Original Research by School Decision on Communication and Tech at Diego Rivera Lrng Complex
Communication and Tech at Diego Rivera Learning Complex is a public high school serving grades nine through twelve in south Los Angeles, in the 90001 zip code, part of Los Angeles Unified. The school enrolls a small student body, nearly all Hispanic and predominantly low-income.
On the most recent state testing results available, the school's proficiency rates in English language arts, mathematics, and science are notably below countywide norms in most districts. Mathematics and science proficiency are especially low, suggesting these subjects are areas where additional instructional support or resources may help. A parent may want to discuss with the school where extra support is available—tutoring, after-school programs, or summer offerings—and what alignment exists between what students are learning in class and what is being measured on the state test. English language arts proficiency is closer to what many districts report, though still below the midpoint among county districts. The comparison fact-set identifies these subject areas but does not provide a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism rate, so those measures are unavailable in this data.
The school's population faces economic barriers. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflective of deep poverty in the neighborhood. The student body is almost entirely Hispanic, with very small populations of Black and white students. The racial homogeneity and the high poverty concentration means the school serves a community with limited household economic resources and, likely, concentrated language and cultural needs. Special education enrollment and English learner enrollment data are not available, so a family would benefit from asking the school directly about the size and quality of those support programs.
The Diego Rivera name signals the school's cultural grounding. The school's focus on communication and technology, as indicated in the name, suggests the school may emphasize hands-on technology pathways, career credentials, or communication-centered coursework, though the specific program structure is not detailed in the available data. A parent should ask what course sequences, dual-credit or career-pathway programs, internship options, or technology certifications the school offers, and how the communication and technology focus aligns with post-secondary options.
Los Angeles Unified, the parent district, approved a major school facilities bond in recent elections to repair and upgrade aging buildings, with property taxes increasing to support repayment over a long term. The district also implemented a widespread cellphone ban across all schools starting in early 2025, which affects daily school culture and student-parent communication. These are district-wide conditions that shape the environment at Communication and Tech as much as any other LAUSD high school.
The neighborhood sits in south-central Los Angeles, an area with long history, density, and strong cultural community anchors. The city's broader housing market shows median home prices well above national norms and rents high relative to typical household income in the area, creating pressure on families—a reality that compounds the economic challenges reflected in the school's free-lunch enrollment rate. Anyone considering this school should talk with the enrollment office about the curriculum pathways available, career outcomes the school tracks, and the support systems for students whose first language may not be English or who arrive with uneven academic preparation.
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