Fenton Stem Acad: Elem Center for Sci Tech Engr and Math, Sun Valley CA

Original Research by School Decision on Fenton Stem Acad: Elem Center for Sci Tech Engr and Math

Fenton STEM Academy is a charter elementary school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Sun Valley, a mixed industrial and residential neighborhood in the northeastern San Fernando Valley. The school sits in a diverse, working community where manufacturing and small business anchor the local economy, and where a substantial share of families speak languages other than English at home.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the neighborhood's middle-income profile. Enrollment is small for an elementary school, with the upper grades somewhat larger than the primary grades. The school has no separate district; it operates as its own charter district entity.

On California's state assessments, Fenton STEM shows mixed performance. In English language arts, results improve noticeably across the grade span: third grade proficiency is below where it sits in fourth grade, and sixth grade reaches a clear majority of students meeting standards. Math performance is weaker across all tested grades, ranging from the low thirties to low forties in the primary and intermediate grades, then declining further in fifth grade before recovering slightly in sixth. The school also reports science results for fifth grade, which fall well below proficiency benchmarks.

Compared to schools across Los Angeles County, Fenton STEM's overall proficiency index sits below the median. A parent may want to look into whether the school's STEM focus and curriculum approach are yielding gains over time, and whether the gap between ELA and math performance reflects teaching intensity in one subject or student population factors. The school's name and design suggest emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, yet the science result shown here is notably low.

Sun Valley itself is moderately walkable, with a mix of suburban residential blocks and industrial districts. The neighborhood has a Metrolink station with connections to the broader region, parks and a library, and local commercial strips that reflect the area's cultural diversity. Housing costs in the area are moderate for Los Angeles County, with median home values and monthly rents somewhat below the state benchmark. The area is experiencing new affordable housing development near the Metrolink station and a planned wetlands park project aimed at flood mitigation and open space.

The school may appeal to families seeking a small, focused elementary program with an explicit STEM curriculum in an accessible neighborhood location. Its size and charter structure allow direct parent engagement. Results data available to date cover only one school year, limiting visibility into whether performance is trending upward or stabilizing.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 342%

School 42% · district not reported

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 438%

School 38% · district not reported

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 528%

School 28% · district not reported

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 633%

School 33% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 342%

School 42% · district not reported

▲ 1 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 454%

School 54% · district not reported

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 551%

School 51% · district not reported

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 660%

School 60% · district not reported

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Science

Grade 523%

School 23% · district not reported

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income57%Higher-income69%12 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income26%Higher-income54%28 pp gap