Dayton Heights Elementary vs Third Street Elementary
Dayton Heights Elementary and Third Street Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 7.2 out of 10. Third Street Elementary is significantly larger with 691 students, about 2.9× the size of Dayton Heights Elementary (242). In math proficiency, Third Street Elementary leads at 67.0%.
Attendance data is under correction. A public school's existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating shown here may still reflect an unverified attendance input.
Dayton Heights Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
242 students
Third Street Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
691 students
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| Metric | Dayton Heights Elementary | Third Street Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 7.2 / 10 | 7.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.6 | 10.0 |
| Growth Score | 5.7 | 5.1 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 95.5% | 42.8% |
| Environment Score | 8.8 | 8.9 |
| State Rank | #2,912 of 9,557 | #2,664 of 9,557 |
| State Percentile | 70th | 72th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Dayton Heights Elementary | Third Street Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 42.0% | 67.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 43.0% | 77.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Dayton Heights Elementary | Third Street Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 242 | 691 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 18.6:1 | 22.3:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 95.5% | 42.8% |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90004) | Los Angeles (90004) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,655 | $62,655 |
| Median Home Value | $1,457,200 | $1,457,200 |
| Median Rent | $1,752 | $1,752 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 40.0% | 40.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 18.8% | 18.8% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 32 min |
The data story: Dayton Heights Elementary vs Third Street Elementary
Third Street Elementary ranks #8 out of 9,533 California schools, placing it among the top 0.1% statewide. Dayton Heights Elementary holds its own at #166 — top 2% — but the 158-position gap reflects a meaningful difference in measured school quality for families who weigh state ranking heavily. Third Street Elementary's overall 9.6/10 edges Dayton Heights Elementary's 9.1/10, a gap that becomes more pronounced when broken down by component scores.
Academically, the delta is sharpest: Third Street Elementary scores a perfect 10.0/10 versus Dayton Heights Elementary's 8.7/10 — a 1.3-point difference that signals consistently higher proficiency on California state assessments. Growth scores are closer but still favor Third Street Elementary, 9.9/10 against Dayton Heights Elementary's 9.3/10, suggesting students at Third Street are making above-average learning gains regardless of where they start. Both schools score well on growth, but Third Street Elementary's near-perfect mark is exceptional at scale.
The two schools serve dramatically different populations. Dayton Heights Elementary enrolls 242 students with 96% qualifying for free or reduced lunch — an almost entirely low-income community where high academic and growth scores represent a significant institutional achievement. Third Street Elementary serves 691 students, nearly three times the enrollment, with a 43% free/reduced lunch rate. The student-teacher ratio at Dayton Heights Elementary is 18.6:1 compared to 22.3:1 at Third Street Elementary, meaning Dayton Heights students get more classroom contact per teacher despite serving a higher-need population. Both schools cover grades KG–05 and sit 2.8 miles apart in Los Angeles.
Program and contextual distinctions follow from these demographics. Third Street Elementary's combination of top-decile academics, strong growth, and a large, more economically mixed student body produces an environment many parents associate with broad peer diversity and competitive academic culture. Dayton Heights Elementary's smaller size and lower ratio create an environment where individual attention is structurally more available — and its strong scores against a 96% FRL population signal a staff and culture that actively close equity gaps rather than ride favorable demographics.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Dayton Heights Elementary
Dayton Heights Elementary suits families who prioritize smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 versus 22.3:1 at Third Street Elementary — and want their child in a tighter-knit school community of 242 students. Parents who value an equity-driven culture, where strong outcomes are built with a high-need population rather than assumed, will find Dayton Heights Elementary's #166 statewide ranking especially meaningful.
Third Street Elementary
Third Street Elementary fits families chasing the highest academic ceiling available in Los Angeles — a perfect 10.0/10 academic score and #8 statewide rank are difficult to match anywhere in California. Its 691-student enrollment and mixed socioeconomic makeup also suit parents who want their child exposed to a broader peer group in a high-performing, larger school setting.