Fern Elementary

Summary:

Fern Elementary is a public elementary school in Torrance, California, serving 465 students in grades K-5. It is part of the Torrance Unified School District, which is ranked 191 out of 1,568 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Fern Elementary consistently ranks in the top 20-25% of California elementary schools, with 60-65% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics, slightly below the district average. The school performs particularly well for its English Language Learner, Hispanic, and low-income students, ranking in the top 5-15% of California schools for these subgroups. However, the school's performance for Asian and White students is relatively lower, ranking in the middle to bottom half of California schools for these subgroups. Additionally, Fern Elementary has seen a steady increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 6.5% in 2017-2018 to 18.2% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the district average.

Overall, Fern Elementary appears to be a high-performing school within the Torrance Unified School District, with particular strengths in supporting the academic achievement of English Language Learners, Hispanic, and low-income students. However, the school should continue to monitor and address the rising chronic absenteeism rates and explore ways to ensure equitable access and support for all student subgroups.


Detail:

Public K-5

 1314 Fern Ave.
       Torrance, CA  90503-6125


(310) 533-4506

District: Torrance Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
1120th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $4,850 Help


Students who attend Fern Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Madrona Middle
High:    Torrance High

Student/teacher ratio:  26.7 Help
Number of students:  482

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
41.9%
White:
25.1%
Asian:
21.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  41.9% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Fern Elementary ranks better than 80.9% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 12th among 17 ranked elementary schools in the Torrance Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 80.88. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Fern Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (41.9%), White (25.1%), Asian (21%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 41.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Fern Elementary is 26.7. 14 elementary schools in the Torrance Unified School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Fern Elementary employs 18 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Fern Elementary is $4,850. 14 elementary schools in the Torrance Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Fern Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Fern Elementary 1120th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Fern Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Torrance Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Torrance Unified 191st of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Fern Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 80.55 873rd 4809 81.8%
2005 77.23 1042nd 4822 78.4%
2006 72.56 1235th 4818 74.4%
2007 59.69 1843rd 5113 64.0%
2008 70.07 1395th 5113 72.7%
2009 68.53 1504th 5193 71.0%
2010 67.67 1584th 5314 70.2%
2011 78.93 1064th 5377 80.2%
2012 76.45 1204th 5390 77.7%
2013 69.44 1600th 5530 71.1%
2015 64.07 1748th 5611 68.8%
2016 68.90 1574th 5614 72.0%
2017 70.86 1527th 5692 73.2%
2018 78.18 1216th 5662 78.5%
2019 74.95 1380th 5789 76.2%
2022 82.11 1092nd 5883 81.4%
2023 82.79 1063rd 5874 81.9%
2024 80.88 1120th 5862 80.9%
See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 83.05 286th 3246 91.2%
2019 84.61 256th 3275 92.2%
2022 90.09 159th 3311 95.2%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 78.07 378th 2634 85.6%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.53 841st 5084 83.5%
2019 27.02 4095th 5173 20.8%
2022 87.05 462nd 5264 91.2%
2023 78.01 849th 5374 84.2%
2024 76.44 993rd 5511 82.0%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 76.70 1208th 5413 77.7%
2019 77.74 1188th 5492 78.4%
2022 82.01 1015th 5635 82.0%
2023 81.61 1033rd 5617 81.6%
2024 78.20 1160th 5605 79.3%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 60.12 726th 2585 71.9%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 75.93 1226th 5431 77.4%
2019 67.47 1617th 5510 70.7%
2022 79.33 1131st 5663 80.0%
2023 80.99 1047th 5650 81.5%
2024 79.49 1091st 5636 80.6%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.97 519th 1071 51.5%
2019 35.98 853rd 1149 25.8%
2022 54.42 670th 1154 41.9%
2023 73.17 321st 1190 73.0%
2024 50.61 749th 1203 37.7%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.99 773rd 4830 84.0%
2019 66.59 1315th 4963 73.5%
2022 85.40 532nd 5084 89.5%
2023 83.63 592nd 5098 88.4%
2024 81.90 647th 5102 87.3%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Fern Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 58.04 1259th 2737 54.0%
2019 57.91 1286th 2834 54.6%
2022 67.07 909th 2726 66.7%
2023 66.07 930th 2662 65.1%
2024 65.03 958th 2647 63.8%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Fern Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Fern Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 350 6 52 73 0 n/a n/a 0 481
1989 341 1 64 67 0 n/a n/a 0 473
1990 334 9 62 70 0 n/a n/a 0 475
1991 305 16 69 94 0 n/a n/a 0 484
1992 326 15 60 108 0 n/a n/a 0 509
1993 330 8 69 111 2 n/a n/a 0 520
1994 296 17 79 116 0 n/a n/a 0 508
1995 286 19 86 117 6 n/a n/a 0 514
1996 286 19 86 117 6 n/a n/a 0 514
1997 295 26 86 136 8 n/a n/a 0 551
1998 291 25 99 145 7 n/a n/a 0 567
1999 313 24 118 161 6 n/a n/a 0 622
2000 303 22 135 157 9 n/a n/a 0 626
2001 283 18 135 166 12 n/a n/a 0 614
2002 243 20 139 168 11 n/a n/a 0 581
2003 243 20 139 168 11 n/a n/a 0 581
2004 240 20 148 167 12 n/a n/a 2 589
2005 217 18 162 168 9 n/a n/a 4 578
2006 220 14 159 175 6 n/a n/a 8 582
2007 184 11 147 161 5 n/a n/a 57 565
2008 168 8 138 140 4 n/a n/a 0 458
2009 153 5 127 119 5 5 108 0 522
2010 166 11 120 146 2 4 62 0 511
2011 150 13 104 149 2 3 58 0 479
2012 143 12 112 168 3 8 52 0 498
2013 135 12 108 187 1 8 52 0 503
2014 144 19 125 212 3 9 60 0 572
2015 145 18 125 228 1 4 56 0 577
2016 148 20 136 218 2 4 58 0 586
2017 148 21 127 244 1 3 54 0 598
2018 130 24 126 260 1 2 55 0 598
2019 145 19 138 237 1 0 45 0 585
2020 134 11 129 235 1 0 51 0 561
2021 125 10 119 234 1 0 48 0 537
2022 119 5 111 223 1 0 42 0 501
2023 117 6 96 207 0 2 37 0 465
2024 121 8 101 202 3 3 44 0 482

