Summary:
This analysis examines four public high schools serving grades 9-12 in Carson, California (zip code 90745), all part of the Los Angeles Unified district, revealing a diverse educational landscape where smaller, specialized programs often outperform the larger comprehensive school.
The standout school is the Academy of Medical Arts at Carson High, which ranks in the 71st percentile statewide and has the strongest English proficiency scores. It shares a campus with Carson Senior High and the Academies of Education and Empowerment at Carson High, demonstrating how smaller learning communities can achieve different results. The Academies of Education and Empowerment has a perfect dropout rate of 0% and the highest graduation rate, while both it and the Medical Arts academy maintain lower chronic absenteeism than the district average.
A key finding is that higher spending does not automatically mean higher test scores, as seen with Eagle Tree Continuation, a small school for at-risk students which spends the most per pupil but has different academic goals. Math proficiency is an area for improvement across all schools, with each performing below the state average. Overall, parents will find a mix of options, with theme-based academies offering focused environments that correlate with strong attendance and academic outcomes in certain subjects.
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