Downtown Business High vs Middle College High
Downtown Business High and Middle College High are very closely rated, both scoring around 8.9 out of 10. Downtown Business High is significantly larger with 857 students, about 2.4× the size of Middle College High (353). In math proficiency, Downtown Business High leads at 69.0%.
Downtown Business High
Los Angeles, CA
857 students
Middle College High
Los Angeles, CA
353 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Downtown Business High | Middle College High |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.9 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.7 | 9.6 |
| Growth Score | 6.6 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 76.9% | 87% |
| Environment Score | 9.1 | 8.1 |
| State Rank | #295 of 9,533 | #80 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 97th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Downtown Business High | Middle College High |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 69.0% | 27.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 82.0% | 77.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Downtown Business High | Middle College High |
|---|---|---|
| Type | High School | High School |
| Grades | 9th – 12th | 9th – 12th |
| Enrollment | 857 | 353 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 19.0:1 | 22.1:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 76.9% | 87.0% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90026) | Los Angeles (90047) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,835 | $70,187 |
| Median Home Value | $1,143,400 | $648,200 |
| Median Rent | $1,822 | $1,492 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 47.4% | 20.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 16.6% | 15.9% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 35 min |
The data story: Downtown Business High vs Middle College High
Middle College High ranks #70 of 9,533 California schools while Downtown Business High comes in at #367 — a gap of nearly 300 spots in the state rankings. Overall, Middle College High holds a 9.4/10 rating against Downtown Business High's 8.9/10, a half-point difference that the state rank context makes concrete: Middle College High sits in the top 1% of California schools while Downtown Business High is in the top 4%.
The academic scores are nearly identical — Downtown Business High at 9.7/10 and Middle College High at 9.6/10 — so neither school has a meaningful edge in raw academic proficiency. The real separation is in growth: Middle College High scores 9.9/10 on growth versus Downtown Business High's 6.6/10, a 3.3-point gap. That delta means students at Middle College High are gaining ground academically at an exceptional rate relative to their starting points, while Downtown Business High's students, though high-performing on absolute measures, show more modest year-over-year gains.
Downtown Business High enrolls 857 students compared to Middle College High's 353, making it more than twice the size. That smaller enrollment at Middle College High comes with a higher student-teacher ratio, however — 22.1:1 versus Downtown Business High's 19.0:1 — so smaller headcount does not translate to smaller classes. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility is 87% at Middle College High versus 77% at Downtown Business High, a 10-point difference indicating Middle College High serves a higher concentration of economically disadvantaged students while still achieving its top-1% state ranking.
Both schools serve grades 9–12 and sit 9.7 miles apart in Los Angeles, California. Neither school shows a differentiated grade or program structure in the available data, so the comparison turns entirely on outcomes: Middle College High's elite state rank and 9.9 growth score are the headline advantages, while Downtown Business High offers a larger campus community with a modestly lower class load.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Downtown Business High
Downtown Business High suits families who want a proven high-performer with strong absolute academic scores (9.7/10) and a larger, more traditional high school environment — 857 students, a 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio, and a top-4% California ranking. It fits students who thrive in bigger peer networks and whose families value consistent, high baseline achievement over accelerated growth trajectories.
Middle College High
Middle College High is the better fit for students who need to gain ground fast — its 9.9/10 growth score is near-perfect, and its #70 statewide rank puts it in California's top 1% despite serving a population where 87% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Families who prioritize how much their child will grow academically, not just where they start, will find Middle College High the stronger choice.