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Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet

Q: Is Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet a good school?

Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet ranks 403 rd of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

403^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,135 California High Schools

Better than 81% of California high schools

Summary

Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet is a public high school serving 183 students in grades 9–12 in Lake Balboa, in the Los Angeles area. Its 2025–2026 results show especially strong English language arts achievement. Most importantly, 79% of students were proficient in ELA, well above the 49% statewide rate and 48% in Los Angeles Unified.

ELA is the school’s clearest strength compared with nearby schools, while math is less distinctive. Daniel Pearl had the highest reported all-grades ELA and math results among nearby schools with scores that year; its 39% in math was just above the state’s 38% but slightly below the district’s 40%. Science proficiency was 44%, above the state’s 36% and district’s 32%, but second locally: Magnolia Science Academy 5 had 46%. The available 11th-grade results were also above state and district levels in all three subjects, though Magnolia Science Academy 5 scored higher in ELA and slightly higher in math.

Results have risen substantially since 2022–2023: ELA increased from 46% to 79%, math from 10% to 39%, and science from 23% to 44%. ELA’s path included a dip in 2024–2025, so improvement has not been steady. SchoolDigger placed Daniel Pearl in the 81st percentile with four stars in 2025–2026, up from the 69th percentile the year before; Magnolia Science Academy 5 ranked higher, at the 90th percentile with five stars. The 2024–2025 student–teacher ratio was 13.5, the second-lowest reported among nearby schools. That year, 78.7% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, close to Magnolia Science Academy 5’s 78.4%. SchoolDigger’s statewide effectiveness ranking for Hispanic students rose from the 63rd to the 89th percentile between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. With 183 students, results may be more sensitive to changes in the tested group than at larger schools.

183

Students ?

13.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$65,532

Per pupil spending ?

78.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

6649 Balboa Blvd.
Lake Balboa, CA 91406-5529

(818) 654-3775

District: Los Angeles Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

59.6%

White:

27.3%

Asian:

5.5%

See top rated California high schools

Compare Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 74th percentile in 2016 → 81st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (54% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 19% of California high schools

✓100% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (32% vs 18% California)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school54%

District avg42%

California avg42%

403^rd of 2,135

California public high schools ?

Top 19%▲ up 7 pts since 2016

From top 26% (2016) to top 19% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

16^th of 151High Schools in the Los Angeles Unified

715^th of 1,530Los 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
2026	80.2	403 of 2135	81.1%	★★★★☆
2025	66.7	663 of 2162	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.4	545 of 2159	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	42.4	1161 of 2170	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.4	576 of 2123	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	40.6	754 of 1290	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.9	906 of 2133	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.3	567 of 2017	71.9%	★★★★☆
2017	65.3	683 of 2021	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.3	536 of 2039	73.7%	★★★★☆
2015	62.6	693 of 1994	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	53.5	694 of 2426	71.4%	★★★★☆
2012	56.3	641 of 2354	72.8%	★★★★☆
2011	50.2	793 of 2367	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	83.9	82 of 2281	96.4%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	85.1	253 of 1864	86.4%	★★★★☆
2025	63.2	644 of 1906	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.3	467 of 1915	75.6%	★★★★☆
2023	38.4	1146 of 1915	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	78.7	342 of 1858	81.6%	★★★★☆
2021	39.9	625 of 1054	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	52.1	803 of 1833	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	65.6	608 of 1760	65.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	86.4	199 of 1880	89.4%	★★★★☆
2025	60.6	697 of 1900	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.5	472 of 1902	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	35.5	1232 of 1917	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.1	390 of 1861	79.0%	★★★★☆
2019	54.0	775 of 1814	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.8	474 of 1742	72.8%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	85.2	232 of 1997	88.4%	★★★★☆
2025	65.1	636 of 2013	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.2	438 of 2026	78.4%	★★★★☆
2023	34.7	1303 of 2030	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	72.2	395 of 1943	79.7%	★★★★☆
2021	42.7	664 of 1126	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.9	1126 of 1937	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	69.1	538 of 1862	71.1%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	68.5	571 of 1930	70.4%	★★★★☆
2025	64.6	616 of 1942	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.2	609 of 1948	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.7	1029 of 1963	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.7	899 of 1916	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.2	728 of 1122	35.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.0	911 of 1880	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	71.4	504 of 1834	72.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	70.7	231 of 1216	81.0%	★★★★☆
2023	48.8	460 of 1197	61.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	54.1	543 of 1173	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	26.4	901 of 1193	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.8	621 of 1204	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.0	852 of 1222	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.0	905 of 1173	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2026)89th percentile+8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)88th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2024)81st percentile+6 vs school

Male (2026)70th percentile-11 vs school

White (2024)54th percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy79%+30 vs state

