Orchard Academies 2b, Bell CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Orchard Academies 2b

Orchard Academies 2B is a middle school in Bell, California serving grades six through eight as part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school enrolls a small population of students, with roughly equal cohorts across each grade level. About nine in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic. Specific data on English learners and students receiving special education services were not available.

The school's recent state assessment results show low proficiency across tested domains. In English language arts, students demonstrate the strongest performance relative to other subjects, with about three in ten sixth graders, fewer than four in ten seventh graders, and about four in ten eighth graders meeting proficiency standards. Mathematics proficiency is considerably lower, dropping from about one in five sixth graders to about one in eight seventh graders and one in eleven eighth graders. Science proficiency in eighth grade stands at about one in seven. The single data point available for social studies comes from an older assessment and shows similar patterns.

When compared to other schools within Los Angeles County, Orchard Academies 2B falls in the bottom quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. This positioning reflects the school's concentration among students experiencing economic hardship and the academic challenges that often accompany high poverty concentrations.

The broader context for families includes two significant district-wide shifts. The Los Angeles Unified School District implemented an all-day cellphone ban in early 2025, affecting the entire school day including lunch and breaks. Most middle and high schools use lockable storage pouches to enforce the policy. Additionally, voters recently approved a major school facilities bond, the district's largest ever, which will be funded through long-term property tax increases. For families moving into the area, this represents an ongoing commitment to school infrastructure improvements, though it adds to the cost of homeownership in the region.

Housing in the Bell area is moderately valued, and rental costs remain substantial relative to household income in the broader Los Angeles County market. The economic context reflects national trends with moderate unemployment and continued pressure on housing affordability.

A parent considering this school should weigh the low proficiency outcomes against the school's role within LAUSD and any additional supports the school may offer. The district brief notes ongoing investments in academic programming, including culturally responsive curriculum through the Black Student Achievement Plan, though specific details about how those resources apply at this particular school were not available in the provided data.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 619%

School 19% · District 35% · ▼ 16 pts below district

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

Grade 712%

School 12% · District 34% · ▼ 21 pts below district

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

Grade 811%

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

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

English language arts

Grade 629%

School 29% · District 46% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 738%

School 38% · District 46% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 8 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 814%

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

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

Social studies

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 43% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 19 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 8Lower-income39%Higher-income42%3 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 8Lower-income10%Higher-income25%16 pp gap