Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet vs Sierra Vista Elementary

Sierra Vista Elementary ranks #1 of 9,533 schools in California, while Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet ranks #217 — itself a remarkable standing, but a gap of 216 positions separates the two. The overall rating difference is 0.8 points (Sierra Vista Elementary 9.8/10, Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet 9.0/10), meaning families choosing between these two Los Angeles elementaries are comparing an exceptional school against the single highest-rated school in the state.

On academics, Sierra Vista Elementary scores 9.5/10 against Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet's 9.0/10 — a half-point advantage that reflects meaningfully stronger tested proficiency. The growth gap is sharper: Sierra Vista Elementary earns a perfect 10.0/10 growth score versus Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet's 9.5/10, indicating that Sierra Vista students outpace their predicted trajectories at a higher rate regardless of where they start. For families who care how much ground a child gains year over year — not just where they land — that 0.5-point growth delta carries real weight.

Sierra Vista Elementary serves 151 students against Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet's 364, producing a student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1 compared to 22.8:1 — six fewer students per teacher, which typically translates to more individualized attention. Sierra Vista's free and reduced-price lunch rate of 84% is notably higher than Carthay's 67%, meaning Sierra Vista achieves its #1 state ranking while serving a higher-need population, a marker of strong equity performance. Carthay's enrollment is more than double Sierra Vista's, which reflects the scale typical of a magnet program drawing students citywide across 12.3 miles of Los Angeles.

Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet is a dedicated magnet school with an environmental studies focus, spanning grades KG–05. Sierra Vista Elementary serves KG–06, covering sixth grade and keeping students one additional year before the middle school transition. These structural differences — program specialization at Carthay versus an extended grade span at Sierra Vista — shape the practical fit for each family depending on curriculum priorities and transition timing.