The Most Dangerous Elementary School Zones in California [New Study]

In 2016/17, well over six million students will attend California’s 10,453 public schools on any given school day. Of these students, more than 3.1 million are of elementary school age:

That’s over three million children under the age of 12 (most of whom are under ten) in cars, on buses, on bikes or on foot traveling between home and school twice a day, five days a week.

Getting to school everyday – be it as a vehicle passenger, pedestrian, or bicyclist exposes our kids to the leading cause of death for children in the United States: motor vehicle traffic-related crashes. While exposure to this danger is impossible to avoid entirely, understanding which school zones pose the most risk for injury can help parents make choices to mitigate it.

As consumer safety advocates – and parents ourselves – we wanted to find out which California elementary schools are the most dangerous for students getting to and from school. So, we enlisted data visualization firm 1Point21 Interactive to help us do the heavy lifting. With their help, we analyzed over 400,000 motor vehicle collision records from 2015 and compared them against the location of over 6,000 California elementary schools in order to catalogue every car, pedestrian and bicycle accident within 1/2 mile of each.

After reviewing our findings, here are the 486 California elementary schools with the riskiest routes for students:

The Most Dangerous Elementary School Zones in California

Rank Elementary School Name City Car Accidents Pedestrian Accidents Bicycle Accidents Risk Score 1 Jardin de la Infancia Los Angeles 271 72 54 129.80 2 Tenderloin Community San Francisco 209 88 51 125.20 3 RFK Community Schools-Ambassador School-Global Education Los Angeles 272 66 35 115.00 4 Everest Value Los Angeles 264 60 41 113.40 5 Carmichael (Bessie)/FEC San Francisco 182 50 67 106.60 6 Selma Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 315 58 12 105.00 7 Hoover Street Elementary Los Angeles 241 51 42 104.00 8 Marshall Elementary San Francisco 171 36 76 101.40 9 Equitas Academy #3 Charter Los Angeles 223 49 40 98.00 10 MacArthur Park Elementary School for the Visual and Performing Arts Los Angeles 221 47 34 92.80 11 Camino Nuevo Charter Academy Los Angeles 215 45 38 92.80 12 Charles White Elementary Los Angeles 229 45 32 92.00 13 Mariposa-Nabi Primary Center Los Angeles 217 50 30 91.40 14 Muir (John) Elementary San Francisco 157 47 53 91.40 15 CDS Elementary Los Angeles 288 34 22 91.20 16 Redding Elementary San Francisco 177 63 24 87.60 17 Esperanza Elementary Los Angeles 208 40 35 86.60 18 Chinese Education Center San Francisco 147 68 27 86.40 19 Frank del Olmo Elementary Los Angeles 261 30 23 84.00 20 Hobart Boulevard Elementary Los Angeles 240 37 20 82.20 21 Stevenson Elementary Long Beach 249 17 34 80.40 22 Leo Politi Elementary Los Angeles 185 40 30 79.00 23 Lincoln Elementary Oakland 222 27 26 76.20 24 International Elementary Long Beach 248 17 25 74.80 25 Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary San Francisco 138 62 16 74.40 26 Ninth Street Elementary Los Angeles 154 43 29 74.00 27 Metro Charter Los Angeles 216 25 24 72.60 28 Laurel Elementary Los Angeles 255 24 10 71.40 29 Sixty-Eighth Street Elementary Los Angeles 235 18 21 70.40 