First Street Elementary vs Charles H. Kim Elementary

Charles H. Kim Elementary holds a 0.7-point overall rating advantage over First Street Elementary — 9.6 versus 8.9 out of 10 — but the more telling figure is their state rank gap. First Street Elementary sits at #283 of 9,533 schools in California, which places it in the top 3 percent statewide. Charles H. Kim Elementary ranks #9 of 9,533, putting it among a handful of elementary schools in the entire state. Both schools clear most parents' bar for quality; the question is how much the distance between them matters to a given family.

The academic scores tell the sharpest story: Charles H. Kim Elementary scores 9.5 out of 10 in academics against First Street Elementary's 7.4 — a 2.1-point gap that reflects measurable differences in tested proficiency. Growth is a different picture entirely. First Street Elementary earns a 9.9 growth score versus Charles H. Kim Elementary's 9.8, a statistical tie that shows students at First Street are advancing at essentially the same rate year-over-year as those at one of California's highest-rated schools. First Street's growth score is exceptional given its student demographics, suggesting strong instructional effectiveness at moving students forward from wherever they start.

First Street Elementary serves 353 students against Charles H. Kim Elementary's 472, and the free and reduced lunch rates are close: 94 percent at First Street versus 88 percent at Charles H. Kim. Both schools serve predominantly economically disadvantaged populations. The student-teacher ratio at Charles H. Kim Elementary is 18.2 to 1 compared to 20.8 to 1 at First Street — a difference of 2.6 students per classroom that could translate to modestly more individual attention on the Charles H. Kim side.

On grade span, First Street Elementary runs kindergarten through sixth grade while Charles H. Kim Elementary tops out at fifth grade, meaning families at Kim will navigate a middle school transition one year earlier. The two schools sit 6.3 miles apart within Los Angeles, so for most families geography and commute will carry real weight in the decision.