King/Drew Medical Magnet High vs Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 has a higher overall rating of 9.3/10 compared to 8.8/10. King/Drew Medical Magnet High is significantly larger with 1,359 students, about 9.2× the size of Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 (147). In math proficiency, King/Drew Medical Magnet High leads at 37.0%.
King/Drew Medical Magnet High
Los Angeles, CA
1,359 students
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Los Angeles, CA
147 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | King/Drew Medical Magnet High | Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.8 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.0 | 8.8 |
| Growth Score | 8.2 | 9.6 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 91.5% | 95.9% |
| Environment Score | 8.9 | 9.8 |
| State Rank | #369 of 9,533 | #82 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 96th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | King/Drew Medical Magnet High | Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 37.0% | 22.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 69.0% | 62.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | King/Drew Medical Magnet High | Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | High School | High School |
| Grades | 9th – 12th | 9th – 12th |
| Enrollment | 1,359 | 147 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 20.0:1 | 13.4:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 91.5% | 95.9% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90059) | Los Angeles (90063) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,840 | $71,725 |
| Median Home Value | $566,200 | $619,100 |
| Median Rent | $1,317 | $1,489 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 11.8% | 12.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 24.4% | 16.7% |
| Avg Commute | 34 min | 31 min |
The data story: King/Drew Medical Magnet High vs Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
King/Drew Medical Magnet High and Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 are both Los Angeles high schools serving grades 09–12, but their overall ratings diverge significantly. Torres #5 earns a 9.3/10 overall versus King/Drew's 8.8/10 — a 0.5-point gap that becomes more striking in state context. Torres #5 ranks #113 of 9,533 California schools, placing it in the top 2% statewide, while King/Drew ranks #457 of 9,533 — still a strong top-5% finish, but a clear step behind.
Academically, King/Drew Medical Magnet High holds the edge with a 9.0/10 academic score compared to Torres #5's 8.8/10. That advantage flips decisively on growth: Torres #5 posts a 9.6/10 growth score versus King/Drew's 8.2/10 — a 1.4-point delta suggesting Torres #5 is accelerating student progress at an exceptional rate relative to its starting points, while King/Drew's higher absolute academic scores reflect its selective magnet admissions pipeline.
The enrollment and staffing differences between these two schools are dramatic. King/Drew Medical Magnet High enrolls 1,359 students at a 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio. Torres #5 enrolls just 147 students — roughly one-ninth the size — with a 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Both schools serve very high proportions of economically disadvantaged students: 92% free/reduced lunch at King/Drew and 96% at Torres #5, meaning neither school's performance advantage can be explained by demographic differences in family income.
King/Drew Medical Magnet High is a dedicated magnet program with a medical and health sciences focus, drawing students across the district through a competitive application process. Torres #5 operates as a small academy within the Esteban E. Torres High complex, organized around a social justice and leadership theme. The two schools sit 9.1 miles apart in Los Angeles, giving families in between genuine geographic access to both options.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
King/Drew Medical Magnet High
King/Drew Medical Magnet High suits students with a clear interest in medicine, health sciences, or allied health careers who want a structured, academically rigorous magnet environment. The 9.0/10 academic score and top-5% state ranking make it the stronger choice for students aiming for competitive college admissions and who can handle a 20:1 classroom setting within a larger school community.
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 fits students who thrive with close faculty relationships — its 13.4:1 ratio in a 147-student school means teachers know every student by name. The 9.6/10 growth score makes it especially compelling for students who want to outperform their starting point, and its top-2% state rank (#113 of 9,533) signals that small scale is not limiting results.