30 Dr. Sammy Lee Medical and Health Science Magnet Elementary Los Angeles 220 24 17 68.60 31 American Indian Public Charter School II Oakland 190 23 28 68.60 32 Chavez Elementary Long Beach 229 14 23 68.00 33 Tenth Street Elementary Los Angeles 171 30 26 67.80 34 Olympic Primary Center Los Angeles 174 27 27 67.20 35 Parks (Rosa) Elementary San Francisco 134 46 19 65.80 36 Citizens of the World 2 Los Angeles 200 30 13 65.80 37 West Vernon Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 205 20 21 65.60 38 Creative Arts Charter San Francisco 116 38 32 65.20 39 Los Angeles Elementary Los Angeles 206 22 18 65.20 40 Washington Elementary Berkeley 138 26 35 64.20 41 Wilton Place Elementary Los Angeles 204 24 15 64.20 42 Manchester Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 221 17 16 64.00 43 Magnolia Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 154 34 21 63.80 44 John Marshall Elementary Glendale 231 22 6 63.00 45 ASCEND Oakland 210 20 13 61.80 46 Commonwealth Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 196 24 12 60.80 47 Lincoln Elementary Long Beach 175 18 25 60.80 48 Equitas Academy Charter Los Angeles 153 23 27 60.60 49 Grant Elementary Los Angeles 174 27 15 60.00 50 International Community Oakland 191 26 10 59.80 51 Think College Now Oakland 191 26 10 59.80 52 Global Education Academy Los Angeles 175 19 22 59.60 53 Harmony Elementary Los Angeles 163 24 19 58.40 54 Lake Street Primary Los Angeles 202 16 14 58.40 55 Lafayette Elementary Oakland 166 20 21 57.80 56 Achieve Academy Oakland 183 25 10 57.60 57 San Pedro Street Elementary Los Angeles 154 18 26 57.20 58 Dayton Heights Elementary Los Angeles 180 17 18 57.00 59 N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts Los Angeles 175 20 16 56.60 60 Wadsworth Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 150 26 18 56.40 61 Celerity Dyad Charter Los Angeles 183 20 13 56.40 62 Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte Elementary Los Angeles 183 19 14 56.40 63 Sixty-First Street Elementary Los Angeles 192 17 13 56.40 64 KIPP Empower Academy Los Angeles 198 17 11 56.40 65 Union Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 192 13 15 55.20 66 Wilshire Park Elementary Los Angeles 166 24 12 54.80 67 Willard Elementary Long Beach 196 17 9 54.80 68 Chin (John Yehall) Elementary San Francisco 95 39 20 54.40 69 Center for Advanced Learning Los Angeles 146 27 15 54.40 70 Aspire Slauson Academy Charter Los Angeles 177 15 16 54.00 71 Aspire Juanita Tate Academy Charter Los Angeles 177 15 16 54.00 72 Aspire Inskeep Academy Charter Los Angeles 177 15 16 54.00 73 Lafayette Park Primary Center Los Angeles 161 25 11 53.80 74 Columbus Elementary Glendale 224 10 5 53.80 75 Main Street Elementary Los Angeles 175 15 16 53.60 76 Chavez (Cesar) Elementary San Francisco 119 25 24 53.20 77 Aspire ERES Academy Oakland 200 15 7 53.20 78 Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Primary Center Los Angeles 191 13 12 53.20 79 Kingsley Elementary Los Angeles 157 23 13 53.00 80 Summit Preparatory Charter Los Angeles 175 17 13 53.00 81 Ararat Charter Van Nuys 156 21 15 52.80 82 Menlo Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 180 17 11 52.80 83 Rosemont Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 174 13 17 52.80 84 Miramonte Elementary Los Angeles 198 8 14 