The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in Math. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ritter Elementary
Ritter Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in a South Los Angeles neighborhood, in the 90059 zip code near Watts Avenue. The school is small, with a student body composed almost entirely of low-income families who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and a population that is predominantly Hispanic with a meaningful share of Black students. The racial makeup is approximately four-fifths Hispanic and one-sixth Black, with minimal presence of other groups.
On California's standardized assessments, Ritter's performance sits below the midpoint when compared to other schools in Los Angeles County. In English language arts across grades three through five, proficiency rates range from roughly a third of students at the higher grades to just above half in third grade. Mathematics proficiency is similarly distributed, with third grade at about half, fourth grade also near half, and fifth grade at about a third. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the only grade tested, is substantially lower. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it below the county median.
The data does not include multi-year trends, so it is not possible to characterize whether performance is improving, stable, or declining. The assessment results shown are from the 2024-25 school year. The school does not report separate proficiency data by demographic subgroup, and the count of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners is not available in the public data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the composition of these populations and the supports available.
Ritter is part of Los Angeles Unified, a large urban district serving the sprawling city and its immediate surroundings. The district recently approved Measure US, a major school facilities bond funded through a property tax increase that will extend decades, a factor families relocating into the district should weigh. In February 2025, LAUSD implemented a district-wide cellphone ban for students during the entire school day, a change affecting daily communication and school culture. The district has also expanded its Black Student Achievement Plan with culturally responsive curriculum and additional counseling and support staff, changes that shape the academic environment at many campuses including those serving predominantly students of color.
The neighborhood around Ritter is part of Los Angeles proper, a sprawling polycentric city where walkability and access vary sharply by district. The immediate area sits in South LA, a historically working-class neighborhood. Housing in the 90059 zip code is substantially below California and national median values, reflecting the region's affordability relative to much of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, though mortgage costs remain a significant burden for many households. Rent costs are also substantial relative to household income in this part of the city. The area's character is primarily residential and mixed-use, with significant industrial and commercial presence, consistent with South LA's economic foundation.
For a family considering this school, the academic data indicates a student body where roughly half or fewer of students are meeting grade-level proficiency in core subjects at the upper elementary grades. This is relevant context for understanding the peer environment and the academic support the school is positioned to provide. The school's Title I status is not reported in available data, so parents should ask whether the school receives federal Title I funding and what resources that brings. The school's stated mission, any specialized programs or instructional approaches, and the principal's vision for academic improvement would be valuable to explore directly with the school, as that information was not in the data provided.
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