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Whittier Independent Study

Public Grades K-8

Summary

Whittier Independent Study is a small, non-traditional public school serving just 67 students in grades K-8 within the Whittier City School District, offering a flexible, independent learning model with teacher guidance as an alternative to the standard classroom.

This school stands out for its remarkable and rapid improvement over the past few years. While it started with very low test scores, it has shown dramatic gains, with math proficiency now meeting district and state averages and chronic absenteeism cut nearly in half. This positive trend is unique compared to more stable performance at nearby traditional schools like Orange Grove Elementary or Longfellow Elementary. The independent study model appears particularly effective for middle school math, where students outperform the district average.

Whittier Independent Study operates very differently, spending significantly more per student than comparison schools despite having a much higher student-to-teacher ratio. This suggests resources are used for specialized materials, technology, or services suited to its independent learning format. It serves a high-need population and, while challenges remain in English Language Arts, the school demonstrates a strong capacity to help students who may benefit from an alternative educational path succeed.

Students ?

33.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$27,667

Per pupil spending ?

76.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

11532 Floral Dr.
Whittier, CA 90601-2832

(562) 789-3038

District: Whittier City

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

83.6%

White:

4.5%

African American:

4.5%

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Compare Whittier Independent Study to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (35% vs 41% meeting standards)

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

!English Language Arts/Literacy scores 13 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

District avg41%

California avg41%

1,336^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 48%▲ up 43 pts since 2023

From bottom 9% (2023) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

590^th of 1,543Whittier City 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	44.8	1336 of 2761	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	21.8	2183 of 2783	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.2	2533 of 2781	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.7	994 of 2533	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	14.5	2312 of 2551	9.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.9	793 of 2395	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.9	1534 of 2388	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.4	1879 of 2374	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.9	953 of 2542	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	28.1	1857 of 2579	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	10.5	2455 of 2531	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.5	1510 of 2534	40.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Hispanic (2025)67th percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)63rd percentile+11 vs school

Female (2025)61st percentile+9 vs school

Male (2025)40th percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics38%~ state avg

English Language Arts/Literacy35%-13 vs state

Science26%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Whittier Independent Study

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)	% 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	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 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 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
Whittier Independent Study	Public	K-8	11532 Floral Dr.	Whittier	90601	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3038	67	2	33.5	76.1%	3 (4.5%)	3 (4.5%)	56 (83.6%)	1 (1.5%)	1 (1.5%)	1 (1.5%)	2 (3.0%)								(n/a)																		22.6	26.3				21.4	38.7	35.4				50.0	38.7	38.5							$27,667	$12,953	$14,714
Longfellow Elementary	Public	K-5	6005 South Magnolia Ave.	Whittier	90601	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3180	499	22	23.1	78.4%	21 (4.2%)	2 (0.4%)	461 (92.4%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.8%)	61.3	2003^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	65.8%		55.4	2269^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.3%	266																	29.2		29.2	43.5	54.7	57.5			51.6	54.1	48.8	43.8			49.2							$18,120	$2,102	$16,018
Orange Grove Elementary	Public	K-5	10626 East Orange Grove Ave.	Whittier	90601	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3200	324	15	21.1	83.6%	7 (2.2%)	3 (0.9%)	304 (93.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.5%)	35.5	3536^th of 5857 public elementary schools	39.6%		42.8	3008^th of 5869 public elementary schools	48.7%	528																	23.7		23.7	27.7	36.5	40.7			35.4	29.2	40.4	33.3			34.4	95.0	95.0	95.0				$18,989	$2,084	$16,905
West Whittier Elementary	Public	K-5	6411 South Norwalk Blvd.	Whittier	90606	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3240	346	17	19.8	76.0%	8 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	307 (88.7%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.9%)	47.9	2705^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.8%		47.2	2724^th of 5869 public elementary schools	53.6%	19		5.3		5.3		10.5		10.5		26.3		26.3		5.3		5.3	25.4		25.4	42.6	47.1	43.1			44.2	47.8	45.1	32.8			41.3							$19,953	$2,070	$17,883
Christian Sorensen Science Academy	Public	K-5	11493 East Rosehedge Dr.	Whittier	90606	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3220	446	18	24.1	79.6%	10 (2.2%)	4 (0.9%)	409 (91.7%)	11 (2.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	44	2952^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	49.6%		50.5	2533^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	56.8%	419																	35.5		35.5	37.2	34.9	48.0			39.8	34.2	38.6	38.7			37.1	96.8				96.8		$18,925	$2,086	$16,839
Daniel Phelan Language Academy	Public	K-5	7150 South Cully Ave.	Whittier	90606	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3210	507	21	24.6	64.5%	10 (2.0%)	2 (0.4%)	488 (96.3%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	75.1	1364^th of 5857 public elementary schools	76.7%		73.6	1430^th of 5869 public elementary schools	75.6%	66		14.0		14.0		12.0		12.0		42.0		42.0		14.0		14.0	31.6		31.6	58.7	53.7	72.4			61.4	68.0	48.2	75.0			63.3							$19,451	$2,074	$17,377
Lou Henry Hoover School of Fine Arts	Public	K-5	6302 South Alta Ave.	Whittier	90601	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3150	374	14	25.9	79.1%	18 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	340 (90.9%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.2%)	51.3	2537^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.7%		49.3	2589^th of 5869 public elementary schools	55.9%	52																	39.7		39.7	52.7	49.1	46.6			49.2	40.0	23.6	37.0			33.9	96.8	96.8	96.8		96.8		$19,388	$2,074	$17,314
South Ranchito Dual Language Academy	Public	K-5	5241 South Passons Blvd.	Pico Rivera	90660	Los Angeles County	El Rancho Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 801-7660	351	16	21.9	84.6%	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	343 (97.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20.8	4756^th of 5857 public elementary schools	18.8%		22.1	4667^th of 5869 public elementary schools	20.5%	89	10.5	11.4	0.0	6.7	36.8	22.7	30.2	29.6	10.5	29.6	3.8	14.1	2.6	6.8	1.9	3.7	18.9		18.9	10.5	32.6	33.3			26.5	13.2	34.1	13.2			20.0	95.4	96.9		95.4	96.9	96.9	$22,075	$1,275	$20,800
Mill School and Technology Academy	Public	K-5	4030 South Workman Mill Rd.	Whittier	90601	Los Angeles County	Whittier City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 789-3190	341	14	23.8	63.3%	12 (3.5%)	4 (1.2%)	303 (88.9%)	13 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	67.4	1717^th of 5857 public elementary schools	70.7%		83.9	999^th of 5869 public elementary schools	83.0%	718																	40.0		40.0	62.8	29.7	64.8			54.9	74.5	35.1	45.5			53.2	93.0			94.7	94.7	93.0	$20,530	$2,055	$18,475
Durfee Elementary	Public	K-5	4220 South Durfee Ave.	Pico Rivera	90660	Los Angeles County	El Rancho Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(562) 801-7610	322	13	24.7	78.3%	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	312 (96.9%)	5 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	29	4052^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	30.8%		31.2	3841^st of 5869 public elementary schools	34.6%	211																	20.8		20.8	32.6	36.7	25.0			31.6	32.6	38.3	17.3			29.7	96.4			96.4			$20,749	$1,079	$19,670

Frequently Asked Questions about Whittier Independent Study

What district is Whittier Independent Study in?

Whittier City

What is the racial makeup of Whittier Independent Study?

Students at Whittier Independent Study are 84% Hispanic, 4% White, 4% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian, 1% American Indian, 1% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend Whittier Independent Study?

In the 2024-25 school year, 67 students attended Whittier Independent Study.

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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.