The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Math. The lowest is 43% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dr. Sammy Lee Medical and Health Science Magnet Elementary
Dr. Sammy Lee Medical and Health Science Magnet Elementary is a small public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Los Angeles, located on Council Street in a zip code with substantial economic challenge. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of high poverty. The student body is predominantly Latino and Asian, with smaller numbers of Black, multiracial, and white students.
The school's academic performance sits in the upper quartile among public elementary schools tested in Los Angeles County when looking at overall proficiency across math and English language arts. In math, students in third grade perform at a rate above the middle of the county range, but proficiency declines as students progress: fourth graders are closer to the county median, and fifth graders fall below it. In English, third graders are slightly above the county median, fourth graders dip below, and fifth graders rise again. Science proficiency in fifth grade is notably lower, with fewer than half of students meeting the standard. The pattern suggests that while the school has strength in the earlier grades, students in later elementary years face difficulty sustaining gains, particularly in math and science.
The school's magnet theme centers on medical and health science, meaning the curriculum and instructional approach are organized around health careers and clinical thinking. This shapes how math and science are taught, what field experiences students access, and the school's identity within the broader Los Angeles Unified system. For families drawn to health-career pathways or who value science-centered, career-aware instruction from the elementary years onward, this is the school's core offering.
Enrollment is stable at just under six hundred students, with relatively even distribution across grades. The teaching force and staffing levels are not available in the data provided. Special education and English learner enrollment counts were not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the breadth of services, available support staff, or how the school identifies and serves students with learning differences or language needs.
The Los Angeles housing market shapes family circumstances here. Homes in the school's zip code have declined modestly in value over the past year, and rental costs remain high relative to income, with monthly rent in the area well above half of typical household income. For families renting or buying in this neighborhood, housing is a substantial burden, which compounds the economic pressures already visible in the school's free-lunch rate.
Los Angeles Unified, the parent district, enacted two changes families should know about. The district-wide cellphone ban took effect in February and applies all day, including lunch and breaks, with devices stored in lockable pouches at middle and high schools. While this school serves elementary, the policy sets a precedent for how the district manages student technology and parent communication. The district also approved Measure US, a substantial school facilities bond to repair aging buildings, paid through property taxes over a long period, which will raise taxes for any family owning property in the district.
The school is a regular public school with no charter status. Civil rights data, suspension and discipline records, attendance rates, and staffing numbers were not available. For families considering enrollment, those details are worth requesting directly from the school so you can understand the full picture of school climate, support intensity, and day-to-day operations.
See more original research from School Decision →