The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Winter Gardens Elementary
Winter Gardens Elementary is a small neighborhood school in Los Angeles serving kindergarten through fifth grade, located in the 90022 zip code. It sits within the Montebello Unified School District, which recently secured a multi-year state grant focused on extended learning time, integrated student supports, and culturally relevant instruction across several schools. That district-wide initiative is part of the context for what the school offers.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, making this a school serving a lower-income, predominantly Latino community. The enrollment is small relative to typical elementary schools, distributed fairly evenly across the six grade levels served.
Academically, Winter Gardens' most recent state test results show proficiency rates that sit well below the midpoint among Los Angeles County districts. In math, proficiency ranges from the mid-teens across third, fourth, and fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency is also in the mid-teens to low twenties, with slightly better performance at the upper grades. In fifth-grade science, proficiency is in the low teens. These figures reflect a school where the majority of students are not meeting grade-level standards as measured by California's CAASPP assessment. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about what instructional supports and interventions are in place to address these gaps, how the school is using the district's new grant-funded opportunities, and what progress trends exist beyond the single year of available data.
The school is a regular public elementary with no special designation as a charter, magnet, or Title I school (the Title I status data is not available, so the actual status is unclear from the information provided). No data is available on special education enrollment, English learner identification, chronic absenteeism, discipline, or school staffing. These are pieces a family would want to ask about directly.
The neighborhood around Winter Gardens is part of Los Angeles's broader landscape: a sprawling, polycentric city mixing residential, commercial, and industrial zones. This particular zip code sits in a residential area with median home values in the mid-range for the county and monthly rents somewhat below countywide averages. The area is experiencing active housing development and rezoning as the city works to address a regional housing shortage. Los Angeles has six transit modes (bus, train, subway, light rail, ferry, funicular) operated by Metro and other agencies, and major employers include the County of Los Angeles, LAUSD, UCLA, and healthcare systems.
A family considering Winter Gardens should view it as a neighborhood elementary with low current test proficiency, serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking, low-income community. The school's context—part of a district now investing in extended learning time and culturally responsive instruction—suggests changes underway, but no data shows their effect yet. The practical fit depends on whether a family values local neighborhood access, whether they have Spanish-language or immigrant community ties or needs, and whether they are willing to be closely engaged with a school that is working to improve rather than one with established high proficiency.
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