The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Equitas Academy 5
Equitas Academy 5 is a small charter school serving kindergarten through fourth grade in downtown Los Angeles, located at Beacon Avenue. The enrollment is small, with about two-thirds of the student body concentrated in the upper grades; kindergarten and first grade are notably smaller cohorts. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, and nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic conditions of the school's central LA location.
On the 2024-25 California state assessments, proficiency rates in both English language arts and mathematics fall well below the state midpoint. In ELA, third grade students showed proficiency just above one-third, while fourth graders performed slightly better. Math proficiency was lower across both grades. When measured together, these results place the school in the bottom quartile among schools with comparable testing data in Los Angeles County. This is a significant gap that a parent should discuss directly with school leadership, including what supports the school offers to students working below grade-level standards and what growth the school has tracked year-over-year.
The school does not report data on its special education population, English learners, or other subgroup categories, so families cannot see how these groups are faring within the school. This information would be worth requesting from the school administration.
Equitas Academy 5 is part of a broader network of Equitas charter schools operating in Pico-Union, a historically Latino neighborhood in central Los Angeles. The network recently secured a five-year charter renewal through 2031, confirming its authorization to continue operating. In the 2025-26 school year, the Equitas network also restructured to include a new high school (Collegiate Charter High School), creating a pathway for students to stay within the Equitas system from early grades through twelfth grade. Equitas Academy 4, a sister school, relocated to share the same campus building as Equitas Academy 5 and 6, which is intended to ease coordination and drop-off logistics for families with multiple children across the network.
The downtown and central Los Angeles area where the school sits has been undergoing significant growth and transformation. Housing values in the school's 90015 zip code are moderately below the state average, though home values have declined year-over-year. Rental costs are below state median. The neighborhood is served by Metro transit, including the B and D subway lines and numerous bus routes, though the area remains car-dependent in many contexts. The broader Los Angeles economy is anchored by large employers including Los Angeles County government, LAUSD, UCLA, and Kaiser Permanente, as well as aerospace, entertainment, healthcare, and fashion sectors.
For families considering this school, the central question is how the current proficiency gap aligns with their child's needs and what growth trajectory the school demonstrates. The charter's renewal and the network's expansion are signs of continuity, but the state testing results show students here are significantly behind grade-level benchmarks. Speaking with school leaders about literacy and mathematics instruction, intervention programs, and recent trends in student achievement would be important steps before enrolling.
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