Third Street Elementary vs Harvard Elementary

Third Street Elementary and Harvard Elementary sit just 1.8 miles apart in Los Angeles, yet their overall ratings diverge meaningfully: Third Street Elementary scores 9.6/10 against Harvard Elementary's 9.2/10 — a 0.4-point gap that understates the distance in state standings. Third Street Elementary ranks #8 of 9,533 California schools; Harvard Elementary ranks #122 of 9,533. Both are genuinely strong performers, but Third Street Elementary occupies rare air at the very top of the state.

The academic score tells the sharpest story. Third Street Elementary earns a perfect 10.0/10 in academics versus Harvard Elementary's 8.1/10 — a 1.9-point delta that represents a substantial proficiency advantage. Growth scores are far closer: Third Street Elementary posts a 9.9/10 against Harvard Elementary's 9.7/10, meaning both schools are moving students forward at nearly identical rates relative to peers. Third Street's academic ceiling is higher, but Harvard is not coasting.

The two schools serve meaningfully different populations. Harvard Elementary enrolls 250 students — about 36% of Third Street Elementary's 691 — giving it a notably smaller-campus feel. The student-teacher ratio at Harvard Elementary is 17.9:1 versus Third Street Elementary's 22.3:1, a difference of more than four students per teacher that parents seeking more individualized attention will notice. The socioeconomic gap is wide: 96% of Harvard Elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to 43% at Third Street Elementary. Harvard's strong growth score alongside near-universal economic disadvantage signals effective instruction for high-need students.

Both schools serve grades KG through 05, so the comparison is apples-to-apples on grade span. What differs is context: Third Street Elementary combines peak academic output with a more mixed-income enrollment, while Harvard Elementary delivers a smaller classroom environment, a tighter student-teacher ratio, and nearly identical growth momentum for a predominantly low-income community.