ICEF Vista Elementary Academy vs Charles H. Kim Elementary

Charles H. Kim Elementary holds a 1.0-point overall rating advantage over ICEF Vista Elementary Academy — 9.6 versus 8.6 out of 10 — and the state rank gap is striking: Kim sits at #9 of 9,533 California elementary schools while ICEF Vista Elementary Academy ranks #512. That 503-position spread places Kim among a small handful of top-tier schools statewide, a meaningful distinction for families prioritizing standing relative to peers across California.

On measured academics, Charles H. Kim Elementary posts a 9.5 academic score against ICEF Vista Elementary Academy's 9.0 — a 0.5-point gap that reflects a consistent performance edge across tested subjects. Growth scores are close but again favor Kim, 9.8 versus 9.6, suggesting students at Kim are making slightly faster year-over-year progress even from an already high baseline. Both schools are performing well above average; the difference is one of degree rather than kind.

The demographic and structural differences between these two Los Angeles schools are more pronounced. ICEF Vista Elementary Academy serves 266 students with a 24.2:1 student-teacher ratio and a 100% free and reduced-price lunch rate, making it one of the highest-need campuses in the region by that measure. Charles H. Kim Elementary enrolls 472 students at an 18.2:1 ratio — six fewer students per teacher — with 88% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Both schools serve economically disadvantaged communities, but Kim's lower ratio translates to more instructional access per child on a larger campus.

Organizationally, ICEF Vista Elementary Academy operates as a charter school while Charles H. Kim Elementary is a regular public school — a distinction that affects enrollment processes, governance, and operational flexibility. Both serve grades KG through 05, so neither offers an academic span advantage. The 8.2 miles separating them within Los Angeles means geography may be the deciding factor for families in either attendance zone, particularly given how differently the two schools position within California's ranking system.