Los Angeles, CA — Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (the Partnership) saw continued growth in student achievement for the 2023-2024 school year, with more students achieving grade-level proficiency in both English language arts (ELA) and math compared to last year, according to data released today. This progress spans all school levels—elementary, middle, and high school—reflecting the impact of the Partnership’s efforts to close the academic achievement gap in historically underserved communities.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment data highlighted the progress happening across Partnership schools including incremental growth in academic performance, improvements in attendance post-pandemic, and the persistent effort to close equity gaps for Black and Brown students.
Compared to 2023, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards in English and math has risen at all levels. While the year-over-year proficiency growth rate is on par with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the cohort of schools supported by the Partnership saw some greater growth in narrowing the Distance from Standard (DFS)—a measure that indicates how far students are from meeting grade-level expectations. Together, the Partnership and LAUSD, are making progress toward ensuring that all students reach their full potential and remain focused on continued collaboration and growth in this shared mission.
“These achievements are a testament to the dedication and resilience of our school communities, and they also serve as a reminder that there is still significant work to be done,” Partnership CEO Guadalupe Guerrero said. “The persistent gaps in achievement, particularly among Black and Brown students, signal the need for continued focus and strategic effort. We are encouraged by the progress but recognize that sustained growth will require unwavering commitment and innovative approaches in the years ahead.”
School-Level Highlights:
- Elementary Schools: English proficiency showed positive growth at the primary level increased by 4 percentage points, with standout performances from several schools:
- Figueroa Elementary saw an impressive 14 percentage point increase in ELA proficiency.
- Joyner Elementary improved by 7 percentage points.
- Weigand Elementary gained 7 percentage points.
- Sunrise Elementary increased by 6 percentage points.
- Grape Elementary achieved a 5-percentage point improvement.
- Math proficiency across Partnership elementary schools increased by 3 percentage points.
- Middle Schools: Both ELA and Math had small gains of 2 percentage points in both math and ELA.
- High Schools: High schools demonstrated growth in both subjects, with math proficiency increasing at a faster rate than ELA. Notably, MSTMA increased by 10 percentage points in math and Roosevelt High School posted a strong 7 percentage point improvement in ELA and a 5-percentage point increase in math.
Figueroa and Grape Elementary Lead the Way in Academics and Attendance
Figueroa and Grape Elementary Schools have shown solid growth, with Figueroa leading in both ELA and math improvement. This year, Figueroa increased ELA proficiency by 14 percentage points and math proficiency by 12 percentage points. Grape Elementary saw a 5-point increase in ELA and a 5-point increase in math. Joyner Elementary also had an impressive 7 percentage point increase in ELA and 3 percentage points in math.
“These results reflect the hard work of our students, teachers, and school leaders, and the collective commitment of the Partnership to accelerate student achievement,” said Randy Romero, chief of schools for the Partnership. “While we are encouraged by the gains, especially in narrowing the Distance from Standard, we remain focused on ensuring that every student is equipped to meet or exceed grade-level expectations, especially in underserved communities.”
Figueroa and Grape also posted significant growth in attendance with 85% and 72% of their students, respectively, showing up to school at least 92% of the time. That equals a 20 percentage point increase for Grape and 16-point increase for Figueroa. Weigand Elementary, also had an impressive 11 percentage point growth with 87% of students getting to school at least 92% of the time.
To boost attendance, schools implemented various strategies, including incentives like raffle entries for prizes like water bottles, scooters, indoor skydiving, and popcorn and pizza parties coupled with thousands of home visits and phone calls. In some cases, staff even walked or drove students to school with parent and district approval.
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About the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
Founded in 2007, the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an independent, non-profit organization that partners with LAUSD to accelerate student achievement in 20 historically under-resourced schools across Boyle Heights, South Los Angeles, and Watts. Serving over 13,000 students, the Partnership focuses on transforming schools to provide an equitable and excellent education for all.
Contact
Partnership for Los Angeles Schools
Cadonna Dory, Vice President of Communications