52.80 85 Sally Ride Elementary: A SMArT Academy Los Angeles 164 20 13 52.60 86 Para Los Ninos - Evelyn Thurman Gratts Primary Los Angeles 154 20 16 52.40 87 Alexandria Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 174 15 14 52.20 88 Charles H. Kim Elementary Los Angeles 179 11 16 52.00 89 Sanchez Elementary San Francisco 85 28 30 51.80 90 South Park Elementary Los Angeles 161 19 13 51.40 91 Arlington Heights Elementary Los Angeles 167 19 11 51.40 92 Garfield Elementary Oakland 176 16 11 51.40 93 Gerald A. Lawson Academy of the Arts, Mathematics and Science Los Angeles 176 7 20 51.40 94 Lou Dantzler Preparatory Charter Elementary Los Angeles 193 9 12 51.20 95 McKinley Elementary San Francisco 65 31 32 50.80 96 Lexington Avenue Primary Center Los Angeles 137 20 19 50.80 97 Western Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 182 16 8 50.80 98 Horace Mann Elementary Glendale 190 14 7 50.60 99 Buena Vista/ Horace Mann K-8 San Francisco 105 23 26 50.40 100 West Hollywood Elementary West Hollywood 213 9 4 50.40 101 Gifted Academy of Mathematics and Entrepreneurial Studies Los Angeles 182 16 7 50.20 102 Dr. Owen Lloyd Knox Elementary Los Angeles 163 18 11 50.00 103 Forty-Ninth Street Elementary Los Angeles 160 16 14 50.00 104 Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary Oakland 175 10 15 50.00 105 Gardner Street Elementary Los Angeles 176 18 6 49.60 106 Van Nuys Elementary Van Nuys 148 18 15 49.40 107 Melrose Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 163 17 11 49.40 108 Camino Nuevo Charter Academy No. 4 Los Angeles 160 11 18 49.40 109 Cahuenga Elementary Los Angeles 156 13 17 49.20 110 Twenty-Eighth Street Elementary Los Angeles 128 21 18 49.00 111 Parmelee Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 179 15 7 49.00 112 Camino Nuevo Academy #2 Los Angeles 155 14 16 49.00 113 Global Education Academy 2 Los Angeles 136 18 18 48.80 114 Harvard Elementary Los Angeles 153 16 14 48.60 115 Los Feliz Science/Tech/Engineer/Math/Medicine Magnet Los Angeles 112 33 10 48.20 116 Fifty-Second Street Elementary Los Angeles 163 14 12 48.20 117 Ramona Elementary Los Angeles 135 22 13 48.00 118 Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter Los Angeles 177 17 4 48.00 119 Roosevelt Elementary Long Beach 137 20 14 47.80 120 The New School of San Francisco San Francisco 94 24 24 47.60 121 Celerity Nascent Charter Los Angeles 157 12 15 47.60 122 La Salle Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 153 22 6 47.40 123 Community School for Creative Education Oakland 165 15 9 47.40 124 Seventy-Fifth Street Elementary Los Angeles 170 14 8 47.20 125 Albert Einstein Academy for Letters, Arts & Sciences - Odyssey Beverly Hills 148 22 7 47.00 126 Dr. Theo. T. Alexander Jr., Science Center Los Angeles 121 14 24 47.00 127 Hooper Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 165 13 10 46.80 128 Middleton Street Elementary Huntington Park 142 16 14 46.40 129 Hooper Avenue Primary Center Los Angeles 163 13 10 46.40 130 Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier Berkeley 101 18 25 46.00 131 Budlong Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 179 9 8 46.00 132 Moscone (George R.) Elementary San Francisco 100 22 21 45.80 133 Spring Valley Elementary San Francisco 123 27 8 45.60 134 Watts Learning Center Los Angeles 