Van Ness Avenue Elementary vs Virginia Road Elementary
Van Ness Avenue Elementary and Virginia Road Elementary are very closely rated, both scoring around 8.9 out of 10. In math proficiency, Van Ness Avenue Elementary leads at 32.0%.
Van Ness Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
198 students
Virginia Road Elementary
Los Angeles, CA
209 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Van Ness Avenue Elementary | Virginia Road Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 8.9 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Growth Score | 9.1 | 9.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 81.8% | 93.8% |
| Environment Score | 9.6 | 9.1 |
| State Rank | #294 of 9,533 | #79 of 9,533 |
| State Percentile | 97th | 99th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Van Ness Avenue Elementary | Virginia Road Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 32.0% | 22.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 47.0% | 32.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Van Ness Avenue Elementary | Virginia Road Elementary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Kindergarten – 5th |
| Enrollment | 198 | 209 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 16.5:1 | 19.0:1 |
| Per-Pupil Spending | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 81.8% | 93.8% |
| Chronic Absenteeism | — | — |
| District | Los Angeles Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| City | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Los Angeles (90004) | Los Angeles (90016) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,655 | $71,067 |
| Median Home Value | $1,457,200 | $919,800 |
| Median Rent | $1,752 | $1,729 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 40.0% | 31.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 18.8% | 15.5% |
| Avg Commute | 32 min | 33 min |
The data story: Van Ness Avenue Elementary vs Virginia Road Elementary
Van Ness Avenue Elementary and Virginia Road Elementary are both Los Angeles elementary schools serving kindergarten through fifth grade, but they sit at meaningfully different points in California's statewide rankings. Virginia Road Elementary holds an overall rating of 9.3/10 against Van Ness Avenue Elementary's 8.9/10 — a 0.4-point gap that reflects a significant difference in state rank: Virginia Road Elementary ranks #79 of 9,533 California schools, placing it in the top 1%, while Van Ness Avenue Elementary ranks #294 of 9,533, itself a strong result but trailing by 215 positions statewide.
Academically, the two schools are close: Van Ness Avenue Elementary scores 8.2/10 versus Virginia Road Elementary's 8.4/10, a difference of 0.2 points. The gap widens on growth, where Virginia Road Elementary scores 9.9/10 compared to Van Ness Avenue Elementary's 9.1/10 — a 0.8-point delta indicating that students at Virginia Road Elementary are advancing at a faster rate relative to expectations. For families who weight trajectory and year-over-year gains heavily, that growth gap is the sharpest differentiator between these two schools.
The demographic profiles show more substantial differences. Virginia Road Elementary enrolls 209 students with 94% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Van Ness Avenue Elementary enrolls 198 students with 82% qualifying — a 12-point gap that places Virginia Road Elementary's population in a higher economic-need tier. On student-teacher ratio, Van Ness Avenue Elementary offers more contact time, at 16.5 students per teacher versus Virginia Road Elementary's 19.0:1 — a difference of 2.5 students per class that can matter for families prioritizing individualized attention.
Both schools serve the same grade band — kindergarten through fifth grade — and are located 3.9 miles apart within Los Angeles, making them plausible alternatives for families in overlapping attendance zones or those willing to pursue a choice transfer. The convergence on grade structure and city means the decision hinges on priorities: growth momentum and top-tier state rank at Virginia Road Elementary, or a lower student-teacher ratio at Van Ness Avenue Elementary.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Van Ness Avenue Elementary
Van Ness Avenue Elementary suits families who prioritize a lower student-teacher ratio — at 16.5:1 versus Virginia Road Elementary's 19.0:1, classrooms are smaller and teacher attention more accessible. It still ranks #294 in California out of 9,533 schools, so parents get a high-performing school with a more intimate classroom structure.
Virginia Road Elementary
Virginia Road Elementary is the stronger fit for families who prioritize growth trajectory and elite statewide standing. Its 9.9/10 growth score and #79 California rank signal a school where students consistently outpace academic expectations — a compelling choice for parents who view year-over-year gains as the best predictor of long-term outcomes.