Hillside Elementary vs Multnomah Street Elementary

Multnomah Street Elementary holds an overall rating of 9.5/10 against Hillside Elementary's 9.0/10 — a half-point gap that becomes far more significant in state context. Multnomah Street Elementary ranks #20 of 9,533 California elementary schools, placing it in the top 0.2 percent statewide, while Hillside Elementary ranks #219 — still an exceptional top-3 percent finish, but a meaningful 199-position difference between two schools separated by just 1.6 miles in Los Angeles.

The academic score drives that gap almost entirely. Multnomah Street Elementary scores 9.3/10 in academics versus Hillside Elementary's 7.0/10 — a 2.3-point difference that reflects substantially stronger proficiency outcomes at Multnomah. Where the two schools converge completely is growth: both Hillside Elementary and Multnomah Street Elementary score a 9.8/10 on student growth, meaning both schools are accelerating learning at an elite rate regardless of where students start. Hillside's growth score is particularly notable given its high-need population — students are gaining ground at nearly the fastest rate in the state.

Hillside Elementary serves 101 students compared to Multnomah Street Elementary's 336, making it a considerably smaller community. That smaller size translates directly into a student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1 at Hillside versus 19.8:1 at Multnomah — five fewer students per teacher on average. Hillside also serves a much higher-need population: 91% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch compared to 71% at Multnomah Street Elementary. Both schools serve grades KG through 5.

Both schools operate within the same grade band and the same city, but they attract meaningfully different student populations. Multnomah Street Elementary's combination of elite academic proficiency and high enrollment suggests a school that performs exceptionally for a wide range of incoming students. Hillside Elementary's extraordinary growth score paired with a 91% free/reduced lunch rate points to a school that is doing exceptional instructional work with its specific community — the 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio likely plays a direct role in producing those gains.