Marquez Charter, Pacific Palisades CA

Original Research by School Decision on Marquez Charter

Marquez Charter is a small elementary charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Pacific Palisades, an affluent coastal community in Los Angeles County. The school enrolls a modest number of students across its grade span, with a student body that is predominantly White and multiracial, and a relatively low share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

On California's state assessments in English language arts and mathematics, the school's performance varies by grade level. Fourth grade shows the strongest results, while fifth grade posts notably lower proficiency rates in both subjects. Third grade performance in both subjects sits in the mid-range. In science, tested only at fifth grade, proficiency falls in the lower-middle range. Across all tested grades and subjects, Marquez Charter's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other schools and districts in Los Angeles County, a meaningful position given the diversity of school types and performance levels across the county's school systems.

The school's peer composition reflects Pacific Palisades itself. Nearly half the enrollment identifies as White, roughly a third as multiracial, with smaller representations of Hispanic and Asian students. This is a relatively homogeneous setting compared to Los Angeles as a whole, and families considering the school should understand that the student body will not reflect the county's full racial and ethnic diversity. English learner counts and special education enrollment data were not available, so a parent may want to look into those details directly with the school to understand how the school serves those student populations.

Pacific Palisades is an established, affluent residential community. Home values in the zip code are substantially above both state and national benchmarks, and monthly rental costs are high relative to typical income in the broader region. A family relocating to this area to attend Marquez Charter should anticipate housing costs that reflect the community's market tier. Property tax obligations in Los Angeles Unified are set to increase over a long period as the district repays a major school facilities bond approved by voters, a permanent structural change to tax liability for homeowners in the district.

As a charter school, Marquez operates independently within the Los Angeles Unified School District framework. The school's specific instructional approach, curriculum focus, admissions process, and extended offerings were not available in the data, so families interested in enrollment should consult the school directly about its educational philosophy and whether it aligns with their goals. The charter status itself means the school answers to an independent board and has autonomy over some operational decisions, though it remains a public school with no tuition.

The student experience includes district-wide policies adopted by Los Angeles Unified, including a cellphone ban that prohibits student use of phones, smartwatches, and earbuds throughout the entire school day, implemented in February 2025. This is a structural change to school culture and daily communication between students and families that any prospective family should factor into their decision.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 374%

School 74% · District 48% · ▲ 26 pts above district

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

Grade 492%

School 92% · District 43% · ▲ 48 pts above district

▲ 54 pts above state median · ▲ 51 pts above county median

Grade 564%

School 64% · District 36% · ▲ 28 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 374%

School 74% · District 44% · ▲ 30 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 486%

School 86% · District 45% · ▲ 41 pts above district

▲ 44 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 578%

School 78% · District 47% · ▲ 31 pts above district

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Science

Grade 565%

School 65% · District 29% · ▲ 36 pts above district

▲ 37 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above 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 5Lower-income54%Higher-income91%37 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income39%Higher-income78%40 pp gap