Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet vs Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary

Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary holds a 9.5/10 overall rating against Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet's 9.0/10 — a 0.5-point gap that understates the ranking distance between them. State rank tells the sharper story: Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary sits at #18 of 9,533 California schools, while Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet ranks #217 of 9,533. Both are strong performers, but Fifty-Fourth Street's position places it among the top 0.2% of elementary schools statewide.

The academic and growth scores split in opposite directions. Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet posts a 9.0/10 academic score versus Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary's 8.7/10 — a 0.3-point edge on proficiency. Fifty-Fourth Street reverses that advantage on growth, scoring a perfect 10.0/10 against Carthay's 9.5/10. That growth gap is significant: it means Fifty-Fourth Street's students are advancing faster relative to their starting points, making it one of the highest-value schools in the state on that dimension regardless of incoming proficiency levels.

The two schools differ sharply on enrollment, class size, and economic composition. Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet enrolls 364 students at a student-teacher ratio of 22.8:1. Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary serves 232 students at a 17.8:1 ratio — five fewer students per teacher, which translates to meaningfully more individual attention in the classroom. On free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, 94% of Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary students qualify versus 67% at Carthay, reflecting the deeper economic need Fifty-Fourth Street serves and making its growth score all the more notable as an equity achievement.

One structural difference separates these schools beyond scores: Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet is a magnet school built around an environmental studies theme, serving grades KG–05. Fifty-Fourth Street Elementary runs KG–06, covering sixth grade and keeping students one additional year before middle school transition. Families drawn to a specialized environmental curriculum and a larger community will find that at Carthay; those prioritizing exceptional growth outcomes and smaller class sizes will find that at Fifty-Fourth Street.