141 23 6 45.60 135 Maple Elementary Fullerton 156 19 5 45.60 136 Ford Boulevard Elementary Los Angeles 189 5 8 45.60 137 Madison Elementary South Gate 155 18 6 45.40 138 Charles W. Barrett Elementary Los Angeles 148 19 7 45.20 139 R. D. White Elementary Glendale 181 15 0 45.20 140 Parker (Jean) Elementary San Francisco 84 38 9 45.00 141 Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars (GLAYS) Los Angeles 150 12 13 45.00 142 Synergy Charter Academy Los Angeles 131 18 13 44.80 143 Quincy Jones Elementary Los Angeles 131 18 13 44.80 144 Loren Miller Elementary Los Angeles 140 18 10 44.80 145 Learning Without Limits Oakland 160 18 3 44.60 146 Global Family Oakland 160 18 3 44.60 147 Lazear Charter Academy Oakland 148 16 9 44.60 148 Wisdom Elementary Los Angeles 154 14 9 44.60 149 Estrella Elementary Los Angeles 157 11 11 44.60 150 KIPP Raices Academy Los Angeles 184 6 7 44.60 151 Victoria Avenue Elementary South Gate 144 20 6 44.40 152 Stanford Primary Center South Gate 159 16 5 44.40 153 Edward B. Cole Academy Santa Ana 147 14 11 44.40 154 Ascot Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 126 19 12 43.80 155 Lockwood Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 123 15 17 43.80 156 Virginia Road Elementary Los Angeles 150 9 14 43.80 157 Dr. Lawrence H. Moore Math, Science, Technology Academy Los Angeles 156 6 15 43.80 158 Ricardo Lizarraga Elementary Los Angeles 128 11 19 43.60 159 Twentieth Street Elementary Los Angeles 126 14 16 43.20 160 Middleton Primary Center Huntington Park 141 13 12 43.20 161 Burbank Elementary Long Beach 134 17 10 43.00 162 Aurora Elementary Los Angeles 152 11 10 43.00 163 Urban Discovery Academy Charter San Diego 88 25 17 42.80 164 Norwood Street Elementary Los Angeles 118 15 17 42.80 165 Trinity Street Elementary Los Angeles 127 10 19 42.80 166 Vine Street Elementary Los Angeles 132 15 12 42.60 167 Dr. James Edward Jones Primary Center Los Angeles 153 9 11 42.60 168 Sixty-Sixth Street Elementary Los Angeles 140 13 11 42.40 169 Futures Elementary Oakland 167 9 6 42.40 170 Community United Elementary Oakland 167 9 6 42.40 171 Hoover Elementary Oakland 118 17 14 42.20 172 Valiente College Preparatory Charter South Gate 157 10 8 42.20 173 Para Los Ninos Charter Los Angeles 123 18 11 42.00 174 Ynez Elementary Monterey Park 171 7 6 42.00 175 Accelerated Charter Elementary Los Angeles 119 10 20 41.80 176 Winter Gardens Elementary Los Angeles 161 7 9 41.80 177 Brockton Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 112 23 9 41.60 178 Alta Loma Elementary Los Angeles 130 16 10 41.60 179 Franklin Elementary Oakland 151 14 5 41.60 180 Stanford Avenue Elementary South Gate 157 9 8 41.60 181 Woodcrest Elementary Los Angeles 156 14 3 41.40 182 Malcolm X Elementary Berkeley 96 9 28 41.40 183 KIPP Comienza Community Prep Huntington Park 113 13 18 41.20 184 Miles Avenue Elementary Huntington Park 124 12 15 41.00 185 Markham Elementary Oakland 160 12 3 41.00 186 Carthay Elementary Of Environmental Studies Magnet Los Angeles 163 6 8 41.00 187 Camino Nuevo Elementary No. 3 Los Angeles 115 18 11 40.40 188 Logan Street Elementary Los Angeles 118 13 15 40.40 189 Birdielee V. Bright Elementary Los Angeles 129 13 11 40.20 190 Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Los Angeles 123 12 14 40.20 191 East Oakland Pride