Scholarship Prep - South Bay, Wilmington CA

Original Research by School Decision on Scholarship Prep - South Bay

Scholarship Prep - South Bay is a charter elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Wilmington, a densely populated, working-class neighborhood anchored by the Port of Los Angeles and surrounded by oil refineries. The school operates its own single-campus district and is part of a growing charter network.

The school's academic performance reflects significant challenges in math and reading proficiency. California state assessment results from the most recent year show that just over one in five students statewide reach proficiency in math across the school's grade span, and proficiency in English language arts sits at about one in three. Performance varies notably by grade. In third and fourth grades, reading proficiency is higher—approaching or exceeding midway points—while math lags considerably in those grades. By fifth and sixth grade, both math and reading proficiency drop sharply, with math proficiency in sixth grade falling to single digits. Seventh and eighth grades show modest recovery in reading but continue to struggle in math. Science proficiency, tested in grades five and eight, also shows low levels. Against the districts in Los Angeles County, this school ranks in the bottom quartile on an index combining proficiency across tested subjects and grades.

A parent considering Scholarship Prep should understand that the school's academic results suggest students are not on a strong track toward grade-level mastery in core subjects, particularly in mathematics from middle grades onward. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to evaluate.

The student population is predominantly Latino, with substantial Black representation and small populations from other backgrounds. Virtually all families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the neighborhood. The school is small for a K-8 charter, serving a few hundred students across nine grades.

The charter is positioned as a college-preparatory school using Problem-Based Learning that emphasizes creativity, teamwork, and technology. It offers free wraparound services including meals, counseling, laundry, take-home food provisions, and dedicated support for students experiencing homelessness or in foster care, along with free before- and after-school programming. For families navigating economic hardship or housing instability, these services represent a meaningful layer of support.

The charter operator has expanded from four to six campuses across Southern California counties by 2025, suggesting organizational stability and longevity as a placement choice.

Wilmington itself is experiencing growth centered on affordable housing development and the redevelopment of a former refinery site into mixed-use space. Housing costs are below the state median. The neighborhood is moderately walkable with low transit access, and green space has expanded recently with new waterfront parks and promenades.

Parents evaluating this school should view the low academic proficiency rates seriously and may want to ask the school directly about its instructional strategies for the middle grades and its trajectory over recent years, since only one year of state testing data is available. The wraparound supports and Problem-Based Learning approach represent deliberate choices in pedagogy and student service that differ from typical district schools and may fit families prioritizing these dimensions. The small enrollment and charter governance mean the school operates with different constraints and autonomy than LAUSD schools in the area.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 337%

School 37% · district not reported

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 436%

School 36% · district not reported

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

Grade 53%

School 3% · district not reported

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 30 pts below county median

Grade 63%

School 3% · district not reported

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below county median

Grade 720%

School 20% · district not reported

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 817%

School 17% · district not reported

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 331%

School 31% · district not reported

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 449%

School 49% · district not reported

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

Grade 541%

School 41% · district not reported

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 613%

School 13% · district not reported

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 32 pts below county median

Grade 743%

School 43% · district not reported

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 841%

School 41% · district not reported

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

Science

Grade 522%

School 22% · district not reported

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

Grade 815%

School 15% · district not reported

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 9 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.