John Muir Middle, Los Angeles CA

Original Research by School Decision on John Muir Middle

John Muir Middle serves grades six through eight in the South Los Angeles neighborhood and sits within Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest district. The school enrolls a student population that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of Black students, and nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the surrounding community. English learner data and special education enrollment figures were not available in the data provided.

On California state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, John Muir's proficiency rates in English language arts and math sit well below state midpoints. In English language arts across all grades tested, proficiency was in the low-to-mid range, with grade seven and eight showing somewhat higher results than grade six. In mathematics, proficiency rates across grades six, seven, and eight all fell below the low range. In science, grade eight proficiency on the California Science Test was markedly lower. When measured against other schools in Los Angeles County that serve comparable grade bands, John Muir's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among its county peers. State testing data in social studies dates to 2013 and is not current enough to reflect present school performance.

The school's academic profile reflects a context where a parent may want to look into further with the school what targeted instructional supports, remediation resources, and family engagement strategies are in place to address these proficiency gaps. LAUSD has adopted several district-wide initiatives that affect daily school life. As of February 2025, all students are required to store cellphones, smartwatches, and earbuds in locked pouches during the entire school day, a change that reshapes how families stay connected with students during school hours. The district's Black Student Achievement Plan, which funds culturally responsive curriculum and additional counselors at selected schools, was restructured in 2024 and received increased funding for the 2025-26 school year; a parent would want to learn whether John Muir is a priority school under this plan and what staffing and curriculum resources that brings.

The broader South Los Angeles neighborhood where the school sits is part of a sprawling, car-dependent city in the midst of a housing shortage and growth phase. Nearby housing values reflect the economics of the area, and Los Angeles Unified has just passed Measure US, a major school facilities bond that will raise property taxes on residents for decades to support repairs and upgrades of aging school buildings. Families considering the district should understand this long-term tax commitment as part of the economic picture.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 617%

School 17% · District 35% · ▼ 18 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 713%

School 13% · District 34% · ▼ 20 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 815%

School 15% · District 32% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 46% · ▼ 27 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Grade 727%

School 27% · District 46% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 45% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Science

Grade 810%

School 10% · District 27% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 835%

School 35% · District 43% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 13 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.