually attend:

High:

San Pedro Senior High

Feeder schools for Richard Henry Dana Middle:

Elementary:	Cabrillo Avenue Elementary
	Fifteenth Street Elementary
	Leland Street Elementary
	Seventh Street Elementary Arts Integration Magnet
	More...
	South Shores/CSUDH Visual and Performing Arts
	White Point Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

75.9%

White:

10.3%

African American:

7.3%

See top rated California middle schools

Compare Richard Henry Dana Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 37th percentile in 2013 → 39th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (30% vs 41% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (29% vs 19% California)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

District avg39%

California avg41%

1,677^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

43^rd of 83Middle 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	34.1	1677 of 2761	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.6	1647 of 2783	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.0	1893 of 2781	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.1	1822 of 2740	33.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	24.7	1999 of 2715	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.8	2014 of 2480	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.3	1797 of 2508	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	27.1	1759 of 2497	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	32.3	1560 of 2477	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2013	37.8	1492 of 2379	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2012	29.3	1662 of 2259	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	31.6	1603 of 2236	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	29.2	1600 of 2179	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.2	1492 of 2063	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	31.0	1395 of 2005	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	27.0	1473 of 1999	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	30.8	1230 of 1804	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2005	23.9	1361 of 1777	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	30.8	1178 of 1769	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	317 of 609	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.4	453 of 627	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.9	458 of 613	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	43.6	319 of 637	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.8	422 of 643	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.8	336 of 600	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	40.7	741 of 1531	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	26.6	1138 of 1491	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	26.0	1086 of 1369	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	32.7	1092 of 1478	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.9	1400 of 1521	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	26.5	1413 of 1540	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	26.6	1312 of 1442	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	24.6	1272 of 1364	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.6	1592 of 2533	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.4	1530 of 2551	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.7	1619 of 2531	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.3	1657 of 2509	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.2	1881 of 2380	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.0	1915 of 2262	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	37.8	1398 of 2395	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.6	1349 of 2388	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.7	1658 of 2374	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.1	1623 of 2359	31.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	21.4	1847 of 2213	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.2	1888 of 2072	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Homeless

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	18.6	439 of 477	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	49.2	160 of 394	59.4%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	33.9	1614 of 2542	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	30.2	1769 of 2579	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.6	1766 of 2531	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.6	1633 of 2458	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	22.7	1939 of 2369	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	14.6	2053 of 2230	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	34.7	1541 of 2534	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.2	1520 of 2552	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.7	1830 of 2538	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.3	1726 of 2527	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.1	1759 of 2407	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.1	1827 of 2273	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	28.9	136 of 193	29.5%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	27.9	535 of 726	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.4	548 of 701	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.6	417 of 677	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.3	395 of 554	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.3	407 of 462	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	41.5	765 of 1566	51.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	37.0	868 of 1552	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	31.7	1017 of 1531	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	61.2	591 of 1520	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.4	544 of 1537	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.2	801 of 1543	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.9	751 of 1555	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	53.9	718 of 1602	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	49.0	757 of 1496	49.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

White (2025)61st percentile+22 vs school

Disabled (2022)52nd percentile+18 vs school

Special Education (2025)51st percentile+12 vs school

African American (2025)48th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)42nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)39th percentile~ school

Female (2025)37th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)37th percentile-3 vs school

Military Connected (2022)30th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)26th percentile-13 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)26th percentile-15 vs school

Homeless (2025)8th percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy38%-11 vs state

Mathematics25%-12 vs state

Science22%-10 vs state

2.3

3 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★2

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 10, 2017

This school has only improved and exceeded my expectations in the last few years.
Since Mr.Steve Gebhart began his leadership has brought this school to the next level. Dana is now a Steam Magnet and the students are excelling. I am a proud parent and highly recommend this school to all students in this area. Close Quote

by a parent
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I had to pull my child out of the school due to bullying issues. The bullying took place in the classroom. Teachers are abrasive and just dont' care. This school is horrible. Close Quote

