Bell Gardens’s public schools score below 68% of California districts on tests and graduation
Math proficiency in Bell Gardens’s districts is 18%, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Bell Gardens, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.
From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Bell Gardens’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 402 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bell Gardens’s, its schools beat 25%, lower than their 32% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 34% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
80% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $24,212 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
Four elementary schools, then two middle and one high school
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 17% since 2020–21. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
St. Gertrude School (private) and Heritage Christian School - Bell Gardens (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Bell Gardens’s grade
C: better than 32% of California school districts, #739 of 847 California towns. Both inputs trail the California average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bell Gardens, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Bell Gardens · depends on your address
Bell Gardens Intermediate
Grades 6–8 · 790 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Suva Intermediate
Grades 6–8 · 650 students · 23:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Bell Gardens · depends on your address
Bell Gardens Intermediate
Grades 6–8 · 790 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Suva Intermediate
Grades 6–8 · 650 students · 23:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Bell Gardens · depends on your address
Bell Gardens Intermediate
Grades 6–8 · 790 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Suva Intermediate
Grades 6–8 · 650 students · 23:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Bell Gardens
Bell Gardens High
Grades 9–12 · 2,046 students · 19:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Bell Gardens
Bell Gardens High
Grades 9–12 · 2,046 students · 19:1 students per teacher
11th grade in Bell Gardens
Bell Gardens High
Grades 9–12 · 2,046 students · 19:1 students per teacher
12th grade in Bell Gardens
Bell Gardens High
Grades 9–12 · 2,046 students · 19:1 students per teacher
Bell Gardens’s public schools are run by Montebello Unified School District, which also serves Bell, Commerce, Montebello and Monterey Park. Parts of Bell Gardens (5% and 3% of its land) are served by Downey Unified and Los Angeles Unified instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Bell Gardens vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the California towns that share Bell Gardens’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Bell Gardens | C | Montebello Unified |
| Bell | B− | Los Angeles Unified K–12 · Montebello Unified K–12 |
| Commerce | C | Montebello Unified |
| Cudahy | B− | Los Angeles Unified |
| Downey | B+ | Downey Unified K–12 · Whittier Union High 9–12 |
2 of the 4 neighbors share Montebello Unified with Bell Gardens, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Bell Gardens
9 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Bell Gardens’s schools
Are Bell Gardens’s schools good?
On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Bell Gardens children attend score below 68% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #739 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 25%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Bell Gardens in?
Montebello Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 19,149 students in 29 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Bell Gardens are served by Downey Unified and Los Angeles Unified.
Where do Bell Gardens kids go to high school?
Bell Gardens High, with 2,046 students; its own test results earn a B−.
What is Bell Gardens’s graduation rate?
80% of the class of 2023 in Montebello Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.
How much does Bell Gardens spend per student?
$24,212 in Montebello Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Bell Gardens?
Yes: St. Gertrude School (Catholic, grades K–8, 270 students) and Heritage Christian School - Bell Gardens (religious, grades 1–12, 33 students).
Parents talk
What Bell Gardens families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bell Gardens → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.