Original Research by School Decision on Stem Academy at Bernstein High
STEM Academy at Bernstein High is a regular public high school in Hollywood, part of Los Angeles Unified, serving grades nine through twelve with an enrollment of about six hundred students. The school sits in the 90028 zip code, an area where median home values are high and housing costs have experienced recent declines, while rental costs remain steep relative to local incomes. Families in this neighborhood face significant affordability pressures.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a very small share of Asian, white, and Black students, and very few from other racial and ethnic groups. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that despite the area's overall housing costs, the school's enrollment draws from families with low household incomes. Data on the share of English learners and students with individualized education plans was not available.
On state testing in the most recent year available, students in English language arts showed a proficiency rate in the low-to-mid range. Performance in mathematics and science was considerably lower, with less than a quarter of students meeting proficiency in either subject. Only one year of testing data was provided, so it is not possible to see whether these results represent a trend or a single-year snapshot. A parent may want to contact the school directly to understand whether changes to instruction or support are underway in mathematics and science.
The school's name signals a focus on STEM pathways, though the data provided does not detail what programs, courses, or dual-credit offerings the school provides or how deeply students engage with those fields. Inquiring with the school about the structure and rigor of its STEM coursework, and about counseling and support for students pursuing those tracks, would help clarify what the name promises in practice.
Graduation rate data was not provided. State testing results are reported, but this school's metrics cannot be positioned against other schools or districts in Los Angeles County because the comparison data was incomplete. You can request the school's graduation rate directly from LAUSD or Bernstein High's office.
Two district-wide changes affect any student at STEM Academy at Bernstein High. Los Angeles Unified has implemented a full school-day cellphone ban, including lunch and breaks, with devices stored in lockable pouches at most high schools. That shift took effect in February 2025 and reshapes daily school culture and parent-student communication. Additionally, Los Angeles County voters approved a major school facilities bond that will raise property taxes on district residents over time to fund repairs and upgrades of aging school buildings, a long-term cost families should factor into their housing and enrollment decisions.
The neighborhood and district context matter here. Hollywood is an urban area with constrained housing and high rents. The student population is economically disadvantaged relative to broader Los Angeles County, even though the zip code itself carries high nominal property values. A school serving this population with low proficiency rates in core subjects faces real academic challenges. Whether STEM Academy at Bernstein High offers pathways, support systems, or specialized instruction that address those gaps is not evident from the available data, and that is a question worth asking directly.
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