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Fern Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 481 16.0 30.0 n/a
1989 473 16.0 29.5 n/a
1990 475 16.0 29.6 n/a
1991 484 17.0 28.4 n/a
1992 509 17.3 29.4 20.2
1993 520 18.0 28.9 22.7
1994 508 18.5 27.5 28.7
1995 514 20.5 25.1 31.1
1996 514 20.5 25.1 31.1
1997 551 21.0 26.2 31.2
1998 567 26.0 21.8 28.9
1999 622 29.5 21.1 30.1
2000 626 31.0 20.2 26.2
2001 614 30.5 20.1 25.6
2002 581 29.5 19.7 21
2003 581 29.5 19.7 21
2004 589 30.0 19.6 21
2005 578 28.0 20.6 23.3
2006 582 27.0 21.6 24.9
2007 565 26.0 21.7 20.5
2008 458 28.0 16.4 27.7
2009 522 24.0 19.3 27.2
2010 511 22.0 23.2 31.1
2011 479 n/a n/a 32.8
2012 498 19.5 25.5 n/a
2013 503 19.2 26.1 36
2014 572 20.0 28.6 34.6
2015 577 22.0 26.2 36.4
2016 586 22.0 26.6 38.2
2017 598 23.0 26.0 35.1
2018 598 23.0 26.0 42.8
2019 585 22.0 26.5 39.3
2020 561 n/a n/a 34.4
2021 537 21.8 24.5 35.4
2022 501 20.0 25.0 27.1
2023 465 18.0 25.8 26.7
2024 482 18.0 26.7 41.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Fern Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 481 16.0 30.0 n/a
1989 473 16.0 29.5 n/a
1990 475 16.0 29.6 n/a
1991 484 17.0 28.4 n/a
1992 509 17.3 29.4 20.2
1993 520 18.0 28.9 22.7
1994 508 18.5 27.5 28.7
1995 514 20.5 25.1 31.1
1996 514 20.5 25.1 31.1
1997 551 21.0 26.2 31.2
1998 567 26.0 21.8 28.9
1999 622 29.5 21.1 30.1
2000 626 31.0 20.2 26.2
2001 614 30.5 20.1 25.6
2002 581 29.5 19.7 21
2003 581 29.5 19.7 21
2004 589 30.0 19.6 21
2005 578 28.0 20.6 23.3
2006 582 27.0 21.6 24.9
2007 565 26.0 21.7 20.5
2008 458 28.0 16.4 27.7
2009 522 24.0 19.3 27.2
2010 511 22.0 23.2 31.1
2011 479 n/a n/a 32.8
2012 498 19.5 25.5 n/a
2013 503 19.2 26.1 36
2014 572 20.0 28.6 34.6
2015 577 22.0 26.2 36.4
2016 586 22.0 26.6 38.2
2017 598 23.0 26.0 35.1
2018 598 23.0 26.0 42.8
2019 585 22.0 26.5 39.3
2020 561 n/a n/a 34.4
2021 537 21.8 24.5 35.4
2022 501 20.0 25.0 27.1
2023 465 18.0 25.8 26.7
2024 482 18.0 26.7 41.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Fern Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPolioHepatitis BVaricellaDTPMMR
201290.0%2.0%0.0%8.0%97.0%97.0%95.0%95.0%90.0%
201392.0%1.0%0.0%7.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%99.0%92.0%
201492.0%4.0%0.0%4.0%96.0%96.0%93.0%96.0%93.0%
201592.0%3.0%0.0%6.0%96.0%97.0%96.0%96.0%95.0%
201695.0%4.0%0.0%2.0%96.0%96.0%96.0%96.0%96.0%
201792.0%1.0%0.0%7.0%98.0%97.0%98.0%97.0%98.0%
2018≥99.0%≤1.0%≤1.0%≤1.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%
201995.0%1.0%4.0%98.0%≥99.0%≥99.0%97.0%≥99.0%
202098.2%0.9%0.9%
202198.0%0.0%2.0%98.0%98.0%