Elementary Oakland 153 12 4 40.20 192 Rise Community Oakland 150 10 7 40.20 193 New Highland Academy Oakland 150 10 7 40.20 194 Cabrillo Avenue Elementary San Pedro 119 23 4 40.00 195 Twenty-Fourth Street Elementary Los Angeles 140 12 8 40.00 196 Aspire College Academy Oakland 151 14 2 39.80 197 Rosewood Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 151 14 2 39.80 198 Thurgood Marshall Elementary Lynwood 151 10 6 39.80 199 Yick Wo Elementary San Francisco 68 31 12 39.40 200 Vincent Academy Oakland 98 18 15 39.40 201 Mayberry Street Elementary Los Angeles 116 15 12 39.40 202 Horace Mann Elementary Beverly Hills 118 18 8 39.20 203 Aspire Junior Collegiate Academy Huntington Park 142 11 7 39.20 204 Martin R. Heninger Elementary Santa Ana 136 9 11 39.20 205 Thomas Edison Elementary Glendale 160 6 6 39.20 206 Lincoln Elementary Lynwood 175 4 3 39.20 207 Aspire Titan Academy Huntington Park 141 11 7 39.00 208 Normandie Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 131 11 10 38.80 209 Michelle Obama Elementary Panorama City 130 13 8 38.60 210 Downtown Value Los Angeles 109 12 16 38.60 211 Edison Elementary Long Beach 129 11 10 38.40 212 Castelar Street Elementary Los Angeles 128 16 5 38.20 213 El Sol Santa Ana Science and Arts Academy Santa Ana 125 9 13 38.20 214 Ramona Elementary Alhambra 164 6 3 38.20 215 Westminster Avenue Elementary Venice 85 18 17 38.00 216 Victory Boulevard Elementary North Hollywood 129 12 8 37.80 217 Bridges Academy Oakland 135 11 7 37.80 218 Greenleaf Elementary Oakland 144 7 8 37.80 219 Coleman Elementary San Rafael 127 17 3 37.40 220 One Hundred Ninth Street Elementary Los Angeles 124 13 8 37.40 221 Hollywood Primary Center Los Angeles 136 11 6 37.40 222 Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary Los Angeles 109 10 16 37.40 223 Wilshire Crest Elementary Los Angeles 118 10 13 37.40 224 Orange County Educational Arts Academy Santa Ana 121 10 12 37.40 225 New Heights Charter Los Angeles 142 5 10 37.40 226 La Escuelita Elementary Oakland 108 11 15 37.20 227 Sheridan Street Elementary Los Angeles 113 20 4 37.00 228 Amanecer Primary Center Los Angeles 128 11 8 37.00 229 San Gabriel Avenue Elementary South Gate 140 8 7 37.00 230 Second Street Elementary Los Angeles 112 18 6 36.80 231 Cheremoya Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 115 15 8 36.80 232 Fortune Sacramento 151 6 5 36.80 233 Langdon Avenue Elementary North Hills 126 13 6 36.60 234 One Hundred Seventh Street Elementary Los Angeles 132 10 7 36.60 235 Van Ness Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 141 9 5 36.60 236 Independence Elementary South Gate 147 7 5 36.60 237 Griffin Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 92 16 14 36.40 238 Breed Street Elementary Los Angeles 119 14 7 36.40 239 Extera Public Los Angeles 119 14 7 36.40 240 Garfield Elementary San Francisco 61 29 11 36.20 241 Carson-Gore Academy of Enviornmental Studies Los Angeles 115 16 6 36.20 242 Gabriella Charter Los Angeles 112 12 11 36.20 243 Nora Sterry Elementary Los Angeles 106 9 16 36.20 244 Lincoln Elementary Pomona 157 3 5 36.20 245 Panorama City Elementary Panorama City 99 18 9 36.00 246 Dolores Huerta Elementary Los Angeles 126 5 13 36.00 247 McKinley Elementary Santa Monica 98 14 13 35.80 248 John W. Mack Elementary Los Angeles 95 9 19 35.80 249 Ninety-Fifth