School Profile · Los Angeles
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy: This school runs ahead of the state average. The bar itself is the harder conversation.
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy posts 43% meeting the standard against 36% statewide — ahead of most, with real headroom above the bar.
12628 Avalon Boulevard, 90061 (opens in new tab)·Los Angeles Unified·Los Angeles·Grades 9-12·546 students·92% low-income·Charter·2024–25 CAASPP·(323) 756-3930·Website
Charter school — publicly funded, independently operated, open enrollment via lottery. Learn more
Scope Score
50
🌱 Building Momentum · Developing
ranked #802 statewide · #97 of 240 in Los Angeles Unified
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy scores 50 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 63rd percentile of 2,160 California high 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. Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy 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: 62.8% of low-income students met the ELA standard — versus 38.2% for the same group statewide.
As a charter, Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy enrolls by application, not address — the score reads the same, the enrollment path doesn't.
62.8%
Low-income · ELA · met standard
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy's most underrated number
62.8% 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.
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy low-income: 62.8%State low-income: 38.2%
The 4 things our score weighs
Exceeded standard
18.6%
State 15.8%
2.8pp above state avg
Met or exceeded
43.0%
State 35.7%
7.3pp above state avg
Chronic absenteeism
26.3%
State 30.2%
3.9pp below state avg
Suspension rate
0.6%
State 3.6%
3.1pp 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 Feeder Path
Elementary
▼
Middle
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High School
Animo Watts College Preparator…
50/100
This school
Estimated path based on proximity within the same district. Contact your school district for official feeder information.
Your other options
Nearby High Schools
3 within ~3 mi · avg 64
Middle College High
Los Angeles Unified · 1.3 mi
Solid
70/100
King/Drew Medical Magnet High
Los Angeles Unified · 1.2 mi
Solid
62/100
Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High
Los Angeles Unified · 2 mi
Solid
59/100
Nearby Elementary Schools
3 within ~3 mi · avg 59
Laurel Street Elementary
Compton Unified · 2.1 mi
Solid
61/100
Tibby Elementary
Compton Unified · 1.6 mi
Solid
59/100
Ronald E. McNair Elementary
Compton Unified · 1 mi
Solid
56/100
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
Hispanic86.3%
White0.6%
Asian0.2%
Black10.1%
Other2.9%
GenderFemale 48.5%Male 51.5%
Low IncomeFree/reduced lunch eligible 92.5% (29pp above CA avg)
Resources & Access
Enrollment
546
904 below CA avg (~1,450)
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
2 fewer 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 Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy in Los Angeles, 62.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 40.9% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy outperforms its district average for low-income students by 21.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (24.0% Math proficient); Hispanic students (66.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 41.8 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 121 students tested.
Equity Gaps
ELA · Disabilities−41.8pp
21.7% vs 63.6% overall · n=23
3 more gaps by subject
ELA Exceeded · Disabilities−28.7pp
0.0% vs 28.7% overall · n=23
Math · Disabilities−22.5pp
0.0% vs 22.5% overall · n=23
Math Exceeded · Disabilities−8.5pp
0.0% vs 8.5% overall · n=23
Subgroups with fewer than 15 students are excluded for privacy. Gaps of less than 3 percentage points are not shown.
Subgroup Proficiency
Low-Income121 tested
ELA 62.8%·Math 24.0%· +21.9pp vs district
Hispanic113 tested
ELA 66.4%·Math 24.8%· +25.3pp vs district
Disabilities23 tested
ELA 21.7%·Math 0.0%· +5.6pp vs district
Weighted average across tested grades. Subgroups with fewer than 15 students excluded. Data: CDE CAASPP 2024-25.
Funding Breakdown
Neighborhood Context
Median Income
$61K
$24K below CA median
Median Home Value
$602K
$58K below CA median
Bachelor's+
12%
23pp 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
9.3 years avg experience
30 teachers · 7% first-year · 3% second-year
Teacher Credentials
84% fully credentialed
4.0% on intern/emergency permit
AP Courses Offered
19 AP courses
89 students qualified via AP exam
Sources: CDE SARC · CDE College/Career Indicator, 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 · 22%
18.6%
↑ vs CA 15.8% · 53th pctile
Met or exceeded · 18%
43.0%
↑ vs CA 35.7% · 55th pctile
Chronic absenteeism · 5%
26.3%
↑ vs CA 30.2% · 53th pctile
Suspension rate · 5%
0.6%
↑ vs CA 3.6% · 64th pctile
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
| ELA | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 11 | 129 | 29% | 35% | 22% | 15% | 64% | +16 |
| Math | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 11 | 129 | 9% | 14% | 27% | 50% | 22% | −1 |
| Science (CAST) | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5/8/11 | 130 | 4% | 32% | 60% | 4% |
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 | 121 | 62.8% | +22 | +25 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 113 | 66.4% | +25 | +28 |
| Students with Disabilities | 23 | 21.7% | +6 | +5 |
03Peer comparison · nearest high schoolssorted by Scope Score
| School | Dist | Scope | EXC | MET+ | Growth | Susp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy ← | — | 50 | 18.6% | 43.0% | — | 0.6% |
| Middle College High | 1.3 mi | 70 | 42.9% | 79.9% | — | 0.5% |
| King/Drew Medical Magnet High | 1.2 mi | 62 | 24.4% | 57.0% | — | 0.3% |
| Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Technology Academy High | 2 mi | 59 | 24.7% | 53.7% | — | 0.5% |
| California average | — | 44 | 15.8% | 35.7% | — | 3.6% |
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
AP Exam Prepared
Not offered
This school may not offer AP courses
Scope Score history
2019 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · no testing 2020–21 (COVID) · rank #1331 → #1386 → #1230 → #919 → #802
Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=2,160 high schools · Data updated 2026-07-03methodology · data updates · CSV · report issue
Frequently asked questions
Is Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy a good high school?
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy has a Scope Score of 50 out of 100, placing it in the 63rd percentile of California high schools and ranked #802 statewide. 18.6% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 2.8 percentage points above the California average of 15.8%. The Scope Score weights six dimensions for high 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 Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy's CAASPP test scores?
On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 43.0% of students at Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 18.6% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 24.4% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 18.6% 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. 258 student-subject combinations were assessed.
How does Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy rank in California?
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy ranks #802 among California high schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 63rd percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), 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.
What is the attendance and school culture like at Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy?
26.3% of students at Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), which is better than the California average of 30.2%. The suspension rate is 0.6%, 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 Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy compare to other schools in Los Angeles?
Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy scores 50/100 (63rd percentile) among California high 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 546 students. Use the schools in Los Angeles page or the map view to compare all high schools nearby.
How does Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy serve low-income and underrepresented students?
At Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy in Los Angeles, 62.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 40.9% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. Animo Watts College Preparatory Academy outperforms its district average for low-income students by 21.9 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (24.0% Math proficient); Hispanic students (66.4% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 41.8 percentage points for disabilities students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 121 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.