Gallatin Elementary, Downey CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Gallatin Elementary

Gallatin Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Downey, a built-out residential suburb in southeastern Los Angeles County. The school sits in a community with a strong aerospace history and an active commercial corridor, where new housing development is beginning to emerge after decades as a largely settled area.

The enrollment is small to mid-sized for an elementary school, with the student body reflecting the surrounding neighborhood. A clear majority of students are Hispanic, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with modest household incomes. Demographic data on English learners and special education enrollment was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations.

On state testing, Gallatin's results show proficiency rates roughly split across the middle. In English language arts, third and fifth graders showed proficiency closer to or just above the midpoint, while fourth grade was somewhat lower. In math, performance runs below that benchmark across all tested grades, with fifth grade markedly weaker than the upper elementary cohort. Science testing, available only for fifth grade, showed similarly low proficiency. Across tested subjects and grades combined, the school's overall proficiency sits below the midpoint relative to other districts in Los Angeles County. These numbers reflect real academic headwinds. A parent should view the school straightforwardly: students here are not mastering state standards at strong rates, and growth in both math and science appears to be a clear need.

The school's testing data comes from a single year, so trends over time are not yet visible. Parent engagement with the school on what classroom supports, intervention programs, or curriculum changes are underway would give a fuller picture of how leadership is responding to these results.

Downey itself is a car-dependent suburb with pockets of higher walkability along Firestone Boulevard. Housing costs are substantial; median home values are well above the state average, though rents are somewhat more affordable relative to national norms. The community is anchored by healthcare employers, the school district itself, and a legacy aerospace identity. New townhome and single-family construction is beginning to add housing supply after years of limited new building. The city's commercial spine and civic center sit near the school's neighborhood, and transit options include local bus service and connections to the Metro light rail.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 352%

School 52% · District 54% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 48% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 40% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 355%

School 55% · District 51% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 55% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 55% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 532%

School 32% · District 34% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

This schoolDowney 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 3Lower-income50%Higher-income63%13 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income43%Higher-income58%15 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income50%Higher-income70%20 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income44%Higher-income67%23 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income35%Higher-income68%32 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income28%Higher-income57%29 pp gap