Centinela Tk-8 Elementary, Inglewood CA

Original Research by School Decision on Centinela Tk-8 Elementary

Centinela TK-8 Elementary is a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in Inglewood serving a student body that is predominantly Latino and Black, with a substantial majority of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The school enrolls students across nine grades, from transitional kindergarten through the eighth grade.

Academic performance across state assessments is below the midpoint among the county's schools. In English language arts, results show variability by grade: third and fifth graders perform better than older students, while sixth graders show the lowest results. In mathematics, proficiency drops noticeably in the upper elementary and middle grades, with sixth graders showing particularly low results before a marked recovery at the eighth-grade level. Science proficiency, tested in fifth and eighth grades, sits in the low range. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile when compared to other schools across Los Angeles County.

The school's student composition reflects the neighborhood it serves. Latino students represent the large majority of enrollment, followed by a significant Black student population. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need. Data on English learners and students with Individualized Education Programs were not available.

Centinela TK-8 sits within Inglewood Unified, a district currently operating under state receivership, a status it has held longer than any other district in California. As of early 2026, the district faces a state review that could lead to restoration of local control in 2027, an outcome that would return authority over decisions like school closures, teacher pay, and campus safety to the elected board. The district also carries ongoing financial pressures stemming from declining enrollment and chronic absenteeism, and it remains obligated to repay a substantial state emergency loan. These structural conditions shape the long-term stability families consider when choosing schools.

The broader Inglewood community is experiencing rapid growth centered on the SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park development, which has drawn sports, entertainment, and hospitality employment alongside new mixed-use and transit-oriented housing near the Metro K Line. Housing values and rents in the area have risen, reflecting the redevelopment activity, though affordability remains a concern for long-standing residents. The downtown area along Market Street is undergoing reinvestment and is becoming more pedestrian-oriented, anchored by the newly opened Metro K Line that serves the city.

A parent considering Centinela would want to look into the school's specific intervention strategies in upper-elementary and middle-grade mathematics, where proficiency dips significantly, and to understand how the school is addressing the broader attendance and engagement challenges the district faces. The school's position in the bottom quartile of county proficiency suggests academic support and resources are a conversation worth having directly with the school.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 34% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 22% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 20% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 615%

School 15% · District 14% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 725%

School 25% · District 15% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 20% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 337%

School 37% · District 31% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 427%

School 27% · District 27%

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

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 31% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 25% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Grade 735%

School 35% · District 36%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 847%

School 47% · District 45% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 14% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 827%

School 27% · District 24% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

This schoolInglewood 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.