Sherman Oaks Elementary Charter

Tucked into the leafy, family-friendly streets of Sherman Oaks, this charter elementary punches well above its weight in a district as sprawling and competitive as LAUSD, landing in the top fifth of schools statewide across English, math, and science. Families who want the resources of a large urban district but the tighter-knit feel of a charter school tend to gravitate here, and the San Fernando Valley neighborhood itself offers that sweet spot of suburban calm with easy access to everything L.A. has to offer. It's the kind of school that draws engaged parents who are willing to do the legwork to enroll in a charter — and the academic results suggest that investment pays off.