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Very Good

#306 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 17% of private schools

The Willows Community School

Elementary School

8509 HIGUERA ST, Culver City, CA 90232

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 10 schools in Culver City. Learn more

Enrollment

467

Student-Teacher

7.3:1

Score

7.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Culver City

#3 of 4

public schools

California elementary schools

#165 of 1,102

Academic performance

8.3 / 10

Very strong

About The Willows Community School

The Willows Community School serves 467 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Culver City, offering a comprehensive elementary education with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.3 to 1. With 64 full-time equivalent teachers on staff, students receive significant individual attention that supports their academic and personal development. The school has earned a strong 9.0 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #822 out of 1,790 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 54th percentile among California schools.

This solid performance reflects the school's commitment to providing quality education in a supportive learning environment. Located on Higuera Street, The Willows serves a well-educated community where 63% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding neighborhood in the 90232 ZIP code maintains a median household income of $113,278 and a low poverty rate of 7.9%, creating a stable environment for learning.

With a median home value of $1,391,000, the area attracts families who prioritize education and community involvement. The Willows Community School operates as a regular public school in Culver City's large suburban setting, providing families with accessible public education in one of Los Angeles County's established residential communities.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.3:1, The Willows Community School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, The Willows Community School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How The Willows Community School compares to 9 public schools serving similar grades in Culver City, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
This School
vs
21.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
467
This School
vs
633
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.4
This School
vs
7.2
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 63% vs 0%
Black 7.7% vs 0%
Asian 3.6% vs 0%
Hispanic 1.7% vs 0%
The Willows Community School Culver City Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
The Willows Community School (this school) 7.4
Linwood E. Howe Elementary 8.0
Farragut Elementary 6.0
Culver City Middle 6.2
La Ballona Elementary 6.0
El Rincon Elementary 6.8
El Marino Elementary 6.3
Stoner Avenue Elementary 8.4
Braddock Drive Elementary 9.5
Playa del Rey Elementary 7.2

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 6.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,230.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 6.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 54%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 467
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 63.0%
Two or More 24.0%
Black 7.7%
Asian 3.6%
Hispanic 1.7%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

8509 HIGUERA ST, Culver City, CA 90232

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering The Willows Community School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Castle Heights Elementary (rated 9.3/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Los Angeles), which scores notably higher. Another option is Marvin Elementary (rated 9.1/10, 1.3 miles away, in nearby Los Angeles), which scores notably higher. Additionally, TURNING POINT SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Culver City, see our Culver City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
TURNING POINT SCHOOL Culver City 0.4 mi 8.8
Turning Point School Culver City 0.4 mi
Echo Horizon School Culver City 0.4 mi
ECHO HORIZON Culver City 0.5 mi 8.2
Park Century Elementary Culver City 0.5 mi
Play Mountain Place Los Angeles 0.7 mi
PLAY MOUNTAIN PLACE Los Angeles 0.7 mi 5.4
Linwood E. Howe Elementary Culver City 0.7 mi 8.0
Little Sprouts Language Immersion Preschool Los Angeles 0.8 mi
Alexander Hamilton Senior High Los Angeles 1.0 mi 8.6
New Los Angeles Charter Elementary Los Angeles 0.9 mi 8.3
Baldwin Hills Elementary Los Angeles 0.9 mi 6.9
Shenandoah Street Elementary Los Angeles 1.1 mi 8.0
ANGELES WORKSHOP SCHOOL Los Angeles 1.0 mi
Cheviot Hills Continuation Los Angeles 1.1 mi 6.1
St. Augustine School (SAS) Culver City 1.1 mi
Marvin Elementary Los Angeles 1.3 mi 9.1
FLW Inc. Los Angeles 1.3 mi
Castle Heights Elementary Los Angeles 1.5 mi 9.3
Maor Academy Los Angeles 1.5 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 90232 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$125,490

Median Home Value

$1,491,800

Median Rent

$2,659/mo

Population

16,804

College Educated

63.8%

Homeownership

42.1%

Avg Commute

27.4 min

Poverty Rate

9.4%

Median Age

37.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding The Willows Community School has a median household income of $125,490. It is a well-educated community where 64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,491,800, with a median rent of $2,659/month. The local poverty rate of 9.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Adams Elementary Santa Barbara, CA 7.4
Adelante Dual Language Academy II San Jose, CA 7.4
Allendale Elementary Oakland, CA 7.4
Anna Yates Elementary Emeryville, CA 7.4
Audubon Elementary Foster City, CA 7.4
BLACK PINE CIRCLE SCHOOL Berkeley, CA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about The Willows Community School

What grades does The Willows Community School serve?

The Willows Community School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend The Willows Community School?

The Willows Community School has an enrollment of approximately 467 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at The Willows Community School?

The student-teacher ratio at The Willows Community School is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does The Willows Community School rank in CA?

The Willows Community School is ranked #306 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is The Willows Community School's MySchoolScout rating?

The Willows Community School has a composite rating of 7.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is The Willows Community School a private school?

Yes, The Willows Community School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is The Willows Community School a religious school?

No, The Willows Community School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
76 Very Walkable
Transit Score
61 Good Transit
Bike Score
90 Biker’s Paradise
City Safety
High (6,579/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Culver City). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
467
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
64
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.8 hours
Days Per Year
181 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
LOS ANGELES
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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