Ada S. Nelson Elementary, Whittier CA

Original Research by School Decision on Ada S. Nelson Elementary

Ada S. Nelson Elementary is a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade school in Whittier, a diverse residential city in Los Angeles County with strong healthcare and education sectors anchoring the local economy. The school serves a student body that is predominantly Latino, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding neighborhood.

In English language arts, the school shows mixed results across grade levels. Third graders performed somewhat above the midpoint, while fourth and sixth graders landed near the midpoint of state performance. Fifth graders showed stronger results. In math, performance slides as students advance. Third grade sits near the midpoint, but proficiency drops noticeably in grades four, five, and six, all falling below the state midpoint. In science, fifth-grade students show a lower proficiency rate. Across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it slightly above the midpoint when compared against other schools in Los Angeles County serving similar grades.

The school enrollment is small, with roughly a third of students in the earliest grades and gradually declining numbers in upper elementary. The student composition is stable and concentrated; data for special education enrollment and English learner status were not available. Teachers and families should expect a tightly knit school environment.

Whittier itself presents a mixed affordability picture. Home prices in the area are notably higher than the national benchmark, though slightly above the state benchmark. Estimated monthly mortgage payments reflect that cost, while the rent-to-income ratio suggests rental housing remains more accessible than homeownership for many families. The local economy offers employment in healthcare, education, retail, and small business, with major employers including PIH Health, Whittier Hospital Medical Center, Whittier College, and the school districts themselves.

The parent district, Los Nietos School District, recently passed two significant facility bonds in November 2024. Measure RU, now approved and certified, will fund repairs to aging classrooms, roofs, windows, asbestos and lead removal, and HVAC upgrades across the district's four schools. This is funded through increased property taxes for homeowners. Alongside it, the district placed Measure ST to address student safety, playground repairs, security upgrades, and classroom technology. Together these represent lasting property-tax and facility improvements across the district.

Ada S. Nelson offers student council as a named club activity. For a fuller picture of instructional approach, special supports, and additional programs, a parent would want to consult the school website and speak directly with staff, as data on staffing, special-population services, and detailed course or intervention offerings were not available.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 34% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 33% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 538%

School 38% · District 34% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 34% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 345%

School 45% · District 30% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 455%

School 55% · District 40% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 560%

School 60% · District 53% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 653%

School 53% · District 48% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Science

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 24% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · even with county median

This schoolLos Nietos, 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.