School Profile · Los Angeles
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex: This school runs ahead of the state average. The bar itself is the harder conversation.
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex posts 43% meeting the standard against 39% statewide — ahead of most, with real headroom above the bar.
2023 South Union Avenue, 90007 (opens in new tab)·Los Angeles Unified·Los Angeles·Grades 6-12·1,031 students·94% low-income·Charter·2024–25 CAASPP·(213) 745-8141·Website
Charter school — publicly funded, independently operated, open enrollment via lottery. Learn more
Scope Score
44
🤝 Culture First · Developing
ranked #841 statewide · #65 of 226 in Los Angeles Unified
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex scores 44 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 62nd percentile of 2,238 California middle schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How we score →
Most rating sites would stop at “43% proficient” and call it done. Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex deserves a closer read. The school sits in Los Angeles, where four in five students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.
The headline number: 57.2% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide.
As a charter, Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex enrolls by application, not address — the score reads the same, the enrollment path doesn't.
The story this school is actually telling
The school, grade by grade
ELA · CAASPP 2024–25Different students, same year — each bar is one grade's proficiency mix.
15%
34%
51%
Grade 6 · 49% proficient
18%
45%
37%
Grade 7 · 63% proficient
14%
35%
51%
Grade 8 · 49% proficient
The honest read: the share exceeding holds steady across grades; the proficiency floor barely moves. The state average falls 0.5pp over the same span. A school visit and conversation with teachers will tell you more than this number.
57.2%
Low-income · ELA · met standard
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex's most underrated number
57.2% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide. That's the strongest kind of signal a school can post: it holds across income lines.
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex low-income: 57.2%State low-income: 38.2%Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex EL: 12.3%State EL: 10.4%
The 5 things our score weighs
Exceeded standard
14.8%
State 16.8%
2.0pp below state avg
Met or exceeded
42.7%
State 39.3%
3.4pp above state avg
Growth (G6→G8)
-0.9pp
State +1.5pp
Scores decline across grades
Chronic absenteeism
12.4%
State 18.5%
6.1pp below state avg
Suspension rate
1.0%
State 3.7%
2.7pp below state avg
Worth a school visit
Ask how the school challenges kids who clear the standard early. The gap between meeting and exceeding is where pacing shows.
Where the path goes
The path below follows attendance boundaries — scores shown for each next step.
K-12 Path
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex serves grades K-12 — students can complete their entire K-12 education here.
Your other options
Nearby Middle Schools
3 within ~3 mi · avg 48
Magnolia Science Academy 6
Los Angeles Unified · 2.4 mi
Solid
53/100
Rise Kohyang Middle
Los Angeles Unified · 1.8 mi
Developing
45/100
Virgil Middle
Los Angeles Unified · 2.6 mi
Developing
44/100
Private alternatives nearby
Private schools within ~10 miles. These schools do not participate in state testing and cannot be scored or ranked.
The community around it
Community Profile
Context — not part of the Scope ScoreStudent demographics
Hispanic98.3%
Asian0.1%
Black1.3%
Other0.3%
GenderFemale 49.4%Male 50.6%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 94.2% (30pp above CA avg)
Resources & Access
Enrollment
1,031
Near CA avg (~1,200)
Transitional Kindergarten
TK status unconfirmed
No TK enrollment is on file with the state for this school — that isn't the same as “no TK.” Confirm directly with the district.
Student-Teacher Ratio
22:1
1 more students per teacher than CA avg
Per-Pupil Spending
$18,180
CA avg: $14,815 · District avg · NCES F-33
Teacher Salary Range
$60,420 – $122,706
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
At Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex in Los Angeles, 57.2% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 40.9% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex outperforms its district average for low-income students by 16.3 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (31.2% Math proficient); Hispanic students (59.0% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 47.3 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 543 students tested.
Equity Gaps
ELA · English Learner−47.3pp
11.5% vs 58.8% overall · n=65
3 more gaps by subject
ELA Exceeded · English Learner−20.0pp
0.0% vs 20.0% overall · n=65
Math · English Learner−26.5pp
5.0% vs 31.4% overall · n=65
Math Exceeded · English Learner−11.8pp
1.0% vs 12.9% overall · n=65
Subgroups with fewer than 15 students are excluded for privacy. Gaps of less than 3 percentage points are not shown.
Subgroup Proficiency
Low-Income543 tested
ELA 57.2%·Math 31.2%· +16.3pp vs district
Hispanic569 tested
ELA 59.0%·Math 32.0%· +18.0pp vs district
English Learner65 tested
ELA 12.3%·Math 6.2%· +5.3pp vs district
Weighted average across tested grades. Subgroups with fewer than 15 students excluded. Data: CDE CAASPP 2024-25.
Subgroup Growth by Grade
Change in proficiency from lowest tested grade. Shows which groups are gaining ground.
Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 1.1pp from grade 6 to grade 8 at this school. District average: -0.3pp.
Subgroups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.
