Original Research by School Decision on Frida Kahlo High
Frida Kahlo High is a small alternative public high school in Los Angeles serving grades nine through twelve. It sits in the 90011 zip code in the downtown area of the city. As an alternative school, it serves a distinct population and operates outside the traditional comprehensive high school model, though no data were available describing its specific mission, pedagogical approach, or the student needs it addresses.
The school enrolled a very small number of students. The vast majority qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating concentrated economic need. The student body was predominantly Hispanic, with a small share of Black students and fewer than a handful of White students. Data on enrollment of English learners and students with disabilities were not provided.
State assessment results in 2024-25 show proficiency rates that are far below standard across all tested subjects. In English language arts and science, zero percent of students tested at proficient levels. In mathematics, a small fraction tested at proficiency. These figures stand alone; multi-year trend data were not available. A parent looking into the school would want to understand directly from Frida Kahlo what supports and interventions are in place, what the school's goals are for student progress, and how it measures academic growth beyond state testing.
No graduation rate was reported; data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, staffing, or attendance were not available. The school's website address was not provided, limiting access to program details, faculty information, and enrollment or application procedures.
Frida Kahlo sits in downtown Los Angeles, an area undergoing significant residential and commercial development, with major housing and mixed-use projects rising and a convention center expansion underway ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. Downtown has experienced revitalization centered around the Grand Park civic hub, the Arts District, and the Historic Core, bringing restored buildings, food halls, murals, and ground-floor retail. The area is walkable for daily errands and is served by Metro rail lines and extensive bus service. Housing values in the immediate zip code are mid-range for Los Angeles County, though affordability remains a challenge, with rent taking up a substantial share of median household income. The neighborhood has high residential density with apartments stacked over ground-floor businesses typical of inner-city development.
Los Angeles Unified, the parent district, recently passed a major school facilities bond funded through long-term property tax increases, a substantial factor for families considering a move into the district. The district also implemented a district-wide cellphone ban in February 2025, affecting daily school culture and student-parent communication throughout the day. A separate Black Student Achievement Plan funds culturally responsive curriculum and support staffing at designated schools.
Any family considering Frida Kahlo should contact the school directly to understand its academic model, support systems, daily structure, outcomes data it tracks internally, college and career pathways, and admission or enrollment process. The state testing results alone cannot convey the school's purpose or effectiveness within its particular model, and the available public data do not illuminate what the school offers or how it serves its students.
See more original research from School Decision →