The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 56% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Grant Elementary
Grant Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Santa Monica, a beachside community organized into eight distinct neighborhoods with character ranging from condo-dense downtown to inland areas of small mid-century homes. The school is situated in a city that has become increasingly dense as developers respond to California housing mandates; high-rise and mixed-income housing projects are now visible in downtown and near transit stations, reshaping a place historically resistant to such density.
The school's most recent proficiency data comes from the 2024-25 school year. In English language arts across tested grades, about three-quarters of students demonstrated proficiency. Mathematics results were somewhat lower, with about two-thirds of students proficient, and scores declined slightly across the grade span from third through fifth. In science at grade five, just over half of students met proficiency standards. These results place the school in the top quartile for overall proficiency among Los Angeles County school districts, based on the mean of proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades.
The enrollment is small for an elementary school in an urban area, with students roughly evenly distributed across the six grade levels. The student body reflects Santa Monica's economic and racial composition. Nearly one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating some economic need alongside a generally affluent community. The enrollment is racially mixed, with white students making up the largest share, followed by substantial populations of Hispanic and Asian students, along with a notable Black enrollment. Data on English learner and special education populations was not available.
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, the school's parent district, is currently separating into two independent districts. Malibu schools are expected to split off by fall 2026, which will reshape district governance and local funding allocations. The separation involves a property tax revenue sharing agreement; because Malibu's strong tax base has historically supplied an outsized portion of school funding, the split will affect future resources in Santa Monica schools. In November 2024, Santa Monica voters approved Measure QS, a substantial school facilities bond that will fund repairs, upgrades, and new buildings over multiple years through increased property taxes. In addition, the district has integrated American Cultures and Ethnic Studies courses into its high school offerings and made ethnic studies a graduation expectation, reflecting a districtwide emphasis on social justice standards.
Santa Monica itself is undergoing visible change. The community is experiencing a development boom driven partly by state housing mandates; multiple high-density residential and mixed-income projects are under way downtown and near the Metro E Line light rail, which connects the city directly to Downtown Los Angeles. At the same time, the city remains organized around its award-winning library system, abundant parks, beach access, and transit. The Third Street Promenade draws pedestrian traffic year-round, walkable neighborhoods like Ocean Park and Montana Avenue cluster shops and services, and the Big Blue Bus city transit system serves local needs. A diversified economy spanning tech, media, professional services, health care, education, tourism and hospitality provides employment for many families in the area. Housing values in the zip code where Grant sits are substantial, and median rents have remained relatively flat while mortgage rates have held steady.
For families in Santa Monica weighing this school, the profile is of an elementary with solid proficiency across reading and math at the district and county level, a mixed and integrated student body, and ties to a district in structural transition. The school's location in a beach-town community with rising density, strong civic anchors, and ongoing development offers the texture of an urban neighborhood in flux.
See more original research from School Decision →