The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Canoga Park Elementary
Canoga Park Elementary is a small public school in Los Angeles Unified serving kindergarten through fifth grade in a densely residential neighborhood on the western edge of the San Fernando Valley. The school sits in a neighborhood undergoing significant residential growth, where thousands of apartments are being built as part of the Warner Center transformation plan, bringing increasing density and new families into the area.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a large majority of students from low-income households. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. English learner counts were not available in the data provided.
State test results from the 2024-25 school year show low proficiency across both English language arts and mathematics. In tested grades, ELA proficiency rates ranged from low to modest across grades three through five, with fifth grade showing the highest rate. Math proficiency was notably low across all tested grades, with rates declining as students moved from third to fifth grade. In science, fifth-grade proficiency was also low. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school in the bottom quartile among school-serving elementary students in Los Angeles County. The school has only one year of comparable data, so trend information is not available.
Canoga Park Elementary is part of Los Angeles Unified, which serves a sprawling district across the city and San Fernando Valley. The district recently passed a major school facilities bond, Measure US, which will fund repairs and upgrades to aging school buildings but will also increase property taxes in the district over many years. Families moving into the area should be aware of this long-term tax obligation. The district also implemented a district-wide cellphone ban for students in February 2025, affecting daily school routines and student-parent communication during the school day. Additionally, the district's Black Student Achievement Plan, which funds culturally responsive curriculum and counselor support at targeted schools, was revised in 2024 and received additional funding for 2025-26.
The neighborhood itself is changing rapidly. Canoga Park has a historic downtown along Sherman Way with a branch library, transit access via the Metro G Line, and cultural venues, but much of the area is experiencing dense residential construction. Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to many parts of Los Angeles County, and renting is common. The aerospace and retail sectors remain significant employers, with the L3Harris-Aerojet Rocketdyne facility and Westfield Topanga mall anchoring local job bases. The Warner Center development, underway on the eastern side of the neighborhood, is intended to create a new walkable downtown for the West Valley over the next decade.
A parent considering this school should understand that the current test results show significant academic challenges, particularly in mathematics. The school serves a high-poverty, predominantly Hispanic population with limited data on special populations. The neighborhood is in transition, with construction and growth reshaping the immediate area. The school's small size and location in an older residential area distinguish it from some of the larger, more established schools in the district. A parent may want to look into further with the school what supports are in place to address the low proficiency rates and what curriculum approaches or interventions are underway.
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