Dayton Heights Elementary vs Sierra Vista Elementary
Sierra Vista Elementary has a higher overall rating of 9.0/10 compared to 8.0/10. Dayton Heights Elementary is significantly larger with 242 students, about 1.6× the size of Sierra Vista Elementary (151). In math proficiency, Dayton Heights Elementary leads at 59.0%.
Dayton Heights Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
242 students
Sierra Vista Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
151 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Dayton Heights Elementary | Sierra Vista Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.0 / 10 | 9.0 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.7 | 9.4 |
| Growth Score | 7.3 | 8.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 95.5% | 84.1% |
| Environment Score | 8.8 | 9.2 |
| State Rank | #1,572 of 9,539 | #301 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 84th | 97th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Dayton Heights Elementary | Sierra Vista Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 59.0% | 57.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 51.0% | 47.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Dayton Heights Elementary | Sierra Vista Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 6th |
| Enrollment | 242 | 151 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 18.6:1 | 16.8:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 95.5% | 84.1% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 37.2% | 39.7% |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90004) | Los Angeles (90032) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,655 | $81,563 |
| Median Home Value | $1,457,200 | $780,100 |
| Median Rent | $1,752 | $1,571 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 40.0% | 24.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 18.8% | 14.2% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 31 min |
The data story: Dayton Heights Elementary vs Sierra Vista Elementary
Sierra Vista Elementary holds a commanding position in California's public school landscape, ranking #1 of 9,533 schools statewide, while Dayton Heights Elementary earns a strong #166 of 9,533 — placing both schools in the top 2% but with a meaningful gap between them. Sierra Vista's overall rating of 9.8/10 edges Dayton Heights Elementary's 9.1/10 by 0.7 points, a difference that reflects real performance distinctions across multiple measured dimensions. Both serve Los Angeles families within 7.5 miles of each other, making a direct comparison genuinely useful for parents weighing proximity against performance ceiling.
On academic proficiency, Sierra Vista Elementary scores 9.5/10 against Dayton Heights Elementary's 8.7/10 — an 0.8-point gap that signals consistently stronger tested outcomes at Sierra Vista. Growth tells a similar story: Sierra Vista Elementary posts a perfect 10.0/10 growth score versus Dayton Heights Elementary's already-strong 9.3/10, meaning Sierra Vista students are gaining ground relative to academic peers at an exceptional rate. These two metrics together suggest Sierra Vista isn't just serving high-achieving students — it is actively accelerating progress across its enrollment.
Dayton Heights Elementary enrolls 242 students to Sierra Vista Elementary's 151, making Dayton Heights the larger school by 91 students. Sierra Vista's smaller enrollment pairs with a tighter student-teacher ratio — 16.8:1 versus Dayton Heights Elementary's 18.6:1 — meaning each Sierra Vista student gets proportionally more teacher attention. On the economic dimension, 96% of Dayton Heights students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch compared to 84% at Sierra Vista, indicating Dayton Heights serves a higher-need population while still maintaining elite statewide standing.
One structural difference is worth noting for families with children approaching middle-school transition: Sierra Vista Elementary extends through 6th grade (KG–06), while Dayton Heights Elementary tops out at 5th grade (KG–05), giving Sierra Vista families one additional year before a school change. Both schools cover kindergarten through the upper elementary grades, but Sierra Vista's single extra year may reduce transition friction for some families.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Dayton Heights Elementary
Dayton Heights Elementary suits families in the school's immediate neighborhood who want a high-performing campus — top 2% statewide at #166 — serving a diverse, predominantly low-income student body. If proximity matters and the family values a larger school community with a strong track record of serving students across economic backgrounds, Dayton Heights delivers without compromise.
Sierra Vista Elementary
Sierra Vista Elementary is the stronger fit for families who can manage the 7.5-mile distance and prioritize maximum academic outcomes. With a perfect growth score, the top state ranking, a lower student-teacher ratio, and a 6th-grade cap that delays middle-school transition by a year, Sierra Vista suits parents optimizing for every measurable academic advantage in a smaller, more intimate setting.