Western Avenue Technology Magnet, Los Angeles CA

Original Research by School Decision on Western Avenue Technology Magnet

Western Avenue Technology Magnet is an alternative school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Los Angeles, positioned within the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school sits in a neighborhood of mixed residential and commercial character, where the housing market is active, with median home values in the area and rental costs that have shifted year to year as Los Angeles undergoes broader development and rezoning activity tied to the state housing crisis.

The school's academic performance reflects significant challenges across both tested subjects. In English language arts, students show proficiency rates that vary by grade, with stronger results in the upper middle grades—sixth and eighth graders reach closer to the higher end of the school's range—while lower grades fall substantially below. Mathematics proficiency is consistently low across all tested grades, ranging from low performance in fifth grade to somewhat higher but still modest results in sixth grade. Science proficiency, tested in fifth and eighth grades, also falls in the lower range. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other schools within Los Angeles County, meaning students here are performing substantially below the county median on state assessments.

The enrollment is small, around five hundred students spread across nine grades from kindergarten through eighth. The student body is predominantly Latino, with a substantial Black population and very small Asian and white enrollments. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a low-income community. The school does not report separate data on English learner enrollment or the percentage of students with individualized education plans (IEPs), so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and what support structures exist.

As an alternative school within LAUSD, Western Avenue Technology Magnet sits outside the traditional neighborhood school model. The word "technology" in its name suggests a curricular focus, though specific program details were not available in the data reviewed. Parents would benefit from speaking with the school about what technology integration or career pathways it offers and how the alternative structure shapes daily learning.

The district context matters for any LAUSD family. In February 2025, LAUSD implemented an all-day ban on cellphones, smartwatches, and earbuds for all students during school hours, a change that affects student-parent communication during the day. The district has also passed Measure US, a large school facilities bond that will raise property taxes for a long period, a consideration for families considering moving into the district or relocating within it. Additionally, LAUSD's Black Student Achievement Plan, which funds culturally responsive curriculum and targeted staffing, has been revised to expand eligibility beyond race-based factors, with increased funding allocated for 2025-26.

Western Avenue Technology Magnet serves a student population facing substantial academic gaps on state assessments. The school's mission as an alternative program may appeal to families seeking something other than a conventional school structure, but the proficiency data indicates students are not meeting grade-level standards at high rates. A parent considering this school should have direct conversations with administration about instructional approach, the technology focus, current initiatives to address the proficiency gaps shown in the data, and what support systems exist for students working below grade level.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 325%

School 25% · District 48% · ▼ 23 pts below district

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

Grade 424%

School 24% · District 43% · ▼ 20 pts below district

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

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 36% · ▼ 26 pts below district

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

Grade 629%

School 29% · District 35% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 716%

School 16% · District 34% · ▼ 18 pts below district

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

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 32% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 319%

School 19% · District 44% · ▼ 24 pts below district

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

Grade 434%

School 34% · District 45% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 523%

School 23% · District 47% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 46% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 739%

School 39% · District 46% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Grade 839%

School 39% · District 45% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Science

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 29% · ▼ 13 pts below district

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

Grade 823%

School 23% · District 27% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 1 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.