Bellflower Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bellflower Unified

Bellflower Unified serves a large, diverse student population spanning kindergarten through twelfth grade across Los Angeles County. The district sits in a median-income, outer-suburban belt anchored by Bellflower itself, with surrounding communities including Lakewood and Cerritos. Housing values in the core district area are moderate for Southern California; rental costs run at a manageable share of household income. The district operates about fifteen schools, including three high schools, several elementary schools, and alternative and specialized programs.

Academically, the district faces headwinds. In English-language arts proficiency, students show middle-range performance; middle school grades land closer to half proficient, while elementary grades cluster in the low-to-mid forties. Mathematics proficiency is considerably softer. Third grade starts below half proficiency and drops sharply by seventh and eighth grade, where fewer than a quarter of students reach proficiency. Science proficiency, measured in fifth and eighth grades, sits in the lower range. When proficiency is averaged across tested subjects and grades, Bellflower Unified falls below the midpoint among Los Angeles County's districts. A parent weighing this district should recognize that academic attainment is a clear soft spot, and students will need active home and school support to meet grade-level standards.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with substantial Black and Asian populations and smaller numbers of white and multiracial students. The district has not reported rates for free-or-reduced-price lunch or English-learner enrollment, so a parent seeking those specifics will need to ask the district directly. Chronic absenteeism rates sit slightly above the county median, a factor worth understanding since attendance and proficiency are linked.

A significant backdrop emerged in a June 2022 state audit. California's auditors found that the district had accumulated substantial unassigned financial reserves while failing to deliver legally required services to students with disabilities, misrepresenting its budget to the board and public. The finding was serious: students entitled to services under their Individualized Education Programs did not receive them. The state imposed corrective deadlines through late 2022, and the district has since adopted quarterly expenditure reporting and new budgeting transparency. This remains a parent-relevant issue because it reflects how the district allocates resources and whether all student populations—especially vulnerable ones—receive what they are owed by law. A parent of a child with disabilities or suspected learning needs may want to look into this further with the school and verify that assessment and service delivery practices have genuinely changed.

On the support side, the district has expanded its free Expanded Learning Program to all elementary and middle schools, offering before-school care, after-school dismissal as late as 6:00 p.m., weekend and non-school-day enrichment, daily meals, and homework help at no cost. For working families, this is a meaningful asset—it functions as free wraparound child care and academic support district-wide. Additionally, the district provides all K-12 students with free, unlimited access to LA Metro buses and trains through the GoPass program, removing a transportation cost and giving families a no-cost mobility option. The district also maintains a Spanish dual-language immersion program available in early elementary grades.

Bellflower Unified is a lower-performing district by county standards with a student population that faces economic and language barriers. Its strong points are its wraparound support infrastructure and commitment to free access to transit and extended care. Its weak point is proficiency, and parents should enter with realistic expectations and plans to supplement learning at home or seek additional tutoring. The 2022 audit flagged governance and resource-allocation concerns that, while officially addressed, are worth monitoring through direct conversation with the schools.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,813

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 68%

Black 13%

White 7%

Asian 8%

Two+ 3%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

43%

—

Gr 3

37%

51%

Gr 4

32%

51%

Gr 5

42%

65%

Gr 6

44%

63%

Gr 7

41%

60%

Gr 8

40%

57%

Gr 11

64%

—

Math

Gr ALL

25%

—

Gr 3

40%

63%

Gr 4

30%

47%

Gr 5

26%

51%

Gr 6

27%

48%

Gr 7

21%

40%

Gr 8

18%

37%

Gr 11

16%

—

Science

Gr ALL

24%

—

Gr 5

20%

50%

Gr 8

14%

31%

Gr 11

24%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

19%

—

Gr UG_SEC

24%

—

Schools in this District

15 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bellflower High

Stephen Foster Elementary

Thomas Jefferson Elementary

Esther Lindstrom Elementary

Mayfair High

Ernie Pyle Elementary

Ramona Elementary

Somerset High

Washington Elementary

Bellflower Alternative Education Center

Albert Baxter Elementary

Intensive Learning Center

Frank E. Woodruff Elementary

Craig Williams Elementary

Las Flores Home Education Independent Study Academy

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

45%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

32%

Grade 6

25%

Grade 7

23%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

36%

Grade 4

47%

Grade 5

48%

Grade 6

45%

Grade 7

44%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

26%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

56%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$838,619

Year-over-year change+0.6%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$653K to $1.1M

vs. state typical1.08x

vs. national typical2.28x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
90706	Bellflower	$806K	+0.3%	70.0%
90712	Lakewood	$881K	+0.6%	13.9%
90713	Lakewood	$912K	+1.8%	13.0%
90703	Cerritos	$1.1M	+2.3%	2.9%
90723	Paramount	$653K	+2.4%	0.1%
90242	Downey	$827K	+1.2%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,798/mo

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$2,144 to $3,636/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
90706	Bellflower	$2,518	+3.0%	70.0%
90712	Lakewood	$3,349	—	13.9%
90713	Lakewood	$3,537	—	13.0%
90703	Cerritos	$3,636	+1.8%	2.9%
90723	Paramount	$2,573	+1.2%	0.1%
90242	Downey	$2,144	+0.8%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$4,232/mo

Home price / national median income10.0x

Annual rent / national median income40.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,433/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.