The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Animo Jefferson Charter Middle
Animo Jefferson Charter Middle is a school of roughly student enrollment serving grades six through eight in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. It is operated by Green Dot Public Schools California, a charter network, and serves a student body that is almost entirely Hispanic and nearly all qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a community with significant economic need.
The school's most recent state test results, from spring 2025, show low proficiency across subjects. In English language arts, the school-wide proficiency rate across its three grades was in the low-to-mid range, with eighth graders performing notably better than their sixth-grade counterparts. In math, proficiency was substantially lower, hovering near the low end across all grades, with a modest uptick in eighth grade but still well below the state baseline. In eighth-grade science, proficiency was among the lowest measured. Set against the broader universe of schools tested in Los Angeles County, this school's combined proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of county schools. The school serves students who face significant academic gaps on entry to middle school, and these results signal that closing that distance by grade eight remains a central challenge.
The student composition is nearly homogeneous by race and ethnicity; over student enrollment. Rates of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility are very high, indicating families with household incomes at or near the federal poverty line. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available in the public records reviewed. A parent may want to speak with the school directly about the scope and structure of support for students with disabilities and English learners.
The school has received a California Community Schools Grant, which brings funding and partnerships to connect students and families to wraparound supports beyond the classroom—services such as health care, mental health counseling, family resources, and community programs. This is a meaningful infusion of resources aimed at addressing barriers outside school that affect learning and attendance.
In December 2023, Green Dot Public Schools California ratified a multi-year contract with its teachers union, the Asociación De Maestros Unidos. The agreement includes salary increases for both teachers and counselors, adjusted leave policies, revised language on class size and discipline procedures, and retention incentives. These terms directly affect teacher stability and classroom conditions that families experience.
The school's charter license ran through 2025 and entered the LAUSD renewal cycle in 2025. In October, the LAUSD Board voted to renew a large majority of the charter schools before it that year; the school's renewal was approved, meaning it will continue to operate and families can continue to enroll. A charter renewal outcome is a high-stakes decision for any charter school; this approval provides multi-year operational continuity.
Animo Jefferson sits in a neighborhood within Los Angeles that is part of the city's ongoing growth and development. The area is densely residential with mixed commercial use, served by public transit including bus lines. The broader city context is one of active housing development driven by state policy and the 2028 Olympics, though construction has slowed amid interest rates and labor costs. Housing values and rents in this zip code sit below state benchmarks.
This is a school serving a high-poverty, predominantly Hispanic community with low state test proficiency and a clear gap between this school's students and county averages. The addition of wraparound community supports and teacher compensation improvements signal operational investment. A family considering this school should expect low baseline test performance and understand that the school's challenge is to move students meaningfully forward from entry, not to match county medians. Direct conversation with the school about its instructional approach, student support systems, and concrete academic gains over time would give a fuller picture than test scores alone.
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