Top Rankings
Downey Unified School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in California for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 21 public schools serving 22,405 students in Downey Unified School District. This district's average testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public schools in California.
Public Schools in Downey Unified School District have an average math proficiency score of 34% (versus the California public school average of 35%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 47% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 95% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the California public school average of 80% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (CA)
# Schools
21 Schools
10,323 Schools
# Students
22,405 Students
5,788,587 Students
# Teachers
947 Teachers
267,491 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
24:1
24:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Downey Unified School District, which is ranked #712 of all 1,903 school districts in California (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#668 out of 1932 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
35%
34%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
47%
47%
Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
25%
29%
Graduation Rate
95%
86.2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)31.2%
27.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.21
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
Showing 1992–2001. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
2%
12%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
89%
56%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
3%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
5%
20%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $23,855 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,022. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,704 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$535 MM
$150,628 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$486 MM
$130,845 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$23,855
$26,022
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$21,704
$22,604
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Downey Unified School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Unsworth (Edith) Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9001 Lindsey Ave.
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3576
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3576
Gr: K-5 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #22.
Price (Maude) Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9525 South Tweedy Ln.
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3575
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3575
Gr: K-5 | 757 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #33.
Woodruff Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
12330 Woodruff Ave.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3552
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3552
Gr: 7-12 | 14 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #44.
Downey High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
11040 Brookshire Ave.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 869-7301
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 869-7301
Gr: 9-12 | 4,051 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #55.
Williams (Spencer V.) Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7530 East Arnett St.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3564
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3564
Gr: K-3 | 736 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #66.
Rio San Gabriel Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9338 Gotham St.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3567
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3567
Gr: K-5 | 747 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #77.
Old River Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
11995 Old River School Rd.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3561
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3561
Gr: 4-5 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #88.
Gallatin Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9513 Brookshire Ave.
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3583
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3583
Gr: K-5 | 788 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #99.
Rio Hondo Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
7731 East Muller St.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3568
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3568
Gr: K-5 | 838 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1010.
Lewis (Ed C.) Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
13220 South Bellflower Blvd.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3590
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3590
Gr: K-5 | 810 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #1111.
Imperial Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8133 Imperial Hwy.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3578
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3578
Gr: K-3 | 653 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1212.
Alameda Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8613 East Alameda St.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3589
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3589
Gr: K-5 | 744 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1313.
Griffiths (Gordon) Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
9633 Tweedy Ln.
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3580
Downey, CA 90240
(562) 904-3580
Gr: 6-8 | 1,264 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1414.
Warren (Earl) High School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
8141 De Palma St.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 869-7306
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 869-7306
Gr: 9-12 | 3,609 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1515.
Stauffer (Mary R.) Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
11985 Old River School Rd.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3565
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3565
Gr: 6-8 | 1,329 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1616.
Carpenter (C. C.) Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 48% )
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
9439 East Foster Rd.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3588
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3588
Gr: K-5 | 796 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1717.
Doty (Wendy Lopour) Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10301 South Woodruff Ave.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3586
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3586
Gr: 6-8 | 1,304 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1818.
Sussman (Edward A.) Middle School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
12500 Birchdale Ave.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3572
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3572
Gr: 6-8 | 1,240 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1919.
Ward (E. W.) Elementary School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8851 East Adoree St.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3591
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3591
Gr: K-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2020.
Gauldin (A.l.) Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
9724 Spry St.
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3582
Downey, CA 90242
(562) 904-3582
Gr: K-5 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2121.
Columbus (Christopher) High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
12330 Woodruff Ave.
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3552
Downey, CA 90241
(562) 904-3552
Gr: 9-12 | 368 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Downey Unified School District?
Downey Unified School District manages 21 public schools serving 22,405 students.
What is the rank of Downey Unified School District?
Downey Unified School District is ranked #712 out of 1,903 school districts in California (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of California school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 5%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Downey Unified School District?
89% of Downey Unified School District students are Hispanic, 5% of students are White, 3% of students are Black, 2% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Downey Unified School District?
Downey Unified School District has a student/teacher ratio of 24:1, which is higher than the California state average of 22:1.
What is Downey Unified School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $21,704 is less than the state median of $22,604. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
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