Atwater Avenue Elementary vs Charles H. Kim Elementary

Charles H. Kim Elementary ranks #9 of 9,533 California schools, while Atwater Avenue Elementary ranks #164 of 9,533 — a gap that places Kim among the top 0.1% statewide. Kim carries a 9.6/10 overall rating against Atwater's 9.1/10. Both schools sit 4.4 miles apart in Los Angeles and serve elementary-age students, but their positions within California's school landscape differ sharply.

The academic score tells the clearest story: Charles H. Kim Elementary scores 9.5/10 compared to Atwater Avenue Elementary's 7.7/10 — an 18-point gap that reflects meaningfully higher tested proficiency at Kim. Growth is where the two schools converge: both Atwater Avenue Elementary and Charles H. Kim Elementary post identical growth scores of 9.8/10, indicating that students at both campuses make exceptional year-over-year gains regardless of where they start.

Demographically, the schools serve different populations. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility runs at 88% at Charles H. Kim Elementary versus 56% at Atwater Avenue Elementary, meaning Kim serves a significantly higher share of lower-income families while still achieving its top-tier academic scores — a notable equity outcome. Enrollment stands at 472 students at Kim versus 317 at Atwater. Student-teacher ratios are close but slightly favor Atwater: 17.6:1 compared to Kim's 18.2:1, a marginal difference unlikely to affect classroom experience in a meaningful way.

One structural difference affects families with older elementary-age children: Atwater Avenue Elementary serves grades K–6, while Charles H. Kim Elementary runs K–5, meaning Kim students transition to middle school one year earlier. Families who prefer keeping children in an elementary setting through sixth grade will find only Atwater offers that option. Parents seeking the highest academic performance profile in Los Angeles, particularly given Kim's #9 statewide ranking, will see a clear signal in Kim's academic score advantage.