Summary:
This analysis examines four middle schools serving grades 6-8 (except Charles Drew Middle which serves 7-8) in the 90001 zip code of Los Angeles, an area where all schools report over 97% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Among these schools, Alliance Kory Hunter Middle stands out as the highest-performing, with the best state ranking, the highest English and Science test scores, and a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 12.9%. Animo Florence-Firestone Charter Middle shows strength in math, having the highest math proficiency rate. The two schools in the Los Angeles Unified district, Thomas A. Edison Middle and Charles Drew Middle, face greater challenges, with lower proficiency rates and higher chronic absenteeism, particularly at Charles Drew which has the lowest academic performance despite the highest per-student spending.
Key takeaways for parents are that performance varies significantly even within the same neighborhood, with charter schools generally outperforming traditional public schools in this specific set. Attendance appears closely linked to success, as the school with the best attendance also has the best academics. Mathematics is an area of focus, as all schools perform below the state average. The performance of Alliance Kory Hunter, which achieves strong results with lower spending, suggests that school-specific practices can make a substantial difference for students in this community.
Thank you for your feedback!