The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Leo Politi Elementary
Leo Politi Elementary is a public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Los Angeles, located on West 11th Street in a densely urban area with one of the county's highest concentrations of poverty and housing cost burden. The school enrolls a small student population, predominantly Hispanic and from low-income households. The vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the neighborhood where the school sits is part of Los Angeles's polycentric geography, embedded in local street life rather than anchored to a single civic center.
On state assessments from the 2024-25 school year, Leo Politi's proficiency in English language arts sits around a low level across tested grades, with third-grade students performing at a modestly higher rate and proficiency declining as students move into upper elementary grades. Mathematics proficiency is markedly lower, beginning at a similar level in third grade and falling sharply in fourth and fifth grades. Science proficiency in fifth grade rounds out a picture of persistently low achievement across all tested subjects. When placed against other schools in Los Angeles County, Leo Politi's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile, a signal that this school faces significant academic headwinds compared to its peer schools countywide.
The enrollment is stable and mixed across grade levels, with slightly higher numbers in kindergarten and fourth grade. Data on the proportion of students with individualized education plans or identified as English learners was not available; given the school's demographic composition and economic profile, a parent may want to contact the school directly to understand the prevalence of these support services and their capacity.
The housing market immediately surrounding the school reflects the broader Los Angeles context of high costs relative to income. Home values in the zip code average substantially above the national benchmark, and monthly rent runs high relative to typical household income in the area, creating a sharp affordability squeeze. Property taxes will increase over time to repay Measure US, a major school facilities bond voters approved; families considering the area face that added cost. The neighborhood itself is walkable in pockets, with transit options through the Los Angeles Metro system, though the broader region remains shaped by car-dependent sprawl.
LAUSD, the parent district, implemented a cellphone ban on all school campuses in February 2025 that affects daily school culture and student-parent communication during the school day. The district also operates a Black Student Achievement Plan that funds culturally responsive curriculum and additional counselor support at targeted schools, though the program was revised in 2024 to broaden eligibility criteria beyond race. These district-wide initiatives shape the educational experience at Leo Politi alongside school-level programming.
A parent considering Leo Politi would be weighing a school in a high-poverty, Hispanic-majority community with persistently low proficiency rates across core subjects and grade levels. The school's position in the bottom quartile of county schools suggests substantial gaps between student learning and grade-level standards. The path forward for a student here would depend heavily on supplemental support, home learning conditions, and the school's specific use of district resources and instructional approaches, information best gathered directly from the school.
See more original research from School Decision →