Third Street Elementary vs Charles White Elementary

Third Street Elementary and Charles White Elementary sit 3.3 miles apart in Los Angeles, yet their overall ratings diverge by half a point — Third Street Elementary at 9.6/10 and Charles White Elementary at 9.1/10. That gap is sharpened by state rank: Third Street Elementary stands #8 of 9,533 schools in California, placing it in the top 0.1 percent statewide, while Charles White Elementary ranks #182 — still a strong position in the top 2 percent of all California schools.

The academic scores tell the clearest story. Third Street Elementary scores a perfect 10.0/10 academically against Charles White Elementary's 7.4/10 — a 2.6-point difference that reflects a measurable gap in tested proficiency. Growth tells a different story entirely: both schools score an identical 9.9/10, meaning students at Charles White Elementary are advancing at the same exceptional rate as their peers at Third Street Elementary. Parents prioritizing trajectory over baseline performance will find Charles White's growth numbers as compelling as those at the higher-rated school.

The two schools serve meaningfully different student populations. Third Street Elementary enrolls 691 students — nearly three times Charles White Elementary's 248 — and carries a 22.3:1 student-teacher ratio compared to Charles White's 17.7:1. That translates to roughly four and a half fewer students per teacher at Charles White Elementary, a structural advantage for families who value smaller class settings. The economic profiles diverge sharply: 43% of Third Street Elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch versus 98% at Charles White Elementary, reflecting the distinct neighborhoods these schools draw from across Los Angeles.

One practical difference for incoming families: Third Street Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade, while Charles White Elementary begins at first grade. Parents of kindergarteners have only one option between the two. Both schools otherwise cover the full elementary span through fifth grade, operate under the Los Angeles Unified School District, and serve comparable age ranges — making the academic, demographic, and class-size differences the primary factors for families choosing between them.