Mark Twain Middle, Los Angeles CA

Original Research by School Decision on Mark Twain Middle

Mark Twain Middle serves grades six through eight in Los Angeles, operating as a regular public school within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school enrolls a school of roughly a thousand students, distributed across its three grade levels. More than half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school's enrollment is majority Hispanic, with substantial representation of Black, white, and multiracial students and smaller populations of Asian and Pacific Islander students.

The most recent state assessment data shows uneven performance across subjects and grades. In English language arts, students achieve proficiency at rates that vary by grade, with stronger results in sixth grade and declining proficiency as students advance. Math proficiency is lower across all grades, with the decline steepening notably in eighth grade. Science proficiency, tested in eighth grade only, also sits in the lower range. These patterns suggest students face increasing difficulty with mathematical reasoning and science concepts as they progress through middle school, a challenge a parent may want to explore directly with the school.

One point to clarify: the state testing data available for Mark Twain is recent, covering the current school year. A previous social studies assessment from more than a decade ago is also on file but does not reflect current conditions. Trend data over multiple years was not available, so it is not possible to determine whether performance is stable, improving, or declining. The school's overall proficiency index, averaging across all tested subjects and grades, sits above the midpoint among middle schools in Los Angeles County, placing it in a middle tier relative to its county peers.

The school sits in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, an area characterized by mixed residential and commercial zones typical of the city's sprawl. The local housing market shows substantial home values and rent levels, with affordability strained relative to both state and national benchmarks. The cost of housing in the school's zip code carries implications for families considering the area, particularly in the context of property tax increases tied to Measure US, a major facilities bond approved by voters that will extend property tax obligations for many years.

Within LAUSD, Mark Twain is one school in a very large district managing notable recent changes. The district implemented a comprehensive cellphone ban on all campuses beginning in February 2025, affecting how students and families communicate during the school day. Additionally, LAUSD's Black Student Achievement Plan, which funds culturally responsive curriculum and counseling staff, was restructured in 2024 and received increased funding for 2025-26, shaping the support and curriculum environment at many schools including this one.

The school's academic foundation reflects a student population facing the typical pressures of Los Angeles middle schoolers in a high-cost, densely populated urban environment. Students who thrive here tend to benefit from clear, structured support in math and science, where proficiency gaps are most visible. English language arts, while stronger, still leaves room for growth. A family considering Mark Twain should speak with the school about instructional approaches in these areas, how it identifies and supports students who fall behind, and what enrichment or intervention programs are available.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 657%

School 57% · District 35% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 744%

School 44% · District 34% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 838%

School 38% · District 32% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 665%

School 65% · District 46% · ▲ 20 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 758%

School 58% · District 46% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 852%

School 52% · District 45% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Science

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 27% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 843%

School 43% · District 43%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

This schoolLos Angeles 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 6Lower-income46%Higher-income89%43 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income40%Higher-income82%42 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income34%Higher-income79%45 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income38%Higher-income81%43 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income26%Higher-income66%40 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income21%Higher-income64%43 pp gap