The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Madison Elementary
Madison Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Pomona, a dense urban community in Los Angeles County anchored by a historic downtown arts district with strong civic institutions and recent rail connectivity. The school serves a small student body with very high economic need and predominantly Hispanic enrollment.
Academically, Madison's state test results show low proficiency across all tested grades and subjects. In math, proficiency ranges from the low to upper twenties across third through sixth grades. English language arts performance is somewhat stronger, particularly in sixth grade where proficiency reaches the mid-fifties, but drops substantially at the third-grade level and climbs gradually through the upper elementary years. A science assessment administered to fifth graders shows proficiency in the low thirties. Across all tested subjects and grades, Madison's overall proficiency index places the school in the bottom quartile when compared to other schools in Los Angeles County. The low math results and the sharp initial gap in ELA suggest that many students are struggling with foundational skills in reading and mathematics, with reading comprehension appearing to improve as students progress through the grades. A parent may want to look into the school's approach to early literacy and math intervention to understand how these gaps are being addressed.
The student population is nearly universal in its economic need. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with small representation from Asian, Black, and white students. Enrollment stands at a small size typical for an elementary school of its grade span, distributed fairly evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade with a slightly smaller sixth-grade cohort. Data on special education enrollment and English learner enrollment were not available.
Pomona itself is experiencing active growth and infill development, supported by recent state housing requirements, a pro-housing policy stance, and the opening of the Metro A Line light-rail extension to the city in September 2025. This new transit connection links Pomona to Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles by rail. The downtown core concentrates civic and cultural life around the Pomona Arts Colony, a neighborhood of artist lofts, galleries, eclectic shops, and mom-and-pop ethnic restaurants, alongside the Pomona Public Library, Fox Theater, and museums. The broader city is densely populated and includes major institutional employers such as Cal Poly Pomona, Western University of Health Sciences, hospitals, and industrial manufacturers. Housing values in the 91766 zip code are moderate relative to surrounding Los Angeles County, though home prices have declined slightly year-over-year and rent-to-income costs remain elevated at around one-third of household income.
At the district level, voters approved Measure UU in November 2024, a general obligation bond funding classroom upgrades, roof and restroom repairs, safe drinking water, and removal of asbestos, mold, and lead paint. This bond funds lasting facility improvements but carries a lasting property-tax increase for district homeowners. In March 2024, the district reached a tentative agreement with its teachers union for salary increases intended to bring teacher compensation closer to surrounding districts, a change aimed at improving recruitment and retention.
Madison Elementary fits families seeking a traditional public elementary school in a dense, culturally vibrant urban neighborhood with strong civic institutions and new rail access. The school serves a population with substantial economic hardship and academic challenges reflected in state testing results. Families should understand that proficiency is currently well below the county median and that the school may benefit from strong family engagement and support for learning at home, particularly in foundational reading and mathematics skills during the primary grades.
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