Vine Street Elementary vs Charles H. Kim Elementary

Charles H. Kim Elementary ranks #9 of 9,533 California schools, placing it among the top 0.1% statewide. Vine Street Elementary earns a strong #119 of 9,533 — top 2% — but the gap between these two Los Angeles schools is substantial. Charles H. Kim Elementary's overall rating of 9.6/10 outpaces Vine Street Elementary's 9.2/10, a difference that reflects a meaningful academic advantage despite the schools sitting just 1.6 miles apart.

The academic score delta is the sharpest contrast between these two schools: Charles H. Kim Elementary posts a 9.5/10 versus Vine Street Elementary's 7.9/10 — a 1.6-point gap that translates to a measurable difference in tested proficiency outcomes. Growth scores, however, tell a different story. Vine Street Elementary scores 9.9/10 in student growth against Charles H. Kim Elementary's 9.8/10, a near-identical result showing that both schools accelerate learning at an exceptional rate relative to peers. Vine Street Elementary's growth score in particular signals that its students gain ground faster than most schools in the state, even where absolute proficiency levels are lower.

Both schools serve high-need populations with similar economic profiles — Vine Street Elementary at 85% free and reduced lunch eligibility, Charles H. Kim Elementary at 88% — indicating neither school has a demographic advantage driving its ratings. Charles H. Kim Elementary does this with roughly double the enrollment, at 472 students versus Vine Street Elementary's 228, giving it greater scale while maintaining comparable staff ratios. Student-teacher ratios are close: 17.5:1 at Vine Street Elementary and 18.2:1 at Charles H. Kim Elementary, a modest difference unlikely to materially affect classroom experience.

One structural distinction worth noting: Vine Street Elementary serves grades KG through 6, while Charles H. Kim Elementary covers KG through 5. Families with a rising sixth grader would have an additional transition year at Vine Street Elementary before middle school, whereas Charles H. Kim Elementary students move on after fifth grade. Both schools operate within Los Angeles Unified, but these grade configurations affect how families plan for the middle school transition.