The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Animo Compton Charter
Animo Compton Charter is a charter school serving grades six through twelve on South San Pedro Street in the South Los Angeles area. The school enrolls a small population, almost entirely composed of students from low-income households and predominantly Black and Hispanic families.
On California's state assessments in the most recent year, proficiency rates across subjects and grades are substantially below the state benchmark. In English language arts, results range from low performance at the sixth-grade level to roughly a third of students meeting standards by seventh grade, with a decline by eighth grade. In mathematics, proficiency is markedly lower across all tested grades, with single-digit rates at sixth and eighth grade and low double digits at seventh. Science proficiency, tested at eighth grade, is very low. These results place the school's overall proficiency index in the bottom quartile when compared against other district-serving schools in Los Angeles County. Because the school does not serve high school grades with tested state assessments and does not have a publicly reported graduation rate in the available data, it is not possible to assess high school completion outcomes.
The student body reflects the neighborhood it serves. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the enrollment is majority Hispanic, with a substantial share of Black students and very few students of other racial or ethnic backgrounds. The school is quite small relative to the district and its grade span. Special education enrollment and English learner enrollment data were not available.
Animo Compton Charter is operated by a charter district of the same name, a separate governance structure from the Los Angeles Unified School District. The broader Los Angeles area is in active housing and development transition, driven by state housing production mandates and local rezoning efforts, though interest rates and construction costs remain elevated. Home values in the school's zip code are below the state median, and rental prices are similarly modest, which affects school stability and community purchasing power. The region's major employers span government, education, healthcare, aerospace, and entertainment, though concentrated high-wage opportunities are geographically dispersed across the sprawling county.
A parent considering this school should focus on the current assessment results and the small school size when evaluating fit. The proficiency data, particularly in mathematics and science, reflects substantial academic challenges that would warrant direct conversation with school leadership about instructional approach, intervention strategies for struggling students, and the school's plan to improve these outcomes. The low-income composition of the student body means school funding and support services, including counseling and college advising, should be explored as they shape opportunity. For families seeking either a smaller school setting or commitment to a particular educational philosophy within charter governance, visiting and speaking with current families would help clarify whether the school's approach aligns with their goals.
See more original research from School Decision →