Newcomb Academy, Long Beach CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Newcomb Academy

Newcomb Academy is a public elementary and middle school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in the Wrigley neighborhood of Long Beach. The school enrolls a diverse student body that reflects the city's immigrant heritage and economic mix, with enrollment spread across nine grade levels from early elementary through the beginning of the secondary years.

The school's academic standing is solid across the board. In English language arts, proficiency runs strong from fourth grade onward, with rates in the low-to-mid eighties across grades four through eight. Third grade shows modestly lower performance at around three-fourths proficient. Math proficiency is somewhat more variable by grade: fourth grade reaches a notably high level, while fifth, seventh, and eighth grades sit in the mid-to-upper sixties, and sixth grade approaches four-fifths. Science testing, available only for fifth and eighth grades, shows performance in the mid-sixties. Taken as a whole, Newcomb's proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile of schools when compared to other schools in Los Angeles County—a meaningful strength in a large, competitive district.

The student population spans a wide range of backgrounds. The school serves families across a clear economic spectrum: roughly one-fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, while about four-fifths do not, suggesting a mixed-income enrollment. Racially and ethnically, the school is notably diverse, with Hispanic students comprising about a third of enrollment, white students making up roughly a third as well, students identifying as two or more races accounting for a meaningful share, and Asian students and Black students each representing smaller but significant portions. This composition differs markedly from more homogeneous school settings and reflects Long Beach's identity as a genuinely multiethnic city.

The neighborhood and housing context matter for families considering this school. Wrigley is one of Long Beach's more affordable residential areas, characterized by single-family homes and quiet streets rather than high-density development. Housing values and rents in the school's zip code are substantial—the area's home values sit well above the state median and rent levels are correspondingly high—yet the neighborhood itself maintains a more modest, family-oriented feel than other parts of the city. Long Beach as a whole is experiencing marked growth, with major new housing development reshaping downtown and other areas, though the rate of enrollment decline district-wide means the school's own enrollment may face headwinds despite broader city growth. The school is accessible by Long Beach Transit bus service and by car to most neighborhoods in the city.

The data available does not include enrollment figures for students with disabilities or English learners as separate counts, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about how these populations are served and what specific resources are available. Similarly, information on program breadth—art, music, physical education, gifted services, dual-language offerings, or extracurricular activities—is not included in this summary. The school's website or a direct conversation with administrators would illuminate the full range of what the school offers beyond core academics.

Newcomb sits within Long Beach Unified, a large urban district navigating sustained enrollment decline even as the city itself grows. The district is currently implementing state-mandated ethnic studies courses, which will affect the high school experience for today's middle school students. The district also recently passed a major school bond to upgrade aging facilities, a multi-decade investment that touches most campuses.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 378%

School 78% · District 49% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 482%

School 82% · District 45% · ▲ 37 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Grade 567%

School 67% · District 41% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 679%

School 79% · District 35% · ▲ 44 pts above district

▲ 49 pts above state median · ▲ 48 pts above county median

Grade 767%

School 67% · District 37% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Grade 868%

School 68% · District 35% · ▲ 33 pts above district

▲ 40 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 373%

School 73% · District 48% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 488%

School 88% · District 50% · ▲ 38 pts above district

▲ 45 pts above state median · ▲ 44 pts above county median

Grade 580%

School 80% · District 55% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 35 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 681%

School 81% · District 49% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Grade 784%

School 84% · District 54% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 38 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 882%

School 82% · District 53% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Science

Grade 564%

School 64% · District 33% · ▲ 32 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 37 pts above county median

Grade 860%

School 60% · District 29% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 36 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 883%

School 83% · District 52% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

This schoolLong Beach 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-income69%Higher-income74%5 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income73%Higher-income91%17 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income73%Higher-income81%9 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income65%Higher-income84%19 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income73%Higher-income87%14 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income66%Higher-income89%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income62%Higher-income81%19 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income60%Higher-income87%27 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income55%Higher-income69%14 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income65%Higher-income82%17 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income46%Higher-income74%28 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income52%Higher-income75%23 pp gap