Stella Elementary Charter Academy vs Charles H. Kim Elementary
Stella Elementary Charter Academy and Charles H. Kim Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 8.4 out of 10. Charles H. Kim Elementary is significantly larger with 472 students, about 1.8× the size of Stella Elementary Charter Academy (258). In math proficiency, Charles H. Kim Elementary leads at 76.0%.
Stella Elementary Charter Academy
Los Angeles, CA
258 students
Charles H. Kim Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
472 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Stella Elementary Charter Academy | Charles H. Kim Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.4 / 10 | 8.5 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 7.8 | 9.5 |
| Growth Score | 10.0 | 7.5 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 91.1% | 88.3% |
| Environment Score | 5.1 | 9.5 |
| State Rank | #925 of 9,539 | #853 of 9,539 |
| State Percentile | 90th | 91th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Stella Elementary Charter Academy | Charles H. Kim Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 10.0% | 76.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 10.0% | 64.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Stella Elementary Charter Academy | Charles H. Kim Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 4th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 258 | 472 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 23.5:1 | 18.2:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 91.1% | 88.3% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 34.1% | 21.4% |
| District | Stella Elementary Charter Academy District | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90029) | Los Angeles (90004) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $60,793 | $62,655 |
| Median Home Value | $1,066,200 | $1,457,200 |
| Median Rent | $1,644 | $1,752 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 36.3% | 40.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 23.1% | 18.8% |
| Avg Commute | 36 min | 32 min |
The data story: Stella Elementary Charter Academy vs Charles H. Kim Elementary
Charles H. Kim Elementary outranks Stella Elementary Charter Academy by a wide margin in California's statewide standings — ranked #9 of 9,533 schools versus Stella's #511. That gap translates to a 1.0-point overall rating difference (9.6 vs. 8.6), which is meaningful at the top of the distribution where schools are tightly clustered. Both schools sit in Los Angeles just 3.7 miles apart, yet their performance profiles diverge sharply enough to matter for families who have a genuine choice between them.
Academically, Charles H. Kim Elementary scores 9.5 out of 10 compared to Stella Elementary Charter Academy's 7.9 — a 1.6-point gap that reflects a substantial difference in measured proficiency. The one category where Stella flips the result is growth: Stella earns a perfect 10.0 growth score versus Kim's 9.8, indicating that students at Stella are advancing at a slightly faster rate relative to their starting points. For families with children who are behind grade level, that growth edge at Stella is a real consideration, even if Kim's absolute academic outcomes are higher.
Both schools serve high-need populations, with free and reduced-price lunch rates of 91% at Stella Elementary Charter Academy and 88% at Charles H. Kim Elementary — effectively identical on that measure. Where they differ is in size and staffing. Kim enrolls 472 students to Stella's 258, and Kim's student-teacher ratio of 18.2:1 is notably lower than Stella's 23.5:1. Smaller class sizes at Kim mean more individual attention per student despite the larger total enrollment.
Stella Elementary Charter Academy serves grades KG through 4, while Charles H. Kim Elementary extends through grade 5, keeping students in one building for an additional year before middle school transitions. Stella operates as a charter school, giving it more flexibility over curriculum and staffing model, whereas Kim functions as a traditional LAUSD public school with the district's full resource network behind it.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Stella Elementary Charter Academy
Stella Elementary Charter Academy suits families with students who are below grade level or need accelerated catch-up, given its perfect 10.0 growth score. Its smaller enrollment of 258 and charter flexibility may also appeal to parents who prefer a tighter-knit school culture outside the traditional district structure.
Charles H. Kim Elementary
Charles H. Kim Elementary is the stronger fit for families prioritizing top-tier academic proficiency — its 9.5 academic score and #9 state rank place it among California's best elementary schools. The lower 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio and full KG–5 grade span add practical advantages for parents who want sustained individual attention through fifth grade.