The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rivera Elementary
Rivera Elementary sits on Citronell Street in Pico Rivera, a working- and middle-income city about thirteen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, and serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within El Rancho Unified. The school is predominantly Hispanic/Latino in its student body, a composition that closely mirrors the surrounding community, and a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the neighborhood. Exact figures for English learners and students with IEPs were not available in the data provided.
On California's CAASPP assessments, the most recent results place Rivera Elementary below the midpoint among districts in Los Angeles County on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, third and fourth graders score in a range that represents roughly a third of students meeting or exceeding standards, while fifth graders show a meaningfully stronger result, approaching half of students proficient. Math tells a somewhat different story: third and fourth grade results are comparable to the ELA figures, but fifth grade math proficiency drops to roughly one in five students meeting standards. Science, tested at fifth grade through the California Science Test, lands in a similar range to fifth grade math. These are areas a parent may want to discuss directly with the school, asking how instruction is differentiated and what supports are in place for students who are behind grade level. Only a single year of data is currently available, so trend comparisons are not yet possible.
The school is part of El Rancho Unified, a district that has been building out career and college pathways at the high school level. Publicly reported information notes a guaranteed-admission partnership between El Rancho High School and the University of La Verne, with associated financial aid and scholarship workshops, which would be the pathway a Rivera Elementary student follows through the district. El Rancho High has also earned recognition for its Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science and Engineering programs. One development that narrowed options was the 2022 closure of Ellen Ochoa Prep Academy, a district magnet high school with a college-preparatory focus and small class sizes, which had previously given families a specialized alternative within the district.
Pico Rivera itself is a postwar bedroom community that grew from agricultural land between the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel rivers. Its economy involves healthcare, retail, and manufacturing; large employers include the school district itself, along with a meatpacking company, major national retailers, and industrial tenants. The city operates through county contracts for library, police, and fire services. Parks are distributed across the city, and LA Metro bus service connects residents to the broader region, with Metrolink rail available from the nearby Commerce station.
The housing market here sits considerably above the national median for home values but below the California statewide benchmark, with home prices that have been essentially flat year over year. Rents have risen modestly. The price-to-income ratio suggests that buying requires a substantial stretch relative to typical household incomes, and the estimated monthly mortgage cost runs well above rent, making renting the more accessible option for many families new to the area. The city is actively pursuing transit-oriented development near Washington and Rosemead Boulevards, with plans for new housing and a future light rail connection, so the neighborhood's density and character may shift over the coming years.
Chronic absenteeism data was not available for Rivera Elementary. Discipline, staffing, and attendance figures were also absent from the data provided. For a complete picture of day-to-day school environment and support resources, those are worth requesting directly from the school or the El Rancho Unified district office.
See more original research from School Decision →