Imperial Elementary

Imperial Elementary is one of the average-sized elementary-level communitys in Downey, California, one of the schools within Downey Unified, with 653 students on its rolls from grades K through 3. Compared to the state average of about 465 students per school, that is 40% above typical.

Imperial Elementary is one of 21 schools operated by Downey Unified, a district that instructs 22,405 students overall.

On the student-mix side, Imperial Elementary reports that nearly all students (89%) are Hispanic. The remainder reads as 6% White, 3% Asian. By comparison, Los Angeles County as a whole is about 48% Hispanic, so the school skews visibly more Hispanic than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Imperial Elementary logs 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 23.3:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 22.3:1, putting Imperial Elementary higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 76% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Imperial Elementary tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 34.4% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 45.5%.

In the broader community, Los Angeles County reports that median household earnings sit near $90,112, roughly 36% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Imperial Elementary is one of 2244 public schools in Los Angeles County (combined enrollment of about 1,265,907 students).

The closest other public school is Sussman (Edward A.) Middle, roughly 0.5 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools. On composite proficiency, Imperial Elementary comes 4th of 9 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 42.0%.

Imperial Elementary operates from a residential location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Imperial Elementary has rose 20%, going from 543 students in 2018 to 653 in 2025.

Within the allk12 community for this school, members of the Imperial Elementary community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.