Hughes-elizabeth Lakes, Lake Hughes CA

Original Research by School Decision on Hughes-elizabeth Lakes

Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes is a very small, single K-8 school in the remote mountain community of Lake Hughes in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, serving a sparse population in a rural, forest-surrounded setting. The school's enrollment is small, concentrated heavily in kindergarten and scattered across the other grades.

The academic picture shows proficiency rates well below the state baseline in both English language arts and math. In English language arts, proficiency runs from a low point in the early grades to a moderate level in grade seven, with other grades in the mid-to-upper range. Math proficiency is notably lower across all tested grades, with most students falling below the state standard. Science proficiency, where tested, is similarly below expectations. When measured against other districts across Los Angeles County, this school sits below the midpoint on overall proficiency. A parent may want to look into the specific instructional approach and classroom dynamics, since small enrollments can create advantages in personalized teaching alongside challenges in peer diversity and program breadth.

The community itself is economically mixed. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is roughly evenly split between white and Hispanic students, with a small number of students of other races. The area's housing market reflects rural, owner-occupied character, with home values in the moderate range for Los Angeles County and rent-to-income costs that indicate affordability strain for working families.

The district has adopted AVID, a college-readiness and study-skills framework, schoolwide. This means every student experiences an emphasis on organizational and metacognitive practices from their earliest grades, shaping classroom culture and expectations. The district also recently expanded to offer transitional kindergarten, adding a year of free early education for families with young children.

Structurally, Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes is a single-school district, meaning all K-8 students in the area attend this one building. The school sits in the informal center of the Lake Hughes community, near the general store and local gathering places, rather than on a removed campus. This physical integration into the community, paired with its small size, creates a close-knit setting where families and staff intersect with local life.

Program specifics beyond core academics were not available in the data. Families considering this school should plan to ask directly about electives, arts offerings, after-school options, and supports for students performing below grade level. The very small enrollment, while offering potential for individualized attention, also means limited peer groups and course variety compared to larger schools.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 45%

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 422%

School 22% · District 22%

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

Grade 528%

School 28% · District 28%

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

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 38%

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

Grade 738%

School 38% · District 38%

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

Grade 825%

School 25% · District 25%

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

English language arts

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 35%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 48%

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

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 50%

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

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 48%

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

Grade 754%

School 54% · District 54%

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

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 40%

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

Science

Grade 529%

School 29% · District 29%

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

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 40%

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 42%

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

This schoolHughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union Elementary, 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 4Lower-income46%Higher-income50%5 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income18%Higher-income25%7 pp gap