ICEF Vista Elementary Academy vs Third Street Elementary

Third Street Elementary ranks #8 of 9,533 California elementary schools, placing it among the state's top 0.1% of schools. ICEF Vista Elementary Academy ranks #512 of 9,533 — a strong result in its own right, landing in the top 6% statewide — but the 500-position gap reflects a meaningful difference in overall quality. On the 10-point rating scale, Third Street Elementary scores 9.6 versus ICEF Vista Elementary Academy's 8.6, a full point separating two schools just 7.1 miles apart in Los Angeles.

The academic score delta drives much of that gap. Third Street Elementary earns a perfect 10.0 academic score against ICEF Vista Elementary Academy's 9.0 — a 1.0-point difference that signals a measurable lead in tested proficiency outcomes. Growth scores are closer: Third Street Elementary posts a 9.9 versus ICEF Vista Elementary Academy's 9.6, a 0.3-point margin suggesting both schools move students forward at a strong pace, but Third Street Elementary holds a narrow edge there too.

The two schools serve substantially different populations. ICEF Vista Elementary Academy enrolls 266 students with 100% qualifying for free or reduced lunch, indicating it serves an almost entirely low-income community. Third Street Elementary enrolls 691 students — 2.6 times the size — with 43% free and reduced lunch eligibility, reflecting a more economically mixed population. The student-teacher ratio at ICEF Vista Elementary Academy is 24.2:1, slightly higher than Third Street Elementary's 22.3:1, meaning students at Third Street Elementary have marginally more access to teacher attention per classroom. ICEF Vista Elementary Academy is a charter school; Third Street Elementary operates as a regular public school.

Both schools serve grades KG through 05, so grade-level fit is identical. The structural difference lies in school type and mission: ICEF Vista Elementary Academy, as a charter, typically operates with greater scheduling and curricular flexibility than a traditional district school like Third Street Elementary. For families prioritizing a specialized charter model and a school that has demonstrated strong outcomes in a high-need community, ICEF Vista Elementary Academy is a distinct option. For families seeking the highest absolute academic ceiling in the same city, Third Street Elementary's #8 statewide rank sets a hard-to-match benchmark.