Best Public Schools in Zip Code 90302

This analysis covers six public schools in the 90302 zip code of Inglewood, California, including five elementary schools and one middle school, all serving economically disadvantaged student populations.

The standout schools in this area are the two charter schools operated by Wilder's Preparatory Academy Charter District and Wilder's Preparatory Academy Charter Middle District. Wilder's Preparatory Academy Charter (elementary) and Wilder's Preparatory Academy Charter Middle consistently rank in the top 15% of schools statewide, with significantly higher test scores in English and math and much lower chronic absenteeism rates (8-11%) compared to other local schools and the state average.

In contrast, the four traditional public schools within the Inglewood Unified district—Centinela, La Tijera Academy of Excellence Charter, Highland Elementary, and Frank D. Parent—generally underperform state averages and have higher chronic absenteeism (31-45%), despite higher per-student spending. Performance can vary greatly between grade levels within the same school, and the district itself is ranked in the bottom 21st percentile statewide.