Kentwood Elementary vs Vernon City Elementary
Kentwood Elementary and Vernon City Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.1 out of 10. Kentwood Elementary is significantly larger with 297 students, about 2.2× the size of Vernon City Elementary (135). In math proficiency, Kentwood Elementary leads at 52.0%.
Kentwood Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
297 students
Vernon City Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
135 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Kentwood Elementary | Vernon City Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.1 / 10 | 9.4 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Growth Score | 9.4 | 9.8 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 30.6% | 96.3% |
| Environment Score | 8.5 | 9.0 |
| State Rank | #168 of 9,533 | #44 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 98th | 100th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Kentwood Elementary | Vernon City Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 52.0% | 37.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 72.0% | 47.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Kentwood Elementary | Vernon City Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 6th |
| Enrollment | 297 | 135 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 21.2:1 | 19.3:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 30.6% | 96.3% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90045) | Los Angeles (90058) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $132,577 | $36,680 |
| Median Home Value | $1,322,700 | $456,500 |
| Median Rent | $2,909 | $1,030 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 64.0% | 22.3% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.8% | 28.9% |
| Avg Commute | 27 min | 33 min |
The data story: Kentwood Elementary vs Vernon City Elementary
Kentwood Elementary and Vernon City Elementary are both high-performing Los Angeles elementary schools, but Vernon City Elementary holds a meaningful edge in overall standing. Vernon City Elementary scores 9.4/10 overall versus Kentwood Elementary's 9.1/10 — a 0.3-point gap that translates to a dramatic difference in state rank: Vernon City Elementary sits at #44 of 9,533 California schools, while Kentwood Elementary ranks #168 of 9,533. Both schools land in the top 2% of California elementary schools, but Vernon City Elementary's position is exceptional by any measure.
On academic proficiency, Kentwood Elementary and Vernon City Elementary are dead even, each posting a 9.1/10 academic score. Growth is where the two schools diverge: Vernon City Elementary's 9.8/10 growth score outpaces Kentwood Elementary's 9.4/10, meaning Vernon City Elementary students are gaining ground at a faster rate relative to peers with similar starting points. For families weighing raw achievement against learning momentum, Vernon City Elementary's growth advantage is meaningful — a school posting near-perfect growth while serving a much higher-need population is outperforming expectations by a wide margin.
The demographic profiles of these two schools are starkly different. Kentwood Elementary enrolls 297 students — more than double Vernon City Elementary's 135 — with 31% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Vernon City Elementary serves a far higher-need population: 96% of its 135 students receive free or reduced-price lunch. Despite that gap in socioeconomic context, Vernon City Elementary outranks Kentwood Elementary overall. The student-teacher ratio at Vernon City Elementary is 19.3:1 versus Kentwood Elementary's 21.2:1, giving Vernon City Elementary students modestly more individual access to their teachers.
One structural difference affects families with older elementary-age children: Vernon City Elementary serves grades KG–06, adding a sixth-grade year that Kentwood Elementary's KG–05 span does not include. Families with a rising sixth-grader avoid a school transition by staying at Vernon City Elementary. The two schools sit 10.3 miles apart within Los Angeles, making neighborhood proximity the natural first filter for most families.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Kentwood Elementary
Kentwood Elementary suits families in the Westchester or Playa del Rey area who want a larger school community with a more mixed socioeconomic environment. At 297 students and 31% free/reduced lunch, it offers a different peer composition than Vernon City Elementary while still ranking in California's top 2%.
Vernon City Elementary
Vernon City Elementary is the stronger fit for families who prioritize student growth trajectory and smaller class sizes — its 9.8/10 growth score and #44 state rank are remarkable given that 96% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Families with a child entering or already in sixth grade also avoid an early school transition here.