Street Elementary Los Angeles 137 9 5 35.80 250 Hancock Park Elementary Los Angeles 127 11 6 35.60 251 ACORN Woodland Elementary Oakland 138 10 3 35.40 252 EnCompass Academy Elementary Oakland 138 10 3 35.40 253 Flynn (Leonard R.) Elementary San Francisco 98 10 16 35.20 254 Russell Elementary Los Angeles 125 10 7 35.20 255 Addams Elementary Long Beach 125 9 8 35.20 256 Lafayette Elementary Long Beach 140 7 5 35.20 257 Compton Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 118 15 4 35.00 258 San Miguel Elementary South Gate 115 14 6 35.00 259 Eastman Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 124 10 7 35.00 260 Ada S. Nelson Elementary Whittier 139 8 4 35.00 261 Cobb (William L.) Elementary San Francisco 87 21 8 34.80 262 Leconte Elementary Berkeley 69 16 19 34.80 263 McKinley Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 111 14 7 34.80 264 Los Cerritos Paramount 144 6 4 34.80 265 Lankershim Elementary North Hollywood 107 15 7 34.60 266 Los Angeles Leadership Primary Academy Los Angeles 101 14 10 34.60 267 Rosa Parks Learning Center North Hills 113 13 7 34.60 268 Washington Primary Center Los Angeles 128 13 2 34.60 269 Belvedere Elementary Los Angeles 128 8 7 34.60 270 Academia Moderna Walnut Park 128 8 7 34.60 271 Mayo Elementary Compton 143 8 2 34.60 272 Graham Elementary Los Angeles 155 3 3 34.60 273 Cerritos Elementary Glendale 112 13 7 34.40 274 Apple Academy Charter Public Los Angeles 112 13 7 34.40 275 Vermont Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 94 12 14 34.40 276 Lee Elementary Long Beach 130 9 5 34.40 277 Santa Monica Alternative (K-8) Santa Monica 97 6 19 34.40 278 Marguerita Elementary Alhambra 145 5 4 34.40 279 Fourth Street Primary Center Los Angeles 151 3 4 34.40 280 Jellick Elementary Rowland Heights 157 2 3 34.40 281 Horace Mann Elementary San Jose 57 22 16 34.20 282 One Hundred Sixteenth Street Elementary Los Angeles 114 12 7 34.20 283 Crescent Heights Boulevard Elementary Los Angeles 111 10 10 34.20 284 Cienega Elementary Los Angeles 125 11 4 34.00 285 Walnut Park Elementary Huntington Park 119 10 7 34.00 286 Rowan Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 116 9 9 34.00 287 Orion Alternative Redwood City 128 8 6 34.00 288 Montara Avenue Elementary South Gate 127 10 4 33.80 289 Coeur D'Alene Avenue Elementary Venice 97 9 15 33.80 290 Downtown Elementary Bakersfield 142 6 3 33.80 291 Sylvan Park Elementary Van Nuys 123 11 4 33.60 292 Aspire Monarch Academy Oakland 123 9 6 33.60 293 Willow Elementary South Gate 138 4 6 33.60 294 Alta California Elementary Panorama City 92 18 7 33.40 295 Thomas Jefferson Elementary Glendale 134 10 1 33.40 296 Ninety-Second Street Elementary Los Angeles 115 11 6 33.20 297 ICEF Innovation Los Angeles Charter Los Angeles 121 9 6 33.20 298 Maple Primary Center Los Angeles 106 5 15 33.20 299 Central Elementary San Diego 63 21 13 33.00 300 Community Preparatory Academy Los Angeles 122 7 7 32.80 301 Florence Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 131 6 5 32.80 302 YES Academy Los Angeles 112 14 3 32.60 303 KIPP Ignite Academy Los Angeles 106 10 9 32.60 304 San Antonio Elementary Pomona 118 10 5 32.60 305 Lucille J. Smith Elementary Lawndale 130 7 4 32.60 306 Ninety-Sixth Street Elementary Los Angeles 120 11 3 32.40 307 Raymond Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 