Andres and Maria Cardenas Elementary

Cardenas Elementary sits in the heart of Van Nuys, a dense, working-class neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley where families tend to have deep roots in the community. The school serves a predominantly Latino student population and reflects the tight-knit, Spanish-speaking character of the surrounding streets — families who value a school that feels like an extension of the neighborhood itself will find that here. Academics are a work in progress, with scores below state averages, so families who are hands-on with homework and supplementing at home will likely get the most out of what Cardenas has to offer.