Paramount Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Paramount Unified

Paramount Unified is a mid-sized district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade across a collection of communities in Los Angeles County. The student population is demographically very concentrated: roughly nine out of ten students identify as Hispanic, with Black, Asian, and other groups representing much smaller shares. The district enrollment spans from early elementary through high school, with a student body of roughly twelve thousand.

Test performance across the district is substantially below state midpoints. In English language arts, proficiency hovers in the low-to-mid range at elementary and middle grades, rising somewhat toward lower secondary; in mathematics, proficiency is notably weaker, with fewer than one in three students meeting the standard even at third grade and falling to below one in six by sixth grade. Science proficiency, measured at grades five and eight, sits at roughly one in five at grade five and one in four at grade eight. These patterns suggest that many Paramount students are not meeting grade-level benchmarks in core academic subjects, and a parent should be prepared for the reality that the district's students face measurable academic challenges. The district does not report a four-year graduation rate in the available data; it also does not publish free-or-reduced-price lunch counts or English learner counts, so the full socioeconomic and language-learning profile is not visible here.

Among the county's districts, Paramount ranks in the bottom quartile on an overall proficiency index. Chronic absenteeism sits slightly below the county median, suggesting attendance is not dramatically worse than typical but remains a concern. The district spends per pupil at a rate above the county median, so resources are not scarce by comparison.

Housing in the area is moderately valued relative to other Southern California markets. The weighted home value across the Paramount area and neighboring communities is in the mid-range for the county, with year-over-year appreciation in the low single digits. Rental costs are also moderate, and the ratio of rent to median household income suggests housing affordability pressures are real but not unique to this area.

The district has undertaken two significant, parent-relevant changes. In late 2024, voters approved a substantial facilities bond funded by a property-tax increase, designed to repair aging infrastructure across buildings that are mostly more than sixty years old, upgrade security and accessibility, and improve classrooms and career-training spaces. This raises property taxes for homeowners but signals a commitment to physical plant renewal. Additionally, Paramount launched a Spanish Dual Language Immersion program in 2025-26, using a 90:10 model (ninety percent Spanish, ten percent English in early grades, shifting over time) at two elementary schools. The program begins in kindergarten and is designed to lead toward biliteracy and the California Seal of Biliteracy, with plans to extend into middle school. The district provides transportation for students whose home school is not one of the two DLI sites, so the program is accessible beyond immediate catchment areas.

The district operates a range of schools including elementary, middle, and traditional high schools, alongside a STEM academy and a virtual academy option, giving families some choice within the system. Paramount High and Buena Vista High serve the secondary level, while elementary and middle schools are distributed across the district's service area.

For families considering Paramount, the main question is whether they can support a child through a period of intensive academic catch-up in a district where test results show that most students are not yet at grade level in core subjects. The dual language program offers a strong alternative pathway for families seeking biliteracy and willing to commit to the full elementary trajectory. The recent bond approval suggests the district recognizes the need for facility improvements and is taking concrete action, though the property tax increase will be a cost. Housing affordability is reasonable relative to the broader region, making the area accessible for families with moderate incomes.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

12,042

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 88%

Black 8%

White 1%

Asian 1%

Two+ 1%

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

35%

51%

Gr 4

36%

50%

Gr 5

39%

55%

Gr 6

42%

41%

Gr 7

46%

56%

Gr 8

47%

62%

Gr 11

53%

—

Math

Gr ALL

25%

—

Gr 3

38%

47%

Gr 4

29%

41%

Gr 5

22%

28%

Gr 6

17%

14%

Gr 7

27%

Gr 8

25%

41%

Gr 11

17%

—

Science

Gr ALL

16%

—

Gr 5

21%

30%

Gr 8

27%

33%

Gr 11

20%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

22%

—

Gr UG_SEC

19%

—

Schools in this District

20 schools are officially reported under this district.

Captain Raymond Collins

Paramount Unified Community Day

Jefferson Elementary

Harry Wirtz Elementary

Leona Jackson

Howard Tanner

Paramount Park Middle

Alondra Middle

Odyssey STEM Academy

Paramount Virtual Academy

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

39%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

22%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

27%

Grade 7

26%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

36%

Grade 3

37%

Grade 4

40%

Grade 5

42%

Grade 6

46%

Grade 7

47%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 5

27%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

44%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$688,943

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$644K to $881K

vs. state typical0.89x

vs. national typical1.87x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
90723	Paramount	$653K	+2.4%	67.3%
90280	South Gate	$699K	+1.7%	9.4%
90805	Long Beach	$715K	+1.9%	9.0%
90706	Bellflower	$806K	+0.3%	8.0%
90712	Lakewood	$881K	+0.6%	6.2%
90221	Compton	$644K	+1.9%	0.1%
90242	Downey	$827K	+1.2%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,528/mo

Year-over-year change+1.8%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$2,018 to $3,349/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
90723	Paramount	$2,573	+1.2%	67.3%
90280	South Gate	$2,018	+5.0%	9.4%
90805	Long Beach	$2,169	+2.1%	9.0%
90706	Bellflower	$2,518	+3.0%	8.0%
90712	Lakewood	$3,349	—	6.2%
90242	Downey	$2,144	+0.8%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,476/mo

Home price / national median income8.2x

Annual rent / national median income36.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$949/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.