The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Math. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on City Terrace Elementary
City Terrace Elementary is a small elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the City Terrace neighborhood of Los Angeles. The enrollment is small, sitting at around a few hundred students spread across six grades, with the largest grades having roughly equal numbers and the smallest grades notably fewer. Demographically, the school is predominantly Hispanic, with nearly all students identifying as Hispanic, a small number identifying as Asian or multiracial, and very few other students. A substantial majority of the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the neighborhood.
On California's state assessments from the most recent year, City Terrace Elementary's proficiency results show a pattern consistent with many high-poverty urban schools. In mathematics, overall proficiency across tested grades sits in the range where about half to two-thirds of students meet grade-level standards, with performance dipping as students move into upper elementary. Third grade shows higher proficiency than fourth and fifth grades. In English language arts, the picture is similar but somewhat more mixed: third grade underperforms the schoolwide average, while fifth grade shows stronger results than the school average, suggesting variability by grade or cohort. In science, tested only at fifth grade, less than half of students meet proficiency. Taken together, these results indicate that the school is working with students who need substantial academic support, and many are not yet meeting grade-level expectations in core subjects.
Compared to other schools within Los Angeles County, City Terrace Elementary's overall proficiency index places it above the county's midpoint, a position that reflects strength relative to many other urban elementary schools in the region though also acknowledges that many students are not yet proficient. The school appears to be serving a similar student population to many other LAUSD schools in lower-income neighborhoods.
The housing market around City Terrace shows median home values in the mid-range for Los Angeles County and rents that are moderate by county standards, though still substantial relative to household income in the area. Rent-to-income ratios suggest that housing costs are a significant burden for families, and the economic context of the neighborhood reflects limited household resources. Los Angeles as a whole is undergoing active housing development and rezoning to address a statewide housing shortage, though building has slowed recently due to construction costs, interest rates, and policy changes.
At the district level, Los Angeles Unified has undergone recent changes relevant to families considering the school. Voters approved Measure US, a major school facilities bond that will result in long-term property tax increases to fund building repairs and upgrades across the district's aging school infrastructure. Additionally, LAUSD implemented a districtwide ban on student cellphone and smartwatch use during the entire school day, a cultural shift that affects daily communication between families and students. These are standing features of the district environment that any family would factor into their choice.
The school sits within Los Angeles proper, a sprawling, polycentric city with diverse neighborhoods and a strong Hispanic cultural presence in many areas. Public transit is available through the Metro system and local bus routes, though Los Angeles remains car-dependent for most daily travel. The city has concentrations of civic and cultural institutions, and the South Los Angeles area where City Terrace is located has community resources, local businesses, and family-oriented infrastructure typical of residential neighborhoods.
City Terrace Elementary appears to be a neighborhood school serving a predominantly low-income, Hispanic student population with academic performance that suggests many students need continued support to reach grade-level proficiency. It is not a choice school or magnet, but rather the traditional local public elementary school for the area. Families considering the school should view the state assessment results honestly, speak directly with school staff about what academic interventions are in place, and consider the long-term property tax implications of Measure US for their household.
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