The City

Located in the heart of West Adams, The City is a small charter middle school that draws families who want something a little different from the traditional LAUSD experience — though the test scores suggest it's still very much a work in progress academically. The surrounding neighborhood is one of LA's most historically rich and rapidly evolving communities, blending longtime residents with a growing creative and professional crowd, making it a fitting backdrop for a school that clearly has ambitions beyond the conventional. Families who are mission-driven and willing to invest in a school's journey, rather than just its current outcomes, may find it worth a closer look.