Schools in 90242 — Downey, California: 8 schools. Average score 3.5 points below the state. Here is what that number does — and doesn't — tell you.
90242 has 8 ranked schools in Downey, averaging a Scope Score of 41.4/100 — 3.5 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025). Scores range from 8.8 to 50.3, a 41.5-point spread.
How 90242 schools perform
The top-ranked school is Carpenter (C. C.) Elementary with a Scope Score of 50 and 21.6% of students exceeding standard.
Average proficiency falls 4.6 percentage points from grade 3 to grade 5 across 90242. This pattern in test scores may reflect a variety of factors and is worth examining school by school.
Chronic absenteeism across 90242 averages 20.8%, above the state average of 17.9%. CDE CAASPP 2025.
How 90242 compares to nearby zip codes
| Zip | City | Schools | Avg Score | vs 90242 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90242 | Downey | 8 | Developing 41.4/100 | — |
| 90241 | Downey | 6 | Developing 47.2/100 | +5.8 |
| 90240 | Downey | 4 | Solid 51.4/100 | +10.0 |
| 90245 | El Segundo | 8 | Solid 58.8/100 | +17.5 |
| 90247 | Gardena | 7 | Developing 44.7/100 | +3.3 |
| 90248 | Gardena | 4 | Developing 34.4/100 | -7.0 |
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
School archetypes in 90242
Hidden gems: 1 school in 90242 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
All schools in 90242
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carpenter (C. C.) Elementary Downey Unified Culture First | 21.6% | Solid 50/100 |
| 2 | Ward (E. W.) Elementary Downey Unified Growth Engine | 20.2% | Developing 50/100 |
| 3 | Lewis (Ed C.) Elementary Downey Unified Building Momentum | 31.6% | Developing 49/100 |
| 4 | Alameda Elementary Downey Unified Building Momentum | 22.7% | Developing 47/100 |
| 5 | Gauldin (A.L.) Elementary Downey Unified Building Momentum | 13.2% | Developing 46/100 |
| 6 | Stauffer (Mary R.) Middle Downey Unified Building Momentum | 18.8% | Developing 43/100 |
| 7 | Sussman (Edward A.) Middle Downey Unified Building Momentum | 14.0% | Developing 37/100 |
| 8 | Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Los Angeles County Office of Education Building Momentum | 2.9% | Needs Support 9/100 |
Schools in 90242 on the map
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.
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