First Avenue Middle, Arcadia CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on First Avenue Middle

First Avenue Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Arcadia, a well-to-do suburb in the San Gabriel Valley northeast of Los Angeles. The school sits at a significant strength in state testing: its overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts across Los Angeles County, driven by particularly strong performance in English Language Arts and solid math growth across the grade band.

The school's academic profile shows clear grade-level progression. In sixth grade, students arrive with approximately two-thirds meeting state proficiency standards in math and just over seven in ten in ELA. By eighth grade, ELA proficiency rises to a stronger level, while math reaches its peak. Science proficiency in eighth grade sits lower, at just under a majority meeting state standards, which may merit a closer look at the school's science curriculum or instructional approach if science is a family priority. State testing results for social studies, from earlier years, showed strong performance.

The enrollment is modest for a middle school, with about equal distribution across the three grades. The student body is racially and ethnically concentrated: roughly seven in ten students identify as Asian, with Hispanic students representing the next largest group at roughly one in seven. A meaningful share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating economic diversity within the school community. The school is located in a high-cost housing market; median home values are well above the state benchmark, and rents consume a substantial portion of household income. This is the context in which the school sits: a relatively affluent neighborhood with pockets of need.

Arcadia itself is a cohesive, transit-accessible community. Walkability is concentrated in the downtown area near the Metro A Line Arcadia Station, which opened years ago and connects to civic anchors including City Hall, Methodist Hospital, the library, and the Los Angeles County Arboretum. The city is actively reshaping itself through transit-oriented development, with multifamily apartments and mixed-use projects underway and planned, though single-family neighborhoods remain the dominant residential pattern. The local economy centers on healthcare, retail and dining, and hospitality.

A significant recent development affects families considering this school: in November 2024, Arcadia voters approved Measure AS, a major bond measure for school facilities, raising property taxes to repair and modernize aging campuses, many built decades ago. The work will address safety, security, technology, drinking water, and structural issues identified in a district Facilities Master Plan. For families weighing a move to Arcadia, this means ongoing construction and facilities work at school sites over coming years, and a lasting increase in property tax bills.

One data gap: specific information about staffing levels, course offerings, special services, and enrollment of students with disabilities or English learners was not available, so parents should ask the school directly about these supports and program breadth.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 663%

School 63% · District 68% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 762%

School 62% · District 66% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 870%

School 70% · District 68% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 42 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 671%

School 71% · District 72% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 773%

School 73% · District 75% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 877%

School 77% · District 75% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Science

Grade 855%

School 55% · District 57% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 883%

School 83% · District 82% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

This schoolArcadia Unified, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income65%Higher-income75%9 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income66%Higher-income76%10 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income74%Higher-income79%5 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income53%Higher-income68%15 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income57%Higher-income65%9 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income64%Higher-income73%10 pp gap