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Richard Riordan Primary Center

Q: Is Richard Riordan Primary Center a good school?

Richard Riordan Primary Center ranks 715 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

715^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 88% of California elementary schools

Summary

Richard Riordan Primary Center is a small, high-performing K-5 public school serving 136 students within the Los Angeles Unified School District, notable for its remarkable academic turnaround despite serving a community with significant economic need.

The school's story is one of dramatic improvement, having recently jumped to rank in the 88th percentile statewide. Its students are now scoring about 24 points higher than the district average in both English and Math, a larger positive gap than nearly all nearby schools. This success is especially striking when compared to a school like Monte Vista Street Elementary, located just a short walk away, which serves a very similar student population but has significantly lower proficiency rates. While Mt. Washington Elementary scores slightly higher, it serves a far more affluent community, making Richard Riordan's achievement particularly noteworthy.

Key factors in this turnaround include effective management of chronic absenteeism, which is now below both district and state averages, and strong, consistent academic performance across grade levels. The school also benefits from higher-than-average per-student spending, but it uses those resources effectively to deliver exceptional results, unlike some neighboring schools with similar or higher budgets. This combination of factors makes Richard Riordan a compelling model of how a school can achieve outstanding academic outcomes for its students.

136

Students ?

19.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$35,186

Per pupil spending ?

77.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5531 Monte Vista St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042-3324

(323) 551-6822

District: Los Angeles Unified

Students who attend Richard Riordan Primary Center usually attend:

Middle:	Luther Burbank Mid School Sci Technical Engr Arts and Math Magnet
High:	Benjamin Franklin Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

83.1%

White:

7.4%

Two or more races:

5.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Richard Riordan Primary Center to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (69% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 12% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Los Angeles Unified

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school69%

District avg42%

California avg43%

715^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 12%

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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

791^st of 1,543Los Angeles Unified among California districts

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy70%+21 vs state

Mathematics68%+30 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, November 27, 2025

Richard Riordan is an amazing elementary and wonderful community to be a part of. The school offers TK-5th grade and a French Dual Language program. The families here are warm and welcoming and we know almost everyone who attends. The PTA is active and growing, helping the school raise money and support programming. I have two children in the French program at Riordan and we are happy with the school. The principal, Lynn Elias is amazing and knows every student. She genuinely cares about the school. The teachers at the school are consistently excellent and the small school atmosphere is wonderful. Be sure to check this school out, as I imagine this will be a highly sought school in the next year or so! Close Quote

