Francisco Sepulveda Middle, North Hills CA

Original Research by School Decision on Francisco Sepulveda Middle

Francisco Sepulveda Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in North Hills, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school enrolls a substantial population of students, with the majority Hispanic and a very high share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting an economically disadvantaged student population. Specific data on English learner enrollment or special education identification was not available.

The school's most recent state testing results show low proficiency across all tested subjects. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from roughly a quarter to a third of students depending on grade level, with the strongest performance in grade six. Math proficiency is somewhat lower, ranging from about one-fifth to roughly one-quarter of students across the three grades. In eighth-grade science, proficiency is notably lower, with roughly one-eighth of students meeting the standard. These results place the school in the bottom quartile among Los Angeles County school districts on overall proficiency. Trend data spanning multiple years was not available, so it is not possible to determine whether performance has been moving, holding steady, or changing direction.

The school is located in North Hills, and regional housing data suggests the area faces affordability pressures typical of the greater Los Angeles region. Home values in the area are substantial, and monthly rent is relatively high. Rent represents nearly half of median household income for the area, according to current data. For families considering a move to the district, the Los Angeles Unified School District recently secured voter approval for a major school facilities bond intended to repair and upgrade aging buildings across the system. Publicly reported accounts indicate this will result in long-term property tax increases on homeowners.

District-level changes also affect daily school life. Los Angeles Unified has implemented a full school-day cellphone ban, including during lunch and breaks, with most middle schools using lockable storage pouches. This is a significant shift in school culture and student communication that any family using this school should be aware of.

Academic support and culturally responsive curriculum at LAUSD schools may be shaped by the district's Black Student Achievement Plan, which was restructured in 2024 and now targets schools based on factors beyond race. Publicly reported, the district increased funding for this program in its 2025-26 budget. A parent may want to look into what specific programs or staffing additions this school receives through that initiative.

With proficiency data showing meaningful academic challenges across all subjects and grade levels, and without visibility into trend direction or detailed information about intervention or support structures at the school, a parent may want to discuss directly with school leadership what academic supports and enrichment opportunities the school offers, and how the school is working to address performance gaps.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 35% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 726%

School 26% · District 34% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 821%

School 21% · District 32% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 46% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 727%

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

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

Grade 822%

School 22% · District 45% · ▼ 23 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Science

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 27% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 840%

School 40% · District 43% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 8 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 7Lower-income25%Higher-income44%19 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income22%Higher-income24%2 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income24%Higher-income43%19 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income21%Higher-income18%3 pp gap