Carthay Elementary of Environmental Studies Magnet

Carthay Elementary of Environmental Studies Magnet serves 364 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Los Angeles, California. It earns a composite score of 9.0/10 — rated Exceptional — with an academic score of 9.0 and a standout growth score of 9.5, meaning students here make consistent gains above what comparable schools produce. The school ranks #54 out of 563 public schools in Los Angeles, and outperforms 98% of all California public schools — placing it in the top tier of more than 9,500 schools statewide.

That dual standing — strong locally and among the state's best — is uncommon for an elementary school in a large urban district. Carthay is a magnet school built around an environmental studies theme, drawing students from beyond a single neighborhood boundary. The student-teacher ratio is 22.8:1.

The growth score of 9.5 is the clearest signal here: it measures how much students advance relative to similar peers, and at 9.5, Carthay is accelerating students well ahead of the curve. For families comparing Los Angeles elementary options, that growth figure — paired with top-2% statewide standing — makes a strong case.

The student-teacher ratio at Carthay Elementary of Environmental Studies Magnet is 22.8:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.