The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Coldwater Canyon Elementary
Coldwater Canyon Elementary is a regular public school in North Hollywood that serves kindergarten through fifth grade, with enrollment around the typical size for an elementary school of its grade band. The school sits in a neighborhood known for its arts-district character and growing residential density, anchored by the NoHo Arts District's theaters, galleries and music venues, with quieter residential blocks of single-family homes and apartments spreading outward.
The student body is predominantly Latino, and a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the immediate area. State test results from 2024-25 show proficiency rates that are notably low across both English language arts and math. In ELA, students in third grade reached about a third of the state's proficiency threshold, while fourth and fifth graders fell further behind. Math proficiency was even lower, with third grade around a third of the threshold, fourth grade dropping sharply lower, and fifth grade approaching single digits. A science assessment in fifth grade showed similarly modest results. These patterns suggest significant academic challenges across the grade span, with performance declining notably in the upper elementary years. A parent may want to look into what supports the school offers to address these proficiency gaps, including any tutoring, intervention programming, or approaches to reading and math instruction that target students below grade level.
When compared to other district schools across Los Angeles County, Coldwater Canyon's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among the schools measured, meaning substantially fewer students are meeting grade-level standards than at most similar schools in the county. This is a fact worth understanding clearly: the school's academic output is trailing most peers.
The North Hollywood location itself is changing rapidly. A major transit-oriented development called District NoHo, anchored by the North Hollywood Metro station, is in early phases and will bring thousands of new housing units, retail space and office development over the coming years. A separate 25-acre mixed-use project at the site of the former Laurel Plaza mall is also underway. The neighborhood is becoming denser and more affluent as development proceeds, though the current housing market in the zip code reflects significant cost: home values are well above the state median, and monthly rent consumes a substantial portion of household income even for families earning the national median. For families already in the area, the newly approved Measure US property tax increase tied to school facility improvements will add a long-term cost to home ownership.
At the district level, Los Angeles Unified is implementing two policy changes that affect daily school life. An all-day student cellphone ban took effect in February 2025, with devices stored during school hours including lunch and breaks. The district is also working to expand culturally responsive curriculum and targeted support staffing under its Black Student Achievement Plan, which was restructured in 2024 and received additional funding for 2025-26.
Coldwater Canyon serves a high-need population with substantial economic hardship, and its academic results show clear gaps that warrant direct conversation with school leadership about intervention strategies, instructional approaches and support availability before enrollment or transfer decisions.
See more original research from School Decision →