Craig Williams Elementary, Lakewood CA

Original Research by School Decision on Craig Williams Elementary

Craig Williams Elementary is a small elementary school in Lakewood, in Los Angeles County, serving kindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of Bellflower Unified School District, a mid-sized district that serves multiple communities in the area.

The school's recent state test results in English language arts and math show proficiency rates that are below the middle of the range for schools in Los Angeles County districts. In English language arts, proficiency varies by grade, with sixth grade performing noticeably higher than grades three through five, which cluster in the low range. Math proficiency is weaker across all grades tested, with particularly low results in grades four and five. Science results, where measured in grade five, are also low. These patterns suggest the school is contending with substantial academic challenges across both subjects.

The student population is diverse and economically disadvantaged. A large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Hispanic students make up the majority of the enrollment, with meaningful numbers of Black and Asian students, smaller populations of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students, and very small numbers of white, American Indian or Alaska Native, and multiracial students. The school enrolls a substantial student body for the elementary grades, with roughly even distribution across its grade bands.

Data on the school's English learner population and special education enrollments were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the composition and support services for these groups.

Lakewood itself is a postwar planned suburb of single-family homes and retail, car-dependent in layout, with daily life anchored by neighborhood parks, two public libraries, and extensive bus transit. The city is undergoing change: the Lakewood Center regional mall is under new ownership and slated for redevelopment into a mixed-use, walkable district. Housing values in the area are substantial but modestly above the state benchmark.

Bellflower Unified has significant new resources available to families. The district now offers a free Expanded Learning Program at all elementary and middle schools, providing before-school, after-school, and weekend enrichment with daily meals and homework support at no cost. The district has also partnered with LA Metro to provide students free, unlimited bus and rail access through a GoPass program. These are material supports for working families.

However, a June 2022 state audit flagged serious concerns about the district's use of its financial reserves and its failure to deliver services to students with disabilities as required by law. The audit found the district had accumulated substantial unassigned reserves while failing to assess and serve students in need, including those entitled to services under Individualized Education Programs. The state imposed corrective deadlines, and the district has since adopted new quarterly reporting practices to its board. A parent with a child who has an IEP or suspected disability may want to review the district's current compliance record directly with special education administration, as this history is relevant to how services are managed.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 349%

School 49% · District 45% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 424%

School 24% · District 33% · ▼ 9 pts below district

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

Grade 517%

School 17% · District 32% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Grade 636%

School 36% · District 32% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above 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 430%

School 30% · District 36% · ▼ 5 pts below district

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

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 47% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 653%

School 53% · District 48% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Science

Grade 520%

School 20% · District 26% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 7 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.