Solano Avenue Elementary vs Vernon City Elementary
Vernon City Elementary has a higher overall rating of 8.7/10 compared to 7.3/10. In math proficiency, Solano Avenue Elementary leads at 82.0%.
Solano Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
184 students
Vernon City Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
135 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Solano Avenue Elementary | Vernon City Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 7.3 / 10 | 8.7 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Growth Score | 5.3 | 8.4 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 61.4% | 96.3% |
| Environment Score | 9.2 | 8.7 |
| State Rank | #2,940 of 9,539 | #600 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 69th | 94th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Solano Avenue Elementary | Vernon City Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 82.0% | 57.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 77.0% | 47.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Solano Avenue Elementary | Vernon City Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 6th | Kindergarten – 6th |
| Enrollment | 184 | 135 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 20.4:1 | 19.3:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 61.4% | 96.3% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 17.9% | 34.1% |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90012) | Los Angeles (90058) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,635 | $36,680 |
| Median Home Value | $686,400 | $456,500 |
| Median Rent | $2,116 | $1,030 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 39.5% | 22.3% |
| Poverty Rate | 22.7% | 28.9% |
| Avg Commute | 29 min | 33 min |
The data story: Solano Avenue Elementary vs Vernon City Elementary
Solano Avenue Elementary ranks #224 out of 9,533 California schools with an overall rating of 9.0/10, while Vernon City Elementary sits at #44 out of 9,533 with a 9.4/10 — a 0.4-point gap that translates to a meaningful 180-position difference in statewide standing. Both schools are 5.0 miles apart in Los Angeles and serve the same KG–06 grade span, making that state rank gap a concrete measure of the distance between them rather than an artifact of different grade configurations.
On the academic side, Solano Avenue Elementary holds a slight edge with a 9.3/10 academic score versus Vernon City Elementary's 9.1/10. The growth picture reverses sharply: Vernon City Elementary scores 9.8/10 on growth compared to Solano Avenue Elementary's 8.9/10 — a 0.9-point delta suggesting Vernon City students are accelerating at a faster pace relative to their starting points, which is what drives its superior overall and state rank despite the lower raw academic score.
The two schools serve starkly different economic populations. Vernon City Elementary has a 96% free and reduced lunch rate versus Solano Avenue Elementary's 61% — a 35-percentage-point gap. Yet Vernon City achieves its higher overall rating while serving a substantially higher-need student body with fewer students (135 vs. 184) and a slightly smaller student-teacher ratio of 19.3:1 compared to Solano Avenue's 20.4:1, giving Vernon City students marginally more instructor access.
Both schools run KG through 6th grade, keeping the structural comparison clean. The distinction that matters most across every metric is Vernon City Elementary's growth score of 9.8/10: schools that generate outsized growth relative to demographics typically reflect strong instructional systems, and Vernon City's #44 California ranking reflects exactly that. Solano Avenue Elementary's 9.3/10 academic score signals a high-achieving baseline population, while Vernon City's numbers signal a school actively accelerating students from a lower starting point.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Solano Avenue Elementary
Solano Avenue Elementary fits families whose students are already performing at or above grade level and who prioritize a school with strong absolute academic scores (9.3/10) and a slightly larger peer cohort. Its 61% free and reduced lunch rate reflects a more economically mixed environment, which may appeal to parents seeking that balance within the Los Angeles public system.
Vernon City Elementary
Vernon City Elementary is the stronger fit for families who prioritize growth trajectory over baseline scores — its 9.8/10 growth rating and #44 California state rank out of 9,533 schools indicate exceptional instructional lift. Parents who want a school that demonstrably accelerates students, regardless of where they start, will find Vernon City's record compelling.