Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 90011

This analysis examines six public middle schools (grades 6-8) in Los Angeles's 90011 zip code, a high-need area where all schools serve student populations with over 90% eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch.

Among these schools, Synergy Kinetic Academy stands out as the top performer, ranking in the 55th percentile statewide with the highest test scores and a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 7.3%. Alliance College-Ready Middle Academy 12 also shows strong improvement and low absenteeism. In contrast, the three schools within Los Angeles Unified generally have lower academic rankings and significantly higher rates of chronic absenteeism, which is closely linked to lower performance.

Notably, higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results; for example, George Washington Carver Middle has the highest spending but the lowest ranking. The charter schools in the area, including Animo Jefferson Charter Middle, consistently outperform their district counterparts academically despite serving similar student demographics, highlighting important differences in school models and outcomes within the same community.