The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 29% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sara Coughlin Elementary
Sara Coughlin Elementary is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade public school in Pacoima, a densely populated working-class neighborhood in the northeastern San Fernando Valley. The school serves a population of just under five hundred students, nearly all from Latino families and an overwhelming majority from households qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The neighborhood itself is predominantly residential, built out with mid-twentieth-century single-family ranch homes and apartment complexes interspersed with industrial zones. Family life there centers on multigenerational households, often with accessory dwelling units rented out. The Van Nuys Boulevard corridor serves as the commercial and civic spine, hosting City Hall, the library, and shops; recent development has included mixed-use residential-retail projects and efforts to revitalize that main street, though the area remains auto-oriented for much of daily life.
In academic proficiency, Sara Coughlin's students are underperforming the county midpoint across tested subjects. On the most recent California state assessments, math proficiency across grades three through five hovered around one-third of students meeting grade-level standards, while English language arts proficiency was somewhat higher in upper grades, reaching above two-fifths in grade five but closer to two-fifths in the lower tested grades. Science proficiency, measured only in fifth grade, sat below one-third. Taken together, overall proficiency sits below the midpoint among schools the county's districts operate. These figures reflect the cumulative weight of high rates of economic hardship and likely other systemic challenges; only baseline testing data for this year was available, so trend information is not in hand. A parent may want to look deeper with the school into what academic supports and interventions are in place, what the grade-level experience looks like, and what tutoring or enrichment the school or district provides.
The school is part of Los Angeles Unified, a large urban district currently navigating several district-wide changes that any family should know about. In February 2025, LAUSD implemented a full-day cellphone ban covering smartwatches and earbuds as well, affecting daily routines and family communication during the school day. The district also passed Measure US, a major facilities bond, which will impose long-term property tax increases on any household in the district purchasing a home; anyone moving into this area should account for that ongoing tax commitment. Additionally, the Black Student Achievement Plan, a district-wide initiative providing culturally responsive curriculum and added staffing at targeted schools, received enhanced funding for the 2025-26 school year after a restructuring to broaden eligibility beyond race alone.
Pacoima itself is a stable, built-out community with limited new residential construction; most homes predate the 1990s. The neighborhood anchors its civic life on the Hansen Dam Recreation Area, a large public park with an aquatic center, golf, and sports fields managed by the city. Transportation is bus-based, reliant on the public system rather than rail. Housing values in the zip code are solidly below the state benchmark, and rents remain relatively affordable compared to broader county standards, though housing costs as a percentage of typical household income run considerably high, reflecting the economic conditions families here face. The area is stable but economically pressured, and the school enrolls students whose families carry substantial material burdens. For a family considering this neighborhood and this school, the draw would likely be affordability and an established community fabric, not academic performance or program breadth; the academic landscape here suggests that a family prioritizing high-performing schools or extensive enrichment programming would want to explore other options.
See more original research from School Decision →