Orange Grove Elementary, Whittier CA

Original Research by School Decision on Orange Grove Elementary

Orange Grove Elementary is a small elementary school in Whittier serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school enrolled a small number of students across six grade levels, with roughly equal representation in the upper grades and a slightly larger kindergarten cohort.

The student body is predominantly Latino, and a large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the school's location in a lower-income area of the region. Data on English learner enrollment and special education enrollment were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations.

State assessment results from the most recent year show proficiency rates below the county median across both English language arts and mathematics. In third-grade math, about one in three students reached proficiency; by fourth grade, that rate rose slightly to about two in five. In ELA, proficiency rates ranged from roughly one in four students in third grade to about two in five by fifth grade. A science assessment was administered in fifth grade, where proficiency rates were lower still, around one in four students. Across tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Los Angeles County. Only one year of assessment data was available, so no trend direction can be assessed.

Whittier itself is a diverse Southern California city where healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing form the economic backbone. Employers include PIH Health, Whittier Hospital Medical Center, Whittier College, and the school district itself. The community emphasizes parks and recreational facilities alongside residential neighborhoods. The housing market in the 90601 zip code reflects Southern California pricing, with median home values substantially above the national benchmark. Renters make up a meaningful share of the population; rental costs represent a significant portion of household income for those not purchasing.

The Whittier City Elementary School District, which operates Orange Grove, approved a major school facilities bond in November 2024. The measure will fund repairs and replacements across the district's campuses, including roof and HVAC upgrades, conversion of temporary portables to permanent classrooms, and electrical system work. These improvements will unfold over time but represent a commitment to physical plant conditions. The bond does increase property taxes for homeowners within district boundaries.

A parent or resident considering Orange Grove would find a small, neighborhood elementary school serving a predominantly Latino, economically disadvantaged student population. The school's proficiency rates indicate academic performance below the county average, and no web-based information on school-specific programs, staffing, or pedagogy was available. Direct inquiry with the school about curriculum approach, special programs, support services, and class sizes would help clarify what the daily experience and instructional environment look like.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 50% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 440%

School 40% · District 41%

▲ 3 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 43% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · even with county median

English language arts

Grade 328%

School 28% · District 46% · ▼ 18 pts below district

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

Grade 437%

School 37% · District 46% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 541%

School 41% · District 55% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 35% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

This schoolWhittier City Elementary, 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income69%39 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income26%Higher-income53%27 pp gap