Excellent
#184 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 2% in state
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)
Elementary School · Santa Monica-malibu Unified · Santa Monica, CA
A Santa Monica-malibu Unified elementary school where students score 3 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2525 Fifth St., Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Math 69% vs CA 37% (2024)
- Reading 72% vs CA 46% (2024)
- 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is up 21 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 71% recently.
Show all 10 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
12.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 92Walker's Paradise
- Transit 60Good Transit
- Bike 75Very Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,630/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Santa Monica), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$114,489
Median home value
$1,940,700
Median rent
$2,311/mo
College educated
69.8%
Homeownership
31.1%
Poverty rate
9.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 90405; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartstart AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–5 | 0.3 mi | 9 | Compare → |
| Smartstart Developmental Learning CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–5 | 0.3 mi | 21 | Compare → |
| Will Rogers ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.3 | K–5 | 0.7 mi | 523 | Compare → |
| Westminster Avenue ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 344 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Santa Monica-malibu Unified
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #3 of 15
- District spending per student
- $24,994NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) is listed in Santa Monica-Malibu Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) is a public elementary school in Santa Monica, CA, part of Santa Monica-malibu Unified, serving approximately 219 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10 and ranks #184 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)
What grades does Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) serve?
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)?
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) has an enrollment of approximately 219 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)?
The student-teacher ratio at Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) is 21.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) rank in CA?
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) ranks #184 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)'s MySchoolScout rating?
Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) a charter school?
No, Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) a Title I school?
No, Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Santa Monica Alternative (k-8)?
12.8% of students at Santa Monica Alternative (k-8) qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 219
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Los Angeles County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.2%
- Phone
- (310) 396-2640
- Area population (ZIP 90405)
- 26,809
- Area average commute
- 27.4 min
- Area median age
- 42.2
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 90405; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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