Frank E. Woodruff Elementary, Bellflower CA

Original Research by School Decision on Frank E. Woodruff Elementary

Frank E. Woodruff Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Bellflower, a densely populated residential suburb in southeast Los Angeles County where most families rent and housing is primarily midcentury ranch homes from the 1940s and 1950s. The school draws from a community shaped by healthcare, retail, and manufacturing employment, with a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and a predominantly Latino student body.

The school's academic performance shows consistent challenges across tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from the mid-20s to low 40s across grades three through six, with sixth-grade students reaching the highest proficiency. Math proficiency is notably lower, tracking in the low 20s to mid-40s, with the steepest decline in fifth grade. Science proficiency data, available only for fifth grade, sits well below performance in the other subjects. Across all tested grades and subjects combined, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile when compared to other elementary schools in Los Angeles County.

The school enrolls approximately four hundred students across seven grades, with relatively balanced enrollment across grade levels. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the neighborhood. Specific data on the share of English learners and students with disabilities was not available; a parent may want to look into this further with the school, particularly given that the Bellflower Unified School District faced a state audit in 2022 finding that it had failed to provide legally required services to students with disabilities despite having significant financial reserves. The district has since adopted corrective practices and quarterly reporting on expenditures.

The district context includes meaningful student supports. All elementary schools, including Woodruff, now operate the free Expanded Learning Program with before-school and after-school care until 6:00 p.m. plus meals and homework help at no cost to families, a substantial resource for working parents. The district also provides free Metro GoPass transit cards to all students, removing transportation costs entirely.

The median home price in the zip code is substantial relative to median household income in the area, creating housing pressure typical of the broader Los Angeles market. Walkability is concentrated in downtown Bellflower along Bellflower Boulevard; the school's neighborhood is primarily residential and car-dependent. The city is pursuing transit-oriented development and redevelopment along its main commercial corridor, with the Metro West Santa Ana Branch light rail planned to serve the area.

For families considering Woodruff, the school offers the practical advantage of free extended care and transit access through district programs, and it sits within a community with established parks, trails, and civic anchors. The academic proficiency results indicate the school is working with a student population facing significant learning gaps, and prospective families should understand this reality as they evaluate fit and what academic supports may be needed at home or through tutoring.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 342%

School 42% · District 45% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 33% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 32% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 32% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 40% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 36% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 47% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 641%

School 41% · District 48% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 26% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolBellflower 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.