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GreatSchools Rating

Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School

Public | 6-8 | 983 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 14 ratings
2011:
Based on 7 ratings
2010:
Based on 5 ratings

Teacher quality

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Parent involvement

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84 reviews of this school


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Posted February 24, 2005

This is my daughters first year at Emerson as a 6th grader. I have no problems at this point. I would like to state that there does not seem to be enought discipline in the classrooms. The teachers dont seem to do enough to keep the students from talking. Also it took my daughter 6 weeks to get her permanent teachers which in my opinion is poor planning. The school stated that they were not expecting so many students. Again, poor planning. However, the staff at this point does seem very supportive to your childs needs and will try to make the necessary changes when necessary.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 24, 2004

Our daughter has gotten a very good education in the GATE program at Emerson Middle School. She is now in 8th grade. We've been really pleased with the quality of Emerson's teachers generally and their efforts to provide more challenging assignments, curriculum and field trips. The drama program is excellent. The principal is top notch. She's dedicated to providing a quality education to all the students, maintains a firm oversight on safety and discipline issues, and works hard to make the school more appealing to neighborhood families while continuing to meet the needs of its diverse student population. There is a small but active parent group that raises supplemental funds (including for some facility improvement projects) and also develops school involvement opportunities. We wish more families would give this school a chance.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted June 24, 2004

I think the schoool needs a lot of improvements! They have a low number of graduates.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted June 16, 2004

Excellent teaching staff, organized school, good atmosphere. The students come first.
—Submitted by a teacher


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.

The API reflects year-over-year schools performance based on STAR test score results from spring 2012.

This school's
API score

754

Change from
2011 to 2012

+14

API Statewide Rank
(2011)

4 / 10

API Similar Schools Rank (2011)

2 / 10


API Growth scores over time

Did this school meet the API goal this year?
The state goal for API is 800. All schools that are below 800 are assigned an API improvement target each year.
  • This school met its schoolwide API target for 2012.
  • This school has not yet met the state goal of 800.

API Growth scores by subgroup

In addition to schoolwide API scores, each student subgroup receives an API score.
Did this school meet all the API goals for student subgroups this year?
The state goal for the API is 800. All the student subgroups at a school that are below 800 are assigned an API improvement target each year.
  • This school met all student subgroup API targets for 2012

This school's
API score

754

What is the API?
The Academic Performance Index (API) is a single number assigned to each school by the California Department of Education to measure overall school performance and improvement over time on statewide testing. The API ranges from 200 and 1000, with 800 as the state goal for all schools.
Change from
2011 to 2012

+14

Change from 2011 to 2012
Comparing the API Growth to the Base shows whether or not this school’s test score performance improved between Spring 2011 and Spring 2012. The API ranges between 200 and 1000, with 800 as the statewide goal for all schools. Schools scoring below an 800 are given at least a 5 point target for the next year.
API Statewide Rank
(2011)

4 / 10

API Statewide Rank (2011)
The API Statewide Rank ranges from 1 to 10. A rank of 10, for example, means that the school’s API fell into the top 10% of all schools in the state with a comparable grade range. The 2011 rank is based on results from tests students took in Spring 2011.
API Similar Schools Rank (2011)

2 / 10

API Similar Schools Rank (2011)
The API Similar Schools Rank ranges from 1 to 10. It shows how the school compares to other schools with similar student demographic profiles. The California Department of Education uses parent education level, poverty level, student ethnicity and other data to identify similar schools.
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 59% in 2012.

228 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
48%

2011

 
 
48%

2010

 
 
46%

2009

 
 
50%
Math

The state average for Math was 55% in 2012.

228 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
36%

2011

 
 
31%

2010

 
 
38%

2009

 
 
48%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

The state average for Algebra I was 86% in 2012.

29 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
76%

2011

 
 
81%

2010

 
 
73%

2009

 
 
89%
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 62% in 2012.

273 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
54%

2011

 
 
58%

2010

 
 
50%

2009

 
 
48%
Math

The state average for Math was 52% in 2012.

244 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
31%

2011

 
 
25%

2010

 
 
24%

2009

 
 
22%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

The state average for Algebra I was 49% in 2012.

36 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
53%

2011

 
 
54%

2010

 
 
31%

2009

 
 
35%
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 59% in 2012.

295 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
54%

2011

 
 
54%

2010

 
 
42%

2009

 
 
30%
General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards)

The state average for General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards) was 32% in 2012.

219 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
44%

2011

 
 
36%

2010

 
 
19%

2009

 
 
12%
Geometry

The state average for Geometry was 87% in 2012.

39 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
85%

2011

 
 
80%

2010

 
 
79%

2009

 
 
61%
History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative

The state average for History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative was 52% in 2012.

295 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
44%

2011

 
 
51%

2010

 
 
39%

2009

 
 
33%
Science

The state average for Science was 66% in 2012.