Science44%+8 vs state

Mathematics39%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet	Public	9-12	6649 Balboa Blvd.	Lake Balboa	91406	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 654-3775	183	14	13.5	78.7%	50 (27.3%)	8 (4.4%)	109 (59.6%)	10 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.3%)	80.2	403^rd of 2135 public high schools	81.1%		66.7	663^rd of 2162 public high schools	69.3%	260		45.5		44.1				78.8	78.8				39.4	39.4	$65,532	$62,460	$3,072
Independence Continuation	Public	9-12	6501 Balboa Blvd.	Lake Balboa	91406	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 881-7737	103	6	18.7	90.3%	10 (9.7%)	3 (2.9%)	89 (86.4%)	1 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21.5	1627^th of 2135 public high schools	23.8%		15.7	1781^st of 2162 public high schools	17.6%	154		5.9		4.8				44.4	44.4				0.0	0.0	$44,169	$40,740	$3,429
Birmingham Community Charter High	Public, Charter	9-12	17000 Haynes St.	Lake Balboa	91406	Los Angeles County	Birmingham Community Charter High District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 758-5200	3,162	140	22.6	90.0%	147 (4.6%)	122 (3.9%)	2,724 (86.1%)	110 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.1%)	52 (1.6%)	71.6	587^th of 2135 public high schools	72.5%		71.4	570^th of 2162 public high schools	73.6%	17		38.3	21.4	37.7				73.5	73.5				34.7	34.7
High Technical LA	Public, Charter	9-12	17111 Victory Blvd.	Lake Balboa	91406	Los Angeles County	High Technical LA District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 609-2680	362	16	22.2	47.2%	215 (59.4%)	2 (0.6%)	114 (31.5%)	21 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.8%)	85.3	290^th of 2135 public high schools	86.4%		83	359^th of 2162 public high schools	83.4%	69		52.4		52.4				78.1	78.1				43.8	43.8
Magnolia Science Academy 2	Public, Charter	6-12	17125 Victory Blvd.	Van Nuys	91406	Los Angeles County	Magnolia Science Academy 2 District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 758-0300	514	21	24.0	92.6%	16 (3.1%)	16 (3.1%)	468 (91.1%)	13 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	45.5	1128^th of 2135 public high schools	47.2%		50.3	1034^th of 2162 public high schools	52.2%	94	7.7	23.9		12.7	23.1	15.0	16.4	54.4	22.9	10.6	5.9	2.9	21.3	8.2
Zane Grey Continuation	Public	9-12	18230 Kittridge St.	Reseda	91335	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 758-3769	77	5	15.2	—	8 (10.4%)	5 (6.5%)	63 (81.8%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7.8	2066^th of 2135 public high schools	3.2%		13.3	1869^th of 2162 public high schools	13.6%	197				0.0				8.3	8.3				0.0	0.0	$56,517	$52,964	$3,553
Reseda Charter High	Public, Charter	6-12	18230 Kittridge St.	Reseda	91335	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 758-3600	1,339	76	17.6	88.3%	171 (12.8%)	44 (3.3%)	1,002 (74.8%)	87 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.4%)	30 (2.2%)	43.5	1188^th of 2135 public high schools	44.4%		45.4	1134^th of 2162 public high schools	47.5%	54	29.5	28.4	10.0	27.6	31.0	41.1	62.1	49.3	46.6	23.2	38.9	34.7	18.8	26.4	$42,692	$39,808	$2,884
Magnolia Science Academy 5	Public, Charter	6-12	18238 Sherman Way	Reseda	91335	Los Angeles County	Magnolia Science Academy 5 District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 705-5676	218	13	16.3	78.4%	13 (6.0%)	4 (1.8%)	183 (83.9%)	15 (6.9%)	2 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	89.8	205^th of 2135 public high schools	90.4%		63	740^th of 2162 public high schools	65.8%	535	41.4		52.2	46.2	23.8	59.1	44.8	95.0	55.3	28.6	31.8	34.5	40.0	33.3	$46,375	$43,982	$2,393
Magnolia Science Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	18238 Sherman Way	Reseda	91335	Los Angeles County	Magnolia Science Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 609-0507	746	39	19.1	86.2%	29 (3.9%)	7 (0.9%)	661 (88.6%)	43 (5.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.7%)	54.1	947^th of 2135 public high schools	55.6%		52.7	974^th of 2162 public high schools	54.9%	27	20.7	36.5		27.4	40.0	44.4	29.9	47.6	40.0	30.5	26.5	19.0	27.4	25.6
Diane S. Leichman Career Preparatory and Transition Center	Public	11-12	19034 Gault St.	Reseda	91335	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 881-5341	142	19	7.5	57.0%	41 (28.9%)	11 (7.7%)	70 (49.3%)	16 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.8%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet

What is the racial makeup of Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet?

Students at Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet are 60% Hispanic, 27% White, 5% Asian, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet in?

Los Angeles Unified

Is Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet a good school?

Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet ranks 403^rd of 2135 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet?

In the 2024-25 school year, 183 students attended Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet.

Rate Daniel Pearl Journalism & Communications Magnet!

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

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.