Magnolia Science Academy 4 vs Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5

Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 holds a clear overall edge, rating 9.3/10 against Magnolia Science Academy 4's 8.7/10 — a 0.6-point gap that translates into a significant state rank difference. Torres #5 sits at #113 of 9,533 California schools, placing it in the top 1.2% statewide, while Magnolia Science Academy 4 ranks #522 of 9,533, still a strong top-6% finish but trailing by more than 400 positions. Both schools serve Los Angeles and sit 14.9 miles apart, making the comparison a practical one for families with flexibility on commute.

The academic gap between the two schools is the sharpest measurable difference: Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 scores 8.8/10 on academics versus Magnolia Science Academy 4's 7.1/10 — a 1.7-point delta reflecting meaningfully higher tested proficiency. The growth story tilts the other way. Magnolia Science Academy 4 earns a 9.9/10 growth score against Torres #5's 9.6/10, signaling that Magnolia students are making gains that outpace expectations at a slightly higher rate. Families weighing current achievement levels against year-over-year momentum will find a genuine trade-off here.

Both schools are small and serve nearly identical high-need populations: Magnolia Science Academy 4 enrolls 124 students with 96% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and Torres #5 enrolls 147 students at the same 96% rate. The student-teacher ratio, however, differs in a way that matters in the classroom — Torres #5 runs 13.4 students per teacher versus Magnolia's 17.7:1, giving Torres students notably more instructor access on average. Magnolia Science Academy 4 is a charter school; Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 operates as a regular public school within the district.

One structural difference affects families with middle-school-aged children: Magnolia Science Academy 4 serves grades 6 through 12, offering a single-campus pathway from sixth grade onward, while Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 is a dedicated 9–12 program. Families seeking continuity from middle into high school without a transition will find Magnolia's grade span an operational advantage. Families entering at ninth grade and prioritizing raw academic performance and smaller class sizes will find the numbers favor Torres #5.