123 7 6 32.40 308 John Muir Elementary Santa Monica 90 6 18 32.40 309 Monte Vista Elementary Lancaster 120 5 9 32.40 310 Fairlawn Elementary Santa Maria 135 5 4 32.40 311 Chinese Immersion School at DeAvila San Francisco 59 17 17 32.20 312 Jefferson Hawthorne 119 9 5 32.20 313 Robinson Academy Long Beach 131 7 3 32.20 314 Ninety-Ninth Street Elementary Los Angeles 128 5 6 32.20 315 Hart Street Elementary Canoga Park 112 10 6 32.00 316 Garfield Elementary Santa Ana 112 8 8 32.00 317 Reach Academy Oakland 133 5 4 32.00 318 Cox Academy Oakland 133 5 4 32.00 319 Short Elementary San Rafael 112 4 12 32.00 320 Euclid Elementary San Diego 47 26 11 31.60 321 Barton Hill Elementary San Pedro 95 14 7 31.60 322 Ninety-Third Street Elementary Los Angeles 110 13 3 31.60 323 KIPP Vida Preparatory Academy Los Angeles 110 11 5 31.60 324 Montebello Park Elementary Los Angeles 125 5 6 31.60 325 Fourth Street Elementary Los Angeles 140 2 4 31.60 326 Franklin Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 82 16 9 31.40 327 Edison Elementary Alameda 115 9 5 31.40 328 Sankofa Academy Oakland 76 6 21 31.40 329 Seventy-Fourth Street Elementary Los Angeles 136 6 1 31.40 330 Bellingham Elementary North Hollywood 124 5 6 31.40 331 Fruitvale Elementary Oakland 72 21 7 31.20 332 Sherman Elementary San Francisco 84 20 4 31.20 333 Figueroa Street Elementary Los Angeles 102 10 8 31.20 334 Citizens of the World 3 Los Angeles 90 9 13 31.20 335 Frank E. Woodruff Elementary Bellflower 122 4 7 31.00 336 Joseph A. Gascon Elementary Los Angeles 125 3 7 31.00 337 Rocketship Redwood City Redwood City 137 3 3 31.00 338 Washington Elementary San Diego 61 25 6 30.80 339 Helen Keller Elementary Lynwood 112 8 6 30.80 340 Las Flores Home Education Independent Study Academy Bellflower 118 8 4 30.80 341 Lindbergh Elementary Lynwood 127 7 2 30.80 342 Lillian Street Elementary Los Angeles 118 3 9 30.80 343 New Traditions Elementary San Francisco 66 15 14 30.60 344 Arturo Sanchez Elementary Norwalk 129 6 2 30.60 345 Lugo Elementary Lynwood 138 0 5 30.60 346 Washington Hawthorne 95 10 9 30.40 347 Liberty Boulevard Elementary South Gate 110 8 6 30.40 348 Celerity Palmati Charter North Hollywood 122 7 3 30.40 349 Bruce (Robert) Elementary Santa Maria 112 7 6 30.20 350 Bobbie Smith Elementary Long Beach 118 5 6 30.20 351 Judith F. Baca Arts Academy Los Angeles 108 8 6 30.00 352 Brooklyn Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 117 7 4 30.00 353 Sixth Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 101 6 10 29.80 354 Beverly Vista Elementary Beverly Hills 82 13 9 29.60 355 Madison Elementary Pasadena 88 13 7 29.60 356 Noble Avenue Elementary North Hills 106 10 4 29.60 357 Columbus Avenue Van Nuys 109 10 3 29.60 358 West Athens Elementary Los Angeles 115 9 2 29.60 359 Alvin Elementary Santa Maria 109 4 9 29.60 360 Burton Street Elementary Panorama City 93 12 6 29.40 361 First Street Elementary Los Angeles 105 9 5 29.40 362 Celerity Sirius Charter Compton 111 8 4 29.40 363 Forty-Second Street Elementary Los Angeles 120 3 6 29.40 364 Erwin Elementary Van Nuys 113 7 4 29.20 365 Clyde W. Needham Elementary Lodi 113 7 4 29.20 366 Fremont Elementary Delano 116 7 3 29.20 367 Billy Mitchell Elementary Lawndale 119 6 3 29.20 368 Lucille Roybal-Allard Elementary Huntington Park 91 10 8 