The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Math. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Learning by Design Charter
Learning by Design Charter serves kindergarten through fifth grade in South Los Angeles on Van Ness Avenue. It is a small school, with an enrollment that spans roughly a single classroom per grade. The student body is split almost evenly between Black and Hispanic students, with a substantial majority—nearly two-thirds—qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic hardship in the surrounding neighborhood.
The school's state assessment results show weak academic performance across tested subjects. In mathematics, proficiency stands below one-fifth of students overall, with particularly low results in fifth grade. English language arts proficiency is similarly low, just under one-third overall. Science proficiency in fifth grade is minimal. Results for fourth grade in both subjects are suppressed by the state, typically indicating a small tested group. These outcomes place the school in the bottom quartile when compared against schools across Los Angeles County.
The neighborhood surrounding the school reflects the broader Los Angeles context of housing pressure and economic diversity. Home values in the 90047 zip code are substantial, though rents have risen modestly in the past year. The area is part of a city experiencing active growth and rezoning aimed at addressing a statewide housing shortage, though construction has slowed amid elevated interest rates and labor costs.
A family considering Learning by Design should know that the school's continued operation is uncertain. In October 2025, the LAUSD Board of Education denied the school's charter renewal petition. The school is appealing that decision to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Because Learning by Design Charter District consists of only this single school, a charter denial that is not overturned on appeal would result in closure. This is not a typical staffing or curriculum change; it is existential. Charter advocacy groups have pledged support for the school's appeal, but the outcome remains unresolved. Families enrolling should expect to follow developments at the county level and be prepared for the possibility that the school may not continue beyond its current contract term.
The academic data, combined with this institutional uncertainty, frames what a family would be choosing. The school serves a neighborhood population facing real economic constraints. Its test results suggest that students are not yet meeting grade-level academic benchmarks. Whether the school will remain open is an open question depending on a county decision. A parent should weigh these factors carefully alongside any school visits, conversations with staff, or observations about the school's pedagogy and culture that might not be captured in test scores alone.
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