Data source: California Department of Public Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Fern Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $4,850

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Fern Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1380th of 5789 Elementary schoolsRanks 1063rd of 5874 Elementary schools
 5.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Fern Elementary)57.559.2
 1.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Torrance Unified)66.765.7
 1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.543
 5.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Fern Elementary)62.863.9
 1.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Torrance Unified)73.971.9
 2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (California)50.245.1
 5.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Fern Elementary)57.364.1
 6.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Torrance Unified)66.670.5
 3.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.543.7
 5.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Fern Elementary)57.164.1
 7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Torrance Unified)70.572.5
 2.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (California)44.940.8
 4.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Fern Elementary)67.966.7
 1.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Torrance Unified)70.470.6
 0.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.746.7
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Fern Elementary)59.848
 11.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Torrance Unified)65.764.4
 1.4%
   5th Grade Mathematics (California)3833.4
 4.6%
5th Grade Science (Fern Elementary)41.152.1
 10.9%
   5th Grade Science (Torrance Unified)52.453.4
 1.1%
   5th Grade Science (California)31.731.9
 0.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students585465
 20.5%
African American196
 68.4%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian13896
 30.4%
Hispanic237207
 12.7%
Pacific Islander02
White145117
 19.3%
Two or More Races4537
 17.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients39.3%26.7%
 12.6%


Schools Near Fern Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Fern Elementary

Students at Fern Elementary are 42% Hispanic, 25% White, 21% Asian, 9% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Fern Elementary ranks 1120th of 5862 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 482 students attended Fern Elementary.

Students who attend Fern Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Madrona Middle
High : Torrance High


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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