Summary:
This analysis examines five public high schools serving grades 9-12 in Los Angeles zip code 90017, a central area near the Contreras Learning Complex and Wilshire Boulevard, with a total enrollment of over 2,300 students across one charter and four district schools.
Parents will find significant differences in school performance within this small area. The standout is the School of Business and Tourism at Contreras Learning Complex, which ranks among the top third of California high schools and has the strongest test scores, especially in English. In contrast, the YouthBuild Charter School of California faces profound challenges, with very low graduation rates, high chronic absenteeism, and test scores far below state averages. The other three schools in the Los Angeles Unified complex—Academic Leadership Community, School of Social Justice, and Los Angeles School of Global Studies—show a range of middle performance, with Global Studies demonstrating notable recent improvement.
Key factors for parents to consider include chronic absenteeism, which is closely linked to academic success, and per-student spending, which varies widely. All schools serve a student population with very high economic need. The data suggests that the specialized programs and environments within the shared Contreras campus lead to different outcomes, indicating that school culture and focus are critical considerations alongside academic metrics when choosing a school in this area.
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