29.00 369 Fremont Elementary Long Beach 121 5 3 29.00 370 Citizens of the World Charter Hollywood Los Angeles 109 4 8 29.00 371 Emerson (Ralph Waldo) Elementary Rosemead 103 3 11 29.00 372 Humphreys Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 121 3 5 29.00 373 Corona Avenue Elementary Bell 105 6 7 28.80 374 McCoppin (Frank) Elementary San Francisco 56 18 11 28.60 375 Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts Vista 95 14 2 28.60 376 Maurice Sendak Elementary North Hollywood 92 4 13 28.60 377 William Green Elementary Lawndale 119 4 4 28.60 378 Garfield Elementary Bell Gardens 104 3 10 28.60 379 Signal Hill Elementary Signal Hill 107 3 9 28.60 380 Primary Academy for Success Panorama City 76 15 7 28.40 381 Edison Charter Academy San Francisco 67 14 11 28.40 382 William Northrup Elementary Alhambra 112 5 5 28.40 383 Saturn Street Elementary Los Angeles 84 14 5 28.20 384 McKinley Pasadena 87 9 9 28.20 385 Roosevelt Elementary Compton 117 6 2 28.20 386 Lincoln Elementary San Bernardino 86 13 5 28.00 387 Johnson Elementary El Cajon 74 12 10 28.00 388 Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts Santa Rosa 86 9 9 28.00 389 Puente Charter Los Angeles 95 9 6 28.00 390 Dickison Elementary Compton 110 7 3 28.00 391 Kid Street Learning Center Charter Santa Rosa 95 6 9 28.00 392 Coldwater Canyon Elementary North Hollywood 110 6 4 28.00 393 Lincoln Elementary Ontario 119 5 2 28.00 394 Morris K. Hamasaki Elementary Los Angeles 119 2 5 28.00 395 Magnolia Science Academy 7 Northridge 100 10 3 27.80 396 Liggett Street Elementary Panorama City 94 9 6 27.80 397 Mid-City's Prescott School of Enriched Sciences Los Angeles 100 8 5 27.80 398 Wilson Elementary Lynwood 109 8 2 27.80 399 Nevin Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 91 5 11 27.80 400 Furgeson (Venn W.) Elementary Hawaiian Gardens 112 5 4 27.80 401 Aeolian Elementary Whittier 115 4 4 27.80 402 Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet Los Angeles 115 3 5 27.80 403 Whittier Elementary Long Beach 90 9 7 27.60 404 Parker Elementary Oakland 108 9 1 27.60 405 San Antonio Elementary Huntington Park 93 8 7 27.60 406 Henry Haight Elementary Alameda 96 6 8 27.60 407 Brentwood Academy East Palo Alto 102 5 7 27.60 408 Marianna Avenue Elementary Los Angeles 108 3 7 27.60 409 Abraham Lincoln Paramount 117 3 4 27.60 410 Horace Mann Elementary Oakland 101 10 2 27.40 411 Broadway Elementary Venice 74 9 12 27.40 412 Wilkerson Elementary El Monte 77 8 12 27.40 413 Bryant Elementary San Francisco 89 6 10 27.40 414 Bryant Elementary Long Beach 104 6 5 27.40 415 North Star Academy Redwood City 107 6 4 27.40 416 Hoover Elementary Redwood City 116 3 4 27.40 417 Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary Los Angeles 88 15 1 27.20 418 Drew (Charles) College Preparatory Academy San Francisco 94 9 5 27.20 419 Central Elementary Tracy 97 6 7 27.20 420 Aloha Elementary Lakewood 115 3 4 27.20 421 Valley Oaks Elementary (Alternative) Petaluma 103 2 9 27.20 422 Oleander Elementary Fontana 133 0 1 27.20 423 Wallace R. Davis Elementary Santa Ana 87 11 5 27.00 424 Dover Elementary San Pablo 78 7 12 27.00 425 Village Charter Academy Canoga Park 93 6 8 27.00 426 New Lexington Elementary El Monte 78 5 14 27.00 427 Garden Grove Elementary Reseda 111 3 5 27.00 428 Queen Anne Place Elementary