Middle College High vs Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Middle College High and Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 are very closely rated, both scoring around 9.3 out of 10. Middle College High is significantly larger with 353 students, about 2.4× the size of Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 (147). In math proficiency, Middle College High leads at 27.0%.
Middle College High
Los Angeles, CA
353 students
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Los Angeles, CA
147 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Middle College High | Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9.3 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.6 | 8.8 |
| Growth Score | 9.9 | 9.6 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 87% | 95.9% |
| Environment Score | 8.1 | 9.8 |
| State Rank | #80 of 9,533 | #82 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 99th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Middle College High | Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 27.0% | 22.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 77.0% | 62.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Middle College High | Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | High School | High School |
| Grades | 9th – 12th | 9th – 12th |
| Enrollment | 353 | 147 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 22.1:1 | 13.4:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 87.0% | 95.9% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90047) | Los Angeles (90063) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,187 | $71,725 |
| Median Home Value | $648,200 | $619,100 |
| Median Rent | $1,492 | $1,489 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 20.8% | 12.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 15.9% | 16.7% |
| Avg Commute | 35 min | 31 min |
The data story: Middle College High vs Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Middle College High and Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 sit just 10.8 miles apart in Los Angeles and arrive at the same overall rating — both score 9.3/10 — but they reach that mark through different strengths. On state rank, Middle College High lands at #80 of 9533 California schools while Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 places at #82 of 9533, a separation of just two spots that signals these are genuine peers at the top tier of the state.
The academic gap is more pronounced. Middle College High earns a 9.6/10 academic score against Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5's 8.8/10 — a 0.8-point delta that reflects measurable differences in tested proficiency outcomes. Growth tells a tighter story: Middle College High scores 9.9/10 on growth versus Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5's 9.6/10, meaning both schools push students forward at exceptional rates, with Middle College High holding a slim edge.
The sharpest structural contrast is class size and school scale. Middle College High enrolls 353 students at a 22.1:1 student-teacher ratio, while Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 serves only 147 students at a 13.4:1 ratio — nearly one teacher for every eight fewer students. That 8.7-point ratio difference translates to substantially more individual attention per student at Torres #5. On economic need, both schools serve predominantly low-income populations: Middle College High reports 87% of students on free or reduced lunch, and Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 reports 96%, marking it as one of the highest-need student bodies in the comparison.
Both schools serve grades 9–12 with no structural difference in the grade range offered. The distinction lies in environment: Middle College High operates at more than double the enrollment of Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5, which functions as a small, mission-specific academy within the Esteban E. Torres High complex.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Middle College High
Middle College High suits a student who wants proven academic outcomes — its 9.6/10 academic score and 9.9/10 growth score are the strongest numbers in this comparison — and is comfortable in a larger cohort of 353 peers. The school fits families prioritizing raw academic performance and a more traditional high school scale while still serving a predominantly low-income community.
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5
Soc Just Leadership Acad at Esteban E. Torres High #5 suits a student who thrives with close teacher relationships — the 13.4:1 ratio gives considerably more face time than Middle College High's 22.1:1 — and whose family is drawn to a small, mission-driven environment with an explicit social justice focus. At 147 students, nearly every adult in the building will know your child by name.