Darby Avenue Elementary vs Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
Darby Avenue Elementary and Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy are very closely rated, both scoring around 8.4 out of 10. In math proficiency, Darby Avenue Elementary leads at 80.0%.
Darby Avenue Elementary
Northridge, CA
390 students
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
Northridge, CA
519 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Darby Avenue Elementary | Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.4 / 10 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.4 | 9.1 |
| Growth Score | 7.7 | 7.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 56.4% | 73.8% |
| Environment Score | 8.7 | 8.3 |
| State Rank | #977 of 9,539 | #1,113 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 90th | 88th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Darby Avenue Elementary | Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 80.0% | 76.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 70.0% | 59.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Darby Avenue Elementary | Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 390 | 519 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 20.5:1 | 21.6:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 56.4% | 73.8% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 27.9% | 27.0% |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Northridge | Northridge |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Northridge (91326) | Northridge (91325) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $148,636 | $92,602 |
| Median Home Value | $1,011,100 | $900,200 |
| Median Rent | $2,995 | $1,924 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 56.3% | 42.5% |
| Poverty Rate | 6.2% | 16.1% |
| Avg Commute | 33 min | 30 min |
The data story: Darby Avenue Elementary vs Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
Darby Avenue Elementary and Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy are separated by just 2.4 miles in Northridge, California, yet their MySchoolScout ratings sit nearly level: Darby Avenue Elementary earns a 9.1/10 overall against Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy's 9.0/10, a gap of 0.1 points. The state rank tells a similar story — Darby Avenue Elementary places #225 of 9,533 California schools while Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy lands at #282 of 9,533 — meaning both schools outperform the vast majority of the state, but Darby Avenue Elementary holds a modest edge in the standings.
Academically, Darby Avenue Elementary scores 9.4/10 versus Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy's 9.1/10, a delta of 0.3 points on the academic dimension. On growth, the schools are nearly identical: Darby Avenue Elementary posts a 9.2/10 against Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy's 9.1/10, a difference of just 0.1 points. Both schools demonstrate that students are progressing at strong rates year over year, though Darby Avenue Elementary's academic score gives it a slight lead in measured proficiency outcomes.
The demographic profiles diverge more sharply. Darby Avenue Elementary enrolls 390 students while Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy serves 519 — 33% more students. Dearborn's free and reduced-price lunch rate stands at 74%, compared to 56% at Darby Avenue Elementary, indicating that Dearborn serves a substantially higher share of economically disadvantaged families. The student-teacher ratio at Darby Avenue Elementary is 20.5:1 versus 21.6:1 at Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy, a modest but real difference that translates to slightly more teacher attention per student at Darby.
Both schools run kindergarten through fifth grade, so grade-range is not a differentiating factor for families with elementary-age children. The structural distinction is governance: Darby Avenue Elementary is a traditional public school, while Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy operates as a charter. Charter status typically comes with an enrollment application or lottery process and may offer a distinct instructional model or culture, factors worth investigating directly with each school before making a decision.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Darby Avenue Elementary
Darby Avenue Elementary suits families who prioritize slightly higher academic proficiency scores, a smaller student body, and a lower student-teacher ratio. With a 9.4 academic score and 20.5:1 ratio, it is a strong fit for parents who want a traditional public school setting with top-tier measured outcomes and a somewhat more intimate classroom environment.
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy
Dearborn Elementary Charter Academy suits families drawn to a charter school environment and comfortable navigating an enrollment process. Its 74% free and reduced-price lunch rate signals a community serving a broader socioeconomic range, and its 519-student enrollment reflects a larger, potentially more resource-diverse campus. Parents whose children need or value the specific programming a charter model provides will want to evaluate Dearborn's curriculum offerings directly.