The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle
Animo Mae Jemison Charter Middle is a mid-sized charter school serving grades six through eight in South Los Angeles. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black student population, and a very high share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Economically, the school sits in a neighborhood where housing costs are moderate relative to state benchmarks but where family economic strain is visible in the enrollment data.
The school's test results show serious academic headwinds. On the California assessment in math across all middle grades, proficiency is low, with sixth graders posting very low proficiency, seventh graders reaching just above one in five students proficient, and eighth graders falling even further. English language arts results are somewhat stronger grade by grade, with eighth grade reaching about one in three students proficient, though sixth and seventh grade results remain well below half. Science proficiency in eighth grade is very low. Across the tested subjects and grades, the school sits in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Los Angeles County. A parent should understand that this school faces substantial headwinds in reading, math, and science proficiency, and the data shows these challenges persist across the grade span. Trend data covering only one year does not yet show whether the school is moving forward or backward.
What the school is doing in response deserves attention. The school received a California Community School Grant in 2023 that has funded wraparound support services and learning resources reshaping what families can access. Through the state's Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, the school now offers school-based mental health screenings, assessments, and ongoing support at no cost. A free, district-wide Expanded Learning after-school program runs daily with project-based enrichment in music, art, theatre, leadership, and STEM, available to all students at no cost. These are durable offerings, not pilots, and they address real barriers many families face when their student is struggling academically.
The school operates as part of Green Dot Public Schools, a charter network. It is located on South Avalon Boulevard in a part of Los Angeles that is rapidly changing due to housing development and economic movement. The neighborhood offers moderate walkability in pockets tied to transit and commercial corridors, though car dependence remains the norm. The area is not affluent, and the housing market there reflects that condition while being pressured by broader Los Angeles growth.
For a parent evaluating this school, the right questions center on what happens next. The proficiency gaps are real and wide. The school's support infrastructure—mental health services, after-school enrichment, community school coordination—is in place and funded. Whether those supports are moving the needle on core academics is not yet clear from available data. The school is betting on a wrap-around model: address barriers outside the classroom, add enrichment and project-based learning, and create conditions where academic instruction can land. A parent committed to a school working hard against difficult odds, with specific support services and a network affiliation, might find this a fit. A parent prioritizing near-term academic recovery should look closely at recent trends and ask the school directly about achievement gains in the cohorts now in classrooms.
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