Schools Near Richard Riordan Primary Center

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations 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)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (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	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	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Richard Riordan Primary Center	Public	K-5	5531 Monte Vista St.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 551-6822	136	7	19.4	77.9%	10 (7.4%)	1 (0.7%)	113 (83.1%)	4 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.9%)	88.9	715^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.8%					(n/a)				70.6	63.6					70.3	70.6	72.7					67.6							$35,186	$7,865	$27,321
Monte Vista Street Elementary	Public	K-5	5423 Monte Vista St.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 254-7261	181	10	18.1	88.4%	3 (1.7%)	2 (1.1%)	176 (97.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.8	3228^th of 5857 public elementary schools	44.9%		24.6	4406^th of 5869 public elementary schools	24.9%	1178	28.6		28.6	33.3	38.5	47.4				41.1	18.2	38.5	33.3				31.0							$36,573	$7,027	$29,546
Aldama Elementary	Public	K-5	632 North Avenue 50	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-1434	329	16	20.5	74.2%	33 (10.0%)	0 (0.0%)	281 (85.4%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.0%)	45.8	2842^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	51.5%		33	3689^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.1%	847	20.4		20.4	35.3	48.4	44.9				43.3	43.1	51.6	24.5				40.9							$26,723	$5,138	$21,585
Yorkdale Elementary	Public	K-5	5657 Meridian St.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-0587	205	10	20.5	82.9%	12 (5.9%)	1 (0.5%)	180 (87.8%)	7 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.4%)	33.2	3708^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.7%		33.4	3648^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.8%	60	15.2		15.2	43.3	42.9	18.2				34.7	43.3	34.3	21.2				32.7	91.3				91.3		$27,159	$4,356	$22,803
Bushnell Way Elementary	Public	K-5	5507 Bushnell Way	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-6511	157	8	19.6	84.1%	3 (1.9%)	4 (2.5%)	143 (91.1%)	5 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	50.9	2552^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	56.4%		49.4	2585^th of 5869 public elementary schools	56.0%	33	44.0		44.0	34.6	53.6	64.0				50.6	32.0	35.7	28.0				32.1							$45,649	$10,544	$35,105
Arroyo Seco Museum Science	Public	K-8	4805 Sycamore Terr.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 254-5141	413	20	20.6	74.1%	33 (8.0%)	3 (0.7%)	360 (87.2%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.7%)	64.3	1869^th of 5857 public elementary schools	68.1%		67	1728^th of 5869 public elementary schools	70.6%	141	32.7	67.3	51.0	47.7	47.1	61.2	61.7	75.0	81.8	62.8	45.5	47.1	40.8	59.6	47.7	58.2	50.0							$22,326	$3,452	$18,874
Buchanan Street Elementary	Public	K-5	5024 Buchanan St.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-7118	278	16	17.3	66.2%	26 (9.4%)	3 (1.1%)	217 (78.1%)	14 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.5%)	51.2	2542^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	56.6%		37.4	3340^th of 5869 public elementary schools	43.1%	798	34.2		34.2	50.0	48.7	42.1				47.2	60.0	32.4	18.4				39.2							$29,870	$4,974	$24,896
Garvanza Elementary School Technology and Leadership Magnet	Public	K-5	317 North Avenue 62	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 254-7328	239	12	19.9	81.6%	7 (2.9%)	2 (0.8%)	210 (87.9%)	14 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.1%)	54.6	2332^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	60.2%		56.1	2236^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.9%	96	37.1		37.1	51.7	42.1	51.4				48.0	55.2	47.4	22.9				41.2	88.1	94.9	93.2	91.5	89.8	91.5	$31,275	$5,672	$25,603
Mt. Washington Elementary	Public	K-6	3981 San Rafael Ave.	Los Angeles	90065	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 225-8320	430	18	23.8	18.1%	175 (40.7%)	3 (0.7%)	93 (21.6%)	41 (9.5%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	116 (27.0%)	94	396^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.2%		92.3	554^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.6%	158	68.9		68.9	80.6	72.7	80.4	83.3			78.7	76.1	70.9	65.2	70.8			71.4	94.2			96.5	96.5		$16,926	$2,436	$14,490
Annandale Elementary	Public	K-5	6125 Poppy Peak Dr.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 254-9168	90	5	18.0	88.9%	2 (2.2%)	1 (1.1%)	81 (90.0%)	4 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	13.1	5410^th of 5857 public elementary schools	7.6%		25	4359^th of 5869 public elementary schools	25.7%	1051	15.4		15.4	15.4		23.1				25.0	15.4		15.4				19.4	93.6						$50,133	$10,483	$39,650

Frequently Asked Questions about Richard Riordan Primary Center

How many students attend Richard Riordan Primary Center?

In the 2024-25 school year, 136 students attended Richard Riordan Primary Center.

What district is Richard Riordan Primary Center in?

Los Angeles Unified

What is the racial makeup of Richard Riordan Primary Center?

Students at Richard Riordan Primary Center are 83% Hispanic, 7% White, 6% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

Is Richard Riordan Primary Center a good school?

Richard Riordan Primary Center ranks 715^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Richard Riordan Primary Center attend?

Students who attend Richard Riordan Primary Center usually go on to attend:

Middle : Luther Burbank Mid School Sci Technical Engr Arts and Math Magnet
High : Benjamin Franklin Senior High

Rate Richard Riordan Primary Center!

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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.