Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary vs Charles H. Kim Elementary

Charles H. Kim Elementary ranks #9 of 9,533 California elementary schools, placing it in the top 0.1% statewide. Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary ranks #451 of 9,533 — still a strong top-5% school — but the overall rating gap between the two is 0.9 points, with Kim scoring 9.6/10 against Sixty-Sixth Street's 8.7/10. For families in Los Angeles weighing a 6.7-mile difference in commute, that gap reflects meaningful, documented performance differences rather than marginal variation.

Academically, Charles H. Kim Elementary scores 9.5/10 versus Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary's 8.3/10 — a 1.2-point delta that represents one of the sharpest academic divides between two high-performing Los Angeles elementaries. Growth scores are much closer: Sixty-Sixth Street earns a 9.5/10 and Kim earns a 9.8/10, meaning both schools accelerate student learning at an exceptional rate regardless of starting point. Sixty-Sixth Street's growth score is particularly notable given its higher-poverty student body — students there are gaining ground at nearly the same pace as students at Kim despite greater economic headwinds.

Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary serves 698 students at a 23.3:1 student-teacher ratio, and 98% of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Charles H. Kim Elementary enrolls 472 students at an 18.2:1 ratio, with 88% of students on free or reduced lunch. The five-point ratio difference means Kim students have measurably more daily teacher access. Both schools serve predominantly high-need populations, but the density and resource allocation differ in ways that compound over a school career.

Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary covers grades KG through 6, giving families one school through the full elementary span. Charles H. Kim Elementary runs KG through 5, meaning Kim families will need to arrange a middle school transition one year earlier than Sixty-Sixth Street families. That single grade difference can matter for parents weighing school transitions and continuity of care, particularly those who value a single-school environment through sixth grade.