295 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
52%

2011

 
 
54%

2010

 
 
48%

2009

 
 
41%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

English Language Arts

All Students48%
Females58%
Males36%
African American48%
Asian67%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino29%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)85%
Economically disadvantaged32%
Non-economically disadvantaged73%
Students with disability12%
Students with no reported disability51%
English learner7%
Fluent-English proficient and English only53%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented94%
Parent education - not a high school graduate29%
Parent education - high school graduate20%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)59%
Parent education - college graduate50%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate94%
Parent education - declined to state40%

Math

All Students36%
Females42%
Males29%
African American25%
Asian50%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino23%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)70%
Economically disadvantaged22%
Non-economically disadvantaged58%
Students with disability12%
Students with no reported disability38%
English learner14%
Fluent-English proficient and English only39%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented77%
Parent education - not a high school graduate25%
Parent education - high school graduate5%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)41%
Parent education - college graduate35%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate74%
Parent education - declined to state32%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

All Students76%
Females68%
Malesn/a
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latinon/a
White (not Hispanic)88%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Non-economically disadvantaged82%
Students with no reported disability74%
English learnern/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only76%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented71%
Parent education - not a high school graduaten/a
Parent education - high school graduaten/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)n/a
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to state82%

English Language Arts

All Students54%
Females61%
Males48%
African American50%
Asian86%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino41%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)81%
Economically disadvantaged44%
Non-economically disadvantaged72%
Students with disability0%
Students with no reported disability61%
English learner4%
Fluent-English proficient and English only65%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented85%
Parent education - not a high school graduate43%
Parent education - high school graduate59%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)31%
Parent education - college graduate85%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate79%
Parent education - declined to state51%

Math

All Students31%
Females30%
Males32%
African American26%
Asian73%
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino20%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)60%
Economically disadvantaged27%
Non-economically disadvantaged40%
Students with disability3%
Students with no reported disability35%
English learner6%
Fluent-English proficient and English only37%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented82%
Parent education - not a high school graduate24%
Parent education - high school graduate24%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)21%
Parent education - college graduate48%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate57%
Parent education - declined to state30%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Algebra I

All Students53%
Females62%
Males40%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latinon/a
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)n/a
Economically disadvantaged50%
Non-economically disadvantaged57%
Students with disabilityn/a
Students with no reported disability53%
English learnern/a
Fluent-English proficient and English only54%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented77%
Parent education - not a high school graduaten/a
Parent education - high school graduaten/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)n/a
Parent education - college graduaten/a
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to state47%

English Language Arts

All Students54%
Females56%
Males49%
African American45%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino45%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)70%
Economically disadvantaged43%
Non-economically disadvantaged69%
Students with disability10%
Students with no reported disability58%
English learner17%
Fluent-English proficient and English only57%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented96%
Parent education - not a high school graduate45%
Parent education - high school graduate48%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)44%
Parent education - college graduate83%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate88%
Parent education - declined to state44%

General Mathematics (Grades 6 & 7 Standards)

All Students44%
Females43%
Males45%
African American25%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino48%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)48%
Economically disadvantaged47%
Non-economically disadvantaged38%
Students with disability3%
Students with no reported disability50%
English learner21%
Fluent-English proficient and English only47%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented92%
Parent education - not a high school graduate41%
Parent education - high school graduate37%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)42%
Parent education - college graduate47%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to state44%

Geometry

All Students85%
Females90%
Males79%
African Americann/a
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latinon/a
White (not Hispanic)95%
Economically disadvantagedn/a
Non-economically disadvantaged93%
Students with no reported disability85%
Fluent-English proficient and English only87%
Gifted and talented90%
Parent education - not a high school graduaten/a
Parent education - high school graduaten/a
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)n/a
Parent education - college graduate94%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduaten/a
Parent education - declined to state83%

History - Social Science Grade 8 Cumulative

All Students44%
Females46%
Males42%
African American36%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino33%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)73%
Economically disadvantaged34%
Non-economically disadvantaged59%
Students with disability7%
Students with no reported disability48%
English learner20%
Fluent-English proficient and English only47%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented86%
Parent education - not a high school graduate32%
Parent education - high school graduate45%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)26%
Parent education - college graduate76%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate88%
Parent education - declined to state35%

Science

All Students52%
Females53%
Males50%
African American41%
Asiann/a
Filipinon/a
Hispanic or Latino42%
American Indian or Alaska Nativen/a
Pacific Islandern/a
Samoann/a
Other Pacific Islandern/a
White (not Hispanic)73%
Economically disadvantaged40%
Non-economically disadvantaged69%
Students with disability3%
Students with no reported disability57%
English learner20%
Fluent-English proficient and English only55%
Migrant educationn/a
Gifted and talented93%
Parent education - not a high school graduate45%
Parent education - high school graduate58%
Parent education - some college (includes AA degree)44%
Parent education - college graduate79%
Parent education - graduate school/post graduate88%
Parent education - declined to state41%
Scale: % proficient or advanced

About the tests


In 2011-2012 California used the California Standards Tests (CSTs) to test students in English language arts in grades 2 through 11; math in grades 2 through 7; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs are standards-based tests, which means they measure how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California. The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the tests.

The different student groups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See California's state standards

Source: California Department of Education

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Hispanic or Latino 54% 49%
African American 22% 7%
White 16% 28%
Asian 5% 8%
Filipino 2% 3%
Multiple or No Response 1% 3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0% 1%
Pacific Islander 0% 1%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
English language learners 118%N/A24%
Students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch program 257%N/A52%
Source: 1 CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009
Source: 2 NCES, 2008-2009

Home languages of english learners

Language This school State average
Spanish 84% 85%
Farsi (Persian) 4% 0%
Korean 3% 1%
All other non-English languages 2% 1%
Filipino (Pilipino or Tagalog) 2% 1%
Arabic 1% 1%
French 1% 0%
Cantonese 0% 2%
Cebuano (Visayan) 0% 0%
Mandarin (Putonghua) 0% 1%
Portuguese 0% 0%
Rumanian 0% 0%
Russian 0% 0%
Urdu 0% 0%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2007-2008

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Average years teaching in district 11N/A11
Average years teaching 11N/A13
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009

Teacher credentials

  This school District averageState average
Full credential 94%N/A96%
Emergency credential or waiver 0%N/A2%
Source: CA Dept. of Education, 2008-2009
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

1650 Selby Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Website: Click here
Phone: (310) 234-3100

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