The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on One Hundred Thirty-fifth Street Elementary
One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary is a small elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Gardena, a South Bay suburb with a large Japanese American community and a diverse population. The school sits in a grid of small ranch homes and light-industrial zones near freeway interchanges, in a neighborhood that has shifted toward multifamily housing construction in recent years.
The school enrolls a small population that is overwhelmingly low-income and Latino. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment skews heavily toward Latino students, with smaller shares of Black, Asian, and White students. Demographic data on English learners and special education enrollment were not available. Kindergarten is the largest grade band, with enrollment tapering modestly through fifth grade.
On state assessments in math and English language arts administered in 2024-25, proficiency rates across all tested grades fall below what the state considers standard achievement. In English language arts, proficiency rates range from roughly one-third to just under two-fifths across grades three, four, and five. Math proficiency is similarly low, ranging from roughly one-third to two-fifths. In fifth-grade science, proficiency sits notably lower, at roughly one-fifth. These results place the school in the bottom quartile when compared against other schools in Los Angeles County.
Only one year of assessment data is available, so trend information is not yet present. A parent may want to look into what academic supports or interventions the school has in place, what trends preceded this year, and what the school's plans are for addressing these proficiency gaps.
The broader context is important. Gardena sits in Los Angeles Unified School District, which in 2024 passed a major school facilities bond that will raise property taxes over the long term to fund aging school building repairs and upgrades. The district also implemented a district-wide cellphone ban in February 2025 affecting all students during the entire school day, and has expanded funding for its Black Student Achievement Plan, which supports culturally responsive curriculum and counseling at designated campuses. These are district-level changes families in LAUSD should understand as part of their school choice decision.
The housing market in Gardena is active, with median home values and rents climbing modestly. The area is experiencing multifamily development, including workforce housing projects near regional tech employers. Employment is anchored by manufacturers, retailers, healthcare, and gaming; public transit is municipal via the Gardena bus system and Metro connections at a large transit center. The neighborhood has localized street life and walkable clusters of Japanese restaurants and markets, but is automobile-centric overall.
For a family considering this school, the central question is whether its low proficiency rates align with your child's needs and whether you believe the school's trajectory and supports will help your student reach grade-level competency. The school's small enrollment and early-grade focus (with no secondary grades) means it serves a neighborhood population directly. Parents should seek clarity from the school on recent years' performance, current instructional strategies, and plans for improvement.
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