Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 778 schools in district

Katherine Johnson STEM Academy

8701 Parkhill Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90045Los Angeles Unified →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
106
Students
Total enrolled
$25,983
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 81% vs nat'l
12.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 20% vs nat'l
28/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 44% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 106 students in grades 06–08 in Los Angeles, California.
81% above average funding
District spends $25,983 per pupil, 81% more than the national average of $14,347.
Low opportunity neighborhood
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 28th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Katherine Johnson STEM Academy is a small middle in Los Angeles, California, serving grades 06–08 with 106 students. The district invests $25,983 per student — 81% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 50% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. A neighborhood opportunity score of 28/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Katherine Johnson STEM Academy

106
Total Students
12.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
50%
Free Lunch
9
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility50%
National avg 52% · 53 students
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 062271014113

Academic Outcomes at Katherine Johnson STEM Academy

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
28
/ 100
Low opportunity neighborhood

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 28th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 1th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 90045

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$25,983Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$25,983
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$11,433
Student Support$4,937
Administration$3,118
Operations$3,897
Other$2,598
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $25,983 spent per student, an estimated $11,511 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
54%
26%
State government
54.5%
Local (property tax)
26.4%
Federal programs
19.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $25,983/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (28/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Middle
Alfred B. Nobel Charter MiddleGeorge Ellery Hale Charter AcademyThomas Starr King Middle School Film and Media MagnetPaul Revere Charter Middle
↓
High School
Grover Cleveland Charter HighSan Pedro Senior HighNorth Hollywood Senior HighPhineas Banning Senior High
+20 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyLos Angeles County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictLos Angeles Unified →
Phone: (323)673-1230
NCES ID: 062271014113
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Los Angeles seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Los Angeles Unified
High
Grover Cleveland Charter High
2,781 students · 09–12
● 46 opp68% FRL
High
San Pedro Senior High
2,582 students · 09–12
● 42 opp67% FRL
High
North Hollywood Senior High
2,489 students · 09–12
● 44 opp70% FRL
High
Phineas Banning Senior High
2,486 students · 09–12
● 48 opp93% FRL
High
Bell Senior High
2,351 students · 09–12
● 42 opp95% FRL
High
Van Nuys Senior High
2,323 students · 09–12
● 43 opp84% FRL
High
Alexander Hamilton Senior High
2,259 students · 09–12
● 53 opp74% FRL
High
James A. Garfield Senior High
2,247 students · 09–12
● 42 opp96% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
8701 Parkhill Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90045
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.