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South Whittier Elementary

Below Average2024–25 data6 schools · avg 38.0/100

South Whittier Elementary has 6 ranked schools across elementary and middle levels with an average Scope Score of 38.0/100 — 5.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Lake Marie Elementary at 51/100, where 18.8% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $16,729 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 17.2%, near the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
38.0
State avg: 43.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
22.4
29.0 – 51.4
Avg Exceeded %
12.2%
State avg: 21.6%
Chronic Absenteeism
17.2%
State avg: 18.1%
Schools Ranked
6
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
39.8/100
513.4%16.3%
MiddleNeeds Support
29.0/100
16.4%21.6%

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in South Whittier Elementary, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
39.8
avg score · 5 schools
Loma Vista Elementary
Developing
41/100
+2 more elementary schools
Middle
29.0
avg score · 1 school
Richard L. Graves Middle
Needs Support
29/100

District Analysis

Strongest level: South Whittier Elementary's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 39.8.

Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages +1.5pp (state avg: -3.0pp), suggesting schools are making incremental gains.

Consistency: Score range of 22.4 points — showing notable variation between schools.

Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 17.2%, 1.0pp near the state average of 18.1%.

Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.9%, near the state average of 1.7%.

Top school: Lake Marie Elementary leads the district at 51 with 18.8% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

School archetypes in South Whittier Elementary

1 Growth Engine1 Culture First4 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 1 school in South Whittier Elementary is classified as Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

Student demographics

Hispanic
94.7%
White
2.5%
Asian
0.6%
Black
0.7%
Other
1.5%
Free/Reduced Lunch
91%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

South Whittier Elementary spends $16,729 per student in current expenditures — $1,915 above the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$16,729
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
2,444
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 32.2%
$12,654 → $16,729
Spending Efficiency
2.27
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 65%Support 32%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$59,513–$120,894
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
130
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

Elementary Schools (5)

South Whittier Elementary has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 39.8 — 3.9 points below the state average of 43.8.

District-wide growth averages +1.5pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Lake Marie Elementary with a Scope Score of 51 and 18.8% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Lake Marie Elementary
South Whittier Elementary Growth Engine
18.8%Solid
51/100
2Howard J. McKibben Elementary
South Whittier Elementary Building Momentum
17.4%Developing
43/100
3Loma Vista Elementary
South Whittier Elementary Culture First
14.9%Developing
41/100
4Carmela Elementary
South Whittier Elementary Building Momentum
6.2%Developing
32/100
5Los Altos Elementary
South Whittier Elementary Building Momentum
9.7%Developing
32/100

Middle Schools (1)

South Whittier Elementary has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 29.0 — 11.5 points below the state average of 40.5.

The highest-scoring middle school is Richard L. Graves Middle with a Scope Score of 29 and 6.4% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Richard L. Graves Middle
South Whittier Elementary Building Momentum
6.4%Needs Support
29/100

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about South Whittier Elementary

  • Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
  • Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
  • Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
  • Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
  • Parent and community engagement levels
  • Quality of special education and gifted programs
  • How resources are distributed across schools within the district

Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is South Whittier Elementary a good school district?
South Whittier Elementary has 6 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.0/100, which is 5.8 points below the California state average of 43.8. 12.2% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across six dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in South Whittier Elementary?
The highest-scoring school in South Whittier Elementary is Lake Marie Elementary with a Scope Score of 51/100 and 18.8% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does South Whittier Elementary spend per student?
South Whittier Elementary spends $16,729 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in South Whittier Elementary?
Teacher salaries in South Whittier Elementary range from $59,513–$120,894 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on six dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, and ELPAC English Learner proficiency. Full methodology and weights.