New River Elementary, Norwalk CA

Original Research by School Decision on New River Elementary

New River Elementary is a small kindergarten through fifth-grade school in Norwalk, a dense residential suburb about seventeen miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The school sits within the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, which has experienced substantial enrollment decline in recent years and is currently pursuing major housing and mixed-use growth initiatives across Norwalk's downtown and transit corridors.

The school serves a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged. A large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. English learner status and special education enrollment counts were not available from the data provided.

On state assessments, New River Elementary's academic results are below the midpoint among districts countywide. In English language arts across grades three through five, proficiency ranges from roughly one-third of students in fourth grade to about four in ten in fifth grade. In mathematics, proficiency is lower, ranging from about one in four students in fourth grade to roughly three in ten in fifth grade. In fifth-grade science, about one in four students achieved proficiency. These results reflect a student population facing significant academic challenges, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what targeted support systems are in place to move proficiency upward.

Norwalk as a place is a car-oriented suburban community anchored by freeways and retail corridors. The Norwalk Town Square provides a walkable shopping and restaurant district, and transit options include the Metro C Line (Green Line) station and the Metrolink commuter rail station, though service connections require shuttle buses. The city is in the early stages of major mixed-use development concentrated around its civic center and transit stations, with rezoning that would allow significant residential and commercial density over the next decade. Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks but carries substantial mortgage burdens for local incomes; rental costs are notably higher than mortgage costs for comparably priced properties.

The district operates a Spanish dual-language immersion program, which was expanded into La Mirada beginning in the 2024-25 school year at Escalona Elementary, offering families a pathway toward bilingual and biliterate competency if that aligns with their educational goals. The district's overall enrollment has declined considerably, a structural change that affects budget and staffing capacity and is a relevant factor for families making long-term schooling decisions.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 327%

School 27% · District 51% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 42% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 530%

School 30% · District 33% · ▼ 3 pts below district

even with state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 46% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 429%

School 29% · District 45% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 48% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Science

Grade 529%

School 29% · District 29%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

This schoolNorwalk-La Mirada Unified, 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.