Public schools in Gardena, CA
15 open public schools with an address in Gardena, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
15
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,720
15 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
19.3:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
3
0 virtual
An overview of Gardena public schools
The federal directory lists 15 public schools in Gardena, CA: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high. The 15 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,720 students, an average of 515 per school. The largest campus is Gardena Senior High (1,343 students), and the largest elementary school is Denker Avenue Elementary (670).
Los Angeles Unified operates the most schools here (12), plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 19.3:1, lower than the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 87% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Gardena
Los Angeles Unified
Public school district
12 schools in Gardena · 784 total
Environmental Charter High - Gardena District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Gardena
Environmental Charter Middle - Gardena District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Gardena
New Millennium Secondary District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Gardena
Elementary schools in Gardena
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amestoy Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 623 | 20.1:1 | |
| Chapman Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 406 | 20.3:1 | |
| Denker Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 670 | 20.9:1 | |
| Gardena Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 398 | 20.9:1 | |
| One Hundred Eighty-Sixth Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 579 | 19.3:1 | |
| One Hundred Fifty-Sixth Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–06 | 353 | 20.8:1 | |
| One Hundred Fifty-Third Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 363 | 16.5:1 | |
| One Hundred Thirty-Fifth Street Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 554 | 20.5:1 | |
| Purche Avenue Elementary Los Angeles Unified | KG–05 | 373 | 17.8:1 |
Middle schools in Gardena
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Charter Middle - Gardena Environmental Charter Middle - Gardena District · Charter | 06–08 | 360 | 22.4:1 | |
| Robert E. Peary Middle Los Angeles Unified | 06–08 | 1,082 | 18.6:1 |
High schools in Gardena
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Charter High - Gardena Environmental Charter High - Gardena District · Charter | 09–12 | 454 | 16.4:1 | |
| Gardena Senior High Los Angeles Unified | 09–12 | 1,343 | 17.6:1 | |
| Moneta Continuation Los Angeles Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 46 | 15.2:1 | |
| New Millennium Secondary New Millennium Secondary District · Charter | 09–12 | 116 | 11.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White1.6%
- Hispanic66.2%
- Black20.2%
- Asian5.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.4%
- Multiracial5.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 15 Gardena schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,720 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Gardena
How many public schools are in Gardena, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 15 open public schools with a location address in Gardena: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 7,720 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Gardena?
Schools with an address in Gardena belong to 4 education agencies, led by Los Angeles Unified (12 schools), Environmental Charter High - Gardena District (1 school), Environmental Charter Middle - Gardena District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Gardena?
Gardena Senior High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Gardena, with 1,343 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Gardena?
Yes. 3 of the 15 public schools in Gardena are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Environmental Charter High - Gardena, Environmental Charter Middle - Gardena, New Millennium Secondary. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Gardena schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Gardena public schools is 19.3:1, lower than the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Gardena guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities