Christopher Dena Elementary vs Third Street Elementary
Third Street Elementary has a higher overall rating of 9.6/10 compared to 8.9/10. Third Street Elementary is significantly larger with 691 students, about 2.1× the size of Christopher Dena Elementary (337). In math proficiency, Third Street Elementary leads at 67.0%.
Christopher Dena Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
337 students
Third Street Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
691 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Christopher Dena Elementary | Third Street Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.9 / 10 | 9.6 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 7.6 | 10.0 |
| Growth Score | 9.5 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 93.8% | 42.8% |
| Environment Score | 9.4 | 8.0 |
| State Rank | #279 of 9,533 | #8 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 97th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Christopher Dena Elementary | Third Street Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 24.0% | 67.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 34.0% | 77.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Christopher Dena Elementary | Third Street Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 6th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 337 | 691 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 17.7:1 | 22.3:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 93.8% | 42.8% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90023) | Los Angeles (90004) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,623 | $62,655 |
| Median Home Value | $617,600 | $1,457,200 |
| Median Rent | $1,414 | $1,752 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 10.2% | 40.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 21.9% | 18.8% |
| Avg Commute | 30 min | 32 min |
The data story: Christopher Dena Elementary vs Third Street Elementary
Third Street Elementary ranks #8 of 9533 schools in California, placing it among the top 0.1 percent of elementary schools statewide. Christopher Dena Elementary ranks #279 of 9533 — still a strong result in the top 3 percent — but the gap between the two schools is meaningful when viewed against the full state landscape. The overall rating difference is 0.7 points, with Third Street Elementary scoring 9.6/10 and Christopher Dena Elementary scoring 8.9/10.
The sharpest delta between the two schools sits in academic proficiency. Third Street Elementary earns a perfect academic score of 10.0/10 against Christopher Dena Elementary's 7.6/10 — a 2.4-point difference that reflects substantially higher tested proficiency rates. Growth scores are much closer: Third Street Elementary at 9.9/10 and Christopher Dena Elementary at 9.5/10, a gap of just 0.4 points. That near-parity in growth is notable — Christopher Dena's students are progressing at nearly the same rate as students at a school ranked among California's best.
The two schools serve very different populations. Christopher Dena Elementary enrolls 337 students with a 94 percent free and reduced-price lunch rate, compared to Third Street Elementary's 691 students and 43 percent FRL rate. The economic gap between those two figures is wide, and it provides important context for interpreting the academic score difference. Christopher Dena Elementary also operates with a student-teacher ratio of 17.7:1 versus Third Street Elementary's 22.3:1, meaning Christopher Dena students get more direct teacher access per classroom on average — a structural advantage that likely contributes to its exceptional growth score despite a higher-need population.
One structural difference worth noting: Christopher Dena Elementary serves grades KG through 6, giving families an additional year before the middle school transition compared to Third Street Elementary's KG through 5 span. The two schools sit 7.8 miles apart within Los Angeles, making them realistic options for families in overlapping attendance zones or those weighing a transfer.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Christopher Dena Elementary
Christopher Dena Elementary suits families who prioritize smaller class sizes and value strong student growth in a higher-need, community-rooted school. With a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio and a 9.5/10 growth score, it delivers meaningful academic progress for its students — and it covers grades through 6, delaying middle school by one year.
Third Street Elementary
Third Street Elementary suits families seeking the highest tested academic performance in Los Angeles, with a 10.0/10 academic score and a California state rank of #8 out of 9,533 schools. Larger class sizes and a more affluent enrollment profile reflect a school where proficiency benchmarks are consistently at the ceiling.