One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary

One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary is a K-5 public school in the Los Angeles Unified district, serving 554 students in a high-need Gardena community where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

This school stands out for its remarkable success in getting students to attend class regularly, with a chronic absenteeism rate of only 10.7%—less than half the district average and far better than nearby schools like West Athens Elementary (27.9%) or Barack Obama Charter (49.4%). This focus on attendance coincides with steady academic improvement, and the school performs particularly well with specific student groups, such as English Learners and students with special needs, who have shown dramatic growth in recent years.

While test scores are below state averages, the school's consistent upward trajectory and efficient use of resources are notable. It outperforms other local schools with very similar demographics, such as One Hundred Eighteenth Street Elementary, and achieves results comparable to One Hundred Fifty-Third Street Elementary while spending significantly less per student. The contrast with higher-performing Chapman Elementary, which has a lower poverty rate, highlights the impact of school-level practices in supporting student success.