Original Research by School Decision on Humanitas Acad of Art and Tech at Esteban E. Torres High #4
Humanitas Academy of Art and Technology at Esteban E. Torres High is a small, heavily Latino and low-income high school in Los Angeles that serves grades 9 through 12. Roughly all of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and nearly all are Hispanic. The enrollment is small for a Los Angeles high school, with steady cohorts across each grade.
On state assessments, the school's academic performance is weak. In English language arts, less than half of students scored at proficient levels in the most recent testing year. Math proficiency was substantially lower, with only a very small portion of students meeting state standards. Science proficiency, at roughly one in seven students, was also low. These results suggest the school faces serious challenges in helping students master core academic content, particularly in mathematics. A parent considering this school would want to look further into what specific supports or interventions the school offers in these subject areas, and what academic pathways students follow after graduation.
The school's website was not available, so information about its specific programs, course offerings, or stated mission in art and technology could not be reviewed. The name suggests a focus on creative and technical training, but the extent and quality of those pathways, as well as how they connect to post-secondary options, is unclear from available data.
Housing in the school's East Los Angeles zip code is relatively affordable by Los Angeles standards, with typical home values and rents both moderate compared to the county as a whole. The neighborhood is part of the broader city's polycentric character, with dense mixed-use development, ground-floor businesses, and residential units above, and is served by the regional Metro transit system.
LAUSD, the district that operates this school, recently implemented an all-day ban on student cellphones, smartwatches, and earbuds, effective February 2025. This is a direct, daily change to school culture and parent-student communication that any family would experience. The district also passed a major property tax bond for school facilities, which will raise property taxes over the long term for any homeowner in the district. Finally, LAUSD has expanded funding for its Black Student Achievement Plan, a culturally responsive curriculum and support program that shapes offerings at many schools.
No graduation rate was reported for this school, making it difficult to assess how many students complete high school or transition to college or work. State testing data exists only for the most recent year, so it is not possible to see whether performance has been improving, declining, or flat. Special-education enrollment and English-learner rates were not available.
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