Funding Breakdown
Neighborhood Context
Median Income
$35K
$50K below CA median
Median Home Value
$862K
$203K above CA median
Bachelor's+
29%
6pp below CA avg
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level
Whole Child
Teacher experience, college/career readiness, and more. Context only — never part of the Scope Score.
Teacher Experience
8.3 years avg experience
49 teachers · 6% first-year · 6% second-year
Teacher Credentials
92% fully credentialed
4.3% on intern/emergency permit
Source: CDE SARC, 2024-25
Community Profile provides context about who attends this school and the resources available. These factors are never part of the Scope Score. Learn why →
For the data nerdsEvery number on this page
Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.
For the data nerds
Every number on this page
Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and peer comparisons.
01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
Exceeded standard · 43%
14.8%
↓ vs CA 16.8% · 48th pctile
Met or exceeded · 22%
42.7%
↑ vs CA 39.3% · 53th pctile
Growth (G6→G8) · 15%
-0.9pp
↓ vs CA +1.5pp · 57th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 10%
12.4%
↑ vs CA 18.5% · 59th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
1.0%
↑ vs CA 3.7% · 61th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
| ELA | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 149 | 15% | 34% | 33% | 18% | 49% | +2 |
| Grade 7 | 146 | 18% | 45% | 21% | 17% | 62% | +15 |
| Grade 8 | 146 | 14% | 35% | 25% | 25% | 49% | +3 |
| Grade 11 | 135 | 33% | 41% | 20% | 5% | 75% | +28 |
| Math | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 148 | 11% | 21% | 36% | 32% | 32% | −3 |
| Grade 7 | 146 | 13% | 20% | 36% | 32% | 33% | −1 |
| Grade 8 | 145 | 17% | 13% | 23% | 47% | 30% | −2 |
| Grade 11 | 133 | 10% | 20% | 33% | 37% | 30% | +7 |
| Science (CAST) | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5/8/11 | 280 | 5% | 26% | 62% | 7% |
CAST is tested in grades 5, 8, and once in high school — not annually. Not part of the Scope Score.
| Subgroup · ELA | Tested | MET+ | vs district | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socioeconomically Disadvantaged | 543 | 57.2% | +16 | +19 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 569 | 59.0% | +18 | +20 |
| English Learners | 65 | 12.3% | +5 | +2 |
03Peer comparison · nearest middle schoolssorted by Scope Score
| School | Dist | Scope | EXC | MET+ | Growth | Susp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex ← | — | 44 | 14.8% | 42.7% | −0.9 | 1.0% |
| Magnolia Science Academy 6 | 2.4 mi | 53 | 22.9% | 48.2% | +13.4 | 3.7% |
| Rise Kohyang Middle | 1.8 mi | 45 | 18.5% | 40.9% | +3.2 | 0.5% |
| Virgil Middle | 2.6 mi | 44 | 21.5% | 42.5% | −8.5 | 0.5% |
| California average | — | 40 | 16.8% | 39.3% | +1.5 | 3.7% |
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
Scope Score history
2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · no testing 2020–21 (COVID) · rank #1112 → #908 → #1025 → #942 → #841
What we can't show
- — Scored here as a middle school — other grade spans appear in the data appendix.
Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,238 middle schools · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue
Frequently asked questions
Is Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex a good middle school?
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex has a Scope Score of 44 out of 100, placing it in the 62nd percentile of California middle schools and ranked #841 statewide. 14.8% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 2.0 percentage points below the California average of 16.8%. The Scope Score weights six dimensions for middle schools: exceeded standard (43%), met or exceeded (22%), grade 3-to-5 growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%), and suspension rate (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What are Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex's CAASPP test scores?
On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 42.7% of students at Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 14.8% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 27.9% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 14.8% pushed past it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it reveals whether a school's curriculum challenges students beyond minimum proficiency or paces toward it. 880 student-subject combinations were assessed.
How does Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex rank in California?
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex ranks #841 among California middle schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 62nd percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 6 to grade 8 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.
Is Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex getting better or worse?
Based on 2025 CAASPP data, proficiency at Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex decreases by 0.9 percentage points from Grade 6 to grade 8 growth. This downward pattern doesn't necessarily mean the school is failing — it can reflect cohort differences, demographic shifts, or curriculum changes. A campus visit and conversation with teachers can reveal what the numbers can't. Growth trajectory is weighted at 15% in the middle Scope Score because it measures what the school does, not just who walks in the door.
What is the attendance and school culture like at Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex?
12.4% of students at Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 18.5%. The suspension rate is 1.0%, indicating a low-discipline-incident environment. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.
How does Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex compare to other schools in Los Angeles?
Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex scores 44/100 (62nd percentile) among California middle schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 1,031 students. Use the schools in Los Angeles page or the map view to compare all middle schools nearby.
How does Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex serve low-income and underrepresented students?
At Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex in Los Angeles, 57.2% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 40.9% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Alliance Gertz-Ressler Richard Merkin 6-12 Complex outperforms its district average for low-income students by 16.3 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (31.2% Math proficient); Hispanic students (59.0% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 47.3 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 543 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.