The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ernest R. Geddes Elementary
Ernest R. Geddes Elementary sits in Baldwin Park, a densely populated working-class city in the San Gabriel Valley that mixes residential neighborhoods with commercial corridors and pockets of industrial land along the San Gabriel River. The city's downtown, historically built around Pacific Electric transit, is undergoing infill redevelopment with new affordable housing and a greenway path connecting to the Metrolink station. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade in this transit-adjacent neighborhood setting.
The school's enrollment is small to mid-sized for an elementary school, with roughly equal distribution across grades. An overwhelming proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of Baldwin Park's working families. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with small numbers of Asian and other students. The school does not report data on English learner enrollment or students in special education, so a parent may want to look into those numbers directly with the school.
On state assessments, Ernest R. Geddes reports proficiency rates that are notably low across subjects and grades. In English language arts, the third-grade cohort shows the highest proficiency; proficiency drops substantially in fourth grade and rises only slightly in fifth grade. Mathematics proficiency is lower still, declining steeply from third to fifth grade. The school administered the state science assessment only in fifth grade, where proficiency is also low. Across tested subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among schools serving elementary grades in Los Angeles County districts. These results suggest the school faces academic challenges that warrant conversation with the principal about what interventions and supports are in place, how the school is approaching literacy and numeracy, and what families can expect regarding progress over time.
The school is part of Baldwin Park Unified, which itself is navigating significant structural change. The district has closed multiple elementary schools over recent years due to declining enrollment and financial strain, and those closures have reshuffled which campuses serve which neighborhoods. Families new to the district should understand this context. On the positive side, the district has built a distinctive K-12 Dual Language Immersion pathway in Spanish and English, allowing students to work toward the California State Seal of Biliteracy if that option matters to the family. The district has also completed facility upgrades through a voter-approved bond, including modernized gymnasiums and districtwide air conditioning and safety improvements.
The Baldwin Park housing market reflects the city's working-class character. Home values are below the state benchmark, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes. The city is largely built out, with new housing concentrated in downtown transit-oriented projects offering affordable multifamily units. Population has declined slightly, and development is guided by a Downtown TOD plan aimed at walkable infill near the Metrolink station. Daily civic life centers on a compact downtown core with parks, transit, and schools within walking distance of one another.
For families considering this school, the key questions are whether they value the neighborhood's transit access and housing affordability, understand the district's enrollment context and recent closures, and are ready to engage with the school on how it plans to raise academic proficiency in reading and math. The low test scores are a real concern that merit direct conversation with school leaders about classroom practice, professional development, and family support.
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