Canyon Charter Elementary

Charter School 391 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Canyon Charter Elementary, located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Santa Monica, is a highly regarded independent charter school within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Known for its strong sense of community and academic rigor, the school serves students in grades K–5. It is frequently recognized for its high standardized test scores, dedicated parent involvement, and a curriculum that balances core academic subjects with enrichment programs in areas like music, visual arts, and physical education.

The school operates with a unique charter model that allows for more localized autonomy in its programming and budget management compared to traditional district schools. A hallmark of the Canyon Charter experience is its emphasis on the "Canyon Way," a philosophy that promotes character development, personal responsibility, and a supportive social-emotional environment. Because it is a sought-after school, it maintains a competitive enrollment process, often drawing families who prioritize a tight-knit school culture and high levels of stakeholder engagement.

391

Total Students

17.0

Full-Time Teachers

23.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

15.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Canyon Charter Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	175
Hispanic	37
Black	4
Asian	16
Two or More	159

White
175 (44.8%)
Two or More
159 (40.7%)
Hispanic
37 (9.5%)
Asian
16 (4.1%)
Black
4 (1.0%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Los Angeles Unified
Phone:	(310)454-7510
Website:	http://canyoncharter.com
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	391
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	17.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	23.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	58
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	3

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 88

Grade 1 47

Grade 2 70

Grade 3 64

Grade 4 64

Grade 5 58