Schools Near Richard Henry Dana Middle

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 (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	CAST Science 8th 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 All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Richard Henry Dana Middle	Public	6-8	1501 South Cabrillo Ave.	San Pedro	90731	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 241-1100	1,355	64	21.2	82.0%	140 (10.3%)	99 (7.3%)	1,029 (75.9%)	23 (1.7%)	3 (0.2%)	9 (0.7%)	52 (3.8%)	34.1	1677^th of 2761 public middle schools	39.3%		34.6	1647^th of 2783 public middle schools	40.8%	30	22.5	22.5	34.2	40.1	38.7	37.6	23.9	24.8	26.5	25.1	$20,221	$3,430	$16,791
Miraleste Intermediate	Public	6-8	29323 Palos Verdes Dr. East	Rancho Palos Verdes	90275	Los Angeles County	Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 732-0900	720	35	20.4	14.2%	300 (41.7%)	14 (1.9%)	168 (23.3%)	127 (17.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	110 (15.3%)	90.5	267^th of 2761 public middle schools	90.3%		94.6	166^th of 2783 public middle schools	94.0%	101	63.4	63.4	73.7	65.1	66.5	68.4	61.9	65.3	61.8	62.9	$16,019	$560	$15,459
Rudecinda Sepulveda Dodson Middle	Public	6-8	28014 Montereina Dr.	Rancho Palos Verdes	90275	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 241-1900	1,337	66	20.3	67.8%	142 (10.6%)	198 (14.8%)	756 (56.5%)	168 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.4%)	68 (5.1%)	87.4	324^th of 2761 public middle schools	88.3%		83	417^th of 2783 public middle schools	85.0%	93	47.7	47.7	70.1	71.8	73.4	71.7	61.2	53.7	52.3	55.9	$18,906	$3,116	$15,790
Alexander Fleming Middle	Public	6-8	25425 Walnut St.	Lomita	90717	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 257-4500	1,110	62	18.0	88.8%	72 (6.5%)	136 (12.3%)	787 (70.9%)	63 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.5%)	46 (4.1%)	50.4	1168^th of 2761 public middle schools	57.7%		41.7	1405^th of 2783 public middle schools	49.5%	237	21.1	21.1	40.0	47.3	51.0	46.2	33.6	36.7	40.5	37.0	$20,532	$3,965	$16,567
Wilmington Mid Sci Technical Engr Arts Math (STEAM) Magnet	Public	6-8	1700 Gulf Ave.	Wilmington	90744	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 847-1500	1,121	63	17.8	94.6%	12 (1.1%)	29 (2.6%)	1,049 (93.6%)	18 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.4%)	8 (0.7%)	41.2	1459^th of 2761 public middle schools	47.2%		39.8	1473^rd of 2783 public middle schools	47.1%	14	22.9	22.9	37.1	41.5	39.5	39.4	34.3	32.9	29.0	32.0	$20,947	$4,360	$16,587
Ridgecrest Intermediate	Public	6-8	28915 Northbay Rd.	Rancho Palos Verdes	90275	Los Angeles County	Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 544-2747	881	36	24.3	10.3%	190 (21.6%)	22 (2.5%)	94 (10.7%)	472 (53.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	101 (11.5%)	98	50^th of 2761 public middle schools	98.2%		98.1	44^th of 2783 public middle schools	98.4%	6	66.4	66.4	86.0	85.5	83.2	84.9	81.3	79.8	77.1	79.4	$14,788	$508	$14,280
J. H. Hull Middle	Public	6-8	2080 West 231st St.	Torrance	90501	Los Angeles County	Torrance Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 533-4516	621	22	27.9	50.2%	84 (13.5%)	26 (4.2%)	384 (61.8%)	91 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	34 (5.5%)	64.9	789^th of 2761 public middle schools	71.4%		56.1	990^th of 2783 public middle schools	64.4%	201	44.8	44.8	47.4	50.8	43.4	47.1	42.8	47.5	47.1	45.9	$17,015	$779	$16,236
Stephen M. White Middle	Public	6-8	22102 South Figueroa St.	Carson	90745	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 783-4900	1,423	72	19.7	82.2%	44 (3.1%)	208 (14.6%)	897 (63.0%)	185 (13.0%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (3.0%)	46 (3.2%)	57.1	974^th of 2761 public middle schools	64.7%		56.2	987^th of 2783 public middle schools	64.5%	13	31.1	31.1	51.1	49.5	52.2	50.9	36.6	36.3	37.0	36.6	$20,296	$3,983	$16,313
Edward J. Richardson Middle	Public	6-8	23751 Nancy Lee Ln.	Torrance	90505	Los Angeles County	Torrance Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(310) 533-4790	651	24	27.1	18.6%	223 (34.3%)	13 (2.0%)	111 (17.1%)	223 (34.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (12.4%)	95.5	132^nd of 2761 public middle schools	95.2%		96.3	112^th of 2783 public middle schools	96.0%	20	69.5	69.5	71.9	86.4	81.0	79.5	65.8	73.0	66.7	68.3	$16,079	$533	$15,546
Stephens Middle	Public	6-8	1830 West Columbia St.	Long Beach	90810	Los Angeles County	Long Beach Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 595-0841	658	36	18.4	76.9%	7 (1.1%)	73 (11.1%)	437 (66.4%)	95 (14.4%)	3 (0.5%)	23 (3.5%)	20 (3.0%)	54	1075^th of 2761 public middle schools	61.1%		54.8	1019^th of 2783 public middle schools	63.4%	56	19.5	19.5	46.5	55.2	58.6	53.3	29.6	43.7	31.2	34.8	$21,936	$4,675	$17,261

Frequently Asked Questions about Richard Henry Dana Middle

What high school do graduates of Richard Henry Dana Middle attend?

Students who attend Richard Henry Dana Middle usually go on to attend San Pedro Senior High

Is Richard Henry Dana Middle a good school?

Richard Henry Dana Middle ranks 1677^th of 2761 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Richard Henry Dana Middle in?

Los Angeles Unified

What is the racial makeup of Richard Henry Dana Middle?

Students at Richard Henry Dana Middle are 76% Hispanic, 10% White, 7% African American, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Richard Henry Dana Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,355 students attended Richard Henry Dana Middle.

Rate Richard Henry Dana Middle!

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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.