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Elementary Schools in Torrance, California: Torrance schools aren't just reaching proficiency — they're pushing students beyond it.

Above Average2024–25 data20 schools · avg 56.1/100

Torrance, California has 20 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 56.1/100 — 17.3 points above the state average of 38.8. The highest-scoring school is Walteria Elementary at 79/100, where 57.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Torrance schools average 36.9% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 20 schools, 5 Growth Engines and 2 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 10.7% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
56.1
State avg: 38.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
51.9
27.2 – 79.2
Avg Exceeded %
36.9%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
10.7%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
20
With Scope Scores
LevelSchoolsAvg ScoreExceededvs State
Elementary20Solid
56.1/100
36.9%+17.3
High5Solid
62.0/100
31.0%+15.5
Middle8Solid
60.1/100
35.5%+22.1

How Torrance schools compare

Torrance has 20 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 56.1/100 — 17.3 points above the state average of 38.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Walteria Elementary with a Scope Score of 79 and 57.6% of students exceeding standard.

These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Torrance schools average 36.9% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.

Chronic absenteeism in Torrance averages 10.7% — below the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

School archetypes in Torrance

5 Growth Engine4 Solid Base3 Culture First2 High Ceiling3 Building Momentum

Hidden gems: 7 schools in Torrance are classified as Growth Engine (5) or On the Rise (2) \u2014 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

For the data nerds

Every school in Torrance

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#SchoolExceededScore
1Walteria Elementary
Torrance Unified High Ceiling
57.6%Strong
79/100
2Anza Elementary
Torrance Unified High Ceiling
51.8%Strong
77/100
3West High
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
41.0%Strong
76/100
4Edward J. Richardson Middle
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
46.8%Strong
75/100
5South High
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
39.1%Strong
74/100
6North High
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
39.5%Strong
74/100
7Calle Mayor Middle
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
49.7%Strong
74/100
8Torrance High
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
35.7%Strong
74/100
9Towers Elementary
Torrance Unified Growth Engine
46.4%Strong
72/100
10Riviera Elementary
Torrance Unified Growth Engine
49.4%Strong
71/100
11Jefferson Middle
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
39.6%Solid
67/100
12Arlington Elementary
Torrance Unified Growth Engine
43.4%Solid
65/100
13Bert M. Lynn Middle
Torrance Unified Solid Base
41.6%Solid
64/100
14Hickory Elementary
Torrance Unified Solid Base
46.2%Solid
62/100
15Lincoln Elementary
Torrance Unified Solid Base
47.0%Solid
62/100
16Madrona Middle
Torrance Unified Growth Engine
29.4%Solid
59/100
17Joseph Arnold Elementary
Torrance Unified Strong All-Around
38.6%Solid
58/100
18Seaside Elementary
Torrance Unified Solid Base
48.0%Solid
57/100
19Victor Elementary
Torrance Unified Solid Base
38.2%Solid
55/100
20Casimir Middle
Torrance Unified Culture First
32.5%Solid
54/100
21Van Deene Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles Unified Growth Engine
31.7%Solid
53/100
22Fern Elementary
Torrance Unified On the Rise
32.1%Solid
53/100
23Evelyn Carr Elementary
Torrance Unified Growth Engine
27.3%Solid
51/100
24Halldale Elementary
Los Angeles Unified On the Rise
30.1%Developing
50/100
25Howard Wood Elementary
Torrance Unified Culture First
29.6%Developing
48/100
26Edison Elementary
Torrance Unified Culture First
27.5%Developing
47/100
27Philip Magruder Middle
Torrance Unified Building Momentum
23.9%Developing
47/100
28John Adams Elementary
Torrance Unified Building Momentum
30.1%Developing
47/100
29Yukon Elementary
Torrance Unified Culture First
28.1%Developing
43/100
30Torrance Elementary
Torrance Unified Building Momentum
22.9%Developing
43/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 33 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools · Download this data (CSV)

Free to download, CC BY 4.0 with attribution.

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 Torrance

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Torrance good?
Torrance's 20 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 56.1/100, which is 17.3 points above the state average. 36.9% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best elementary school in Torrance?
The highest-scoring elementary school in Torrance is Walteria Elementary with a Scope Score of 79/100 and 57.6% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.
How do Torrance schools compare to the state average?
Torrance elementary schools average a Scope Score of 56.1/100 — 17.3 points above the state average of 38.8. The exceeded rate averages 36.9% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 10.7% vs. 17.9% statewide.
How many schools are in Torrance?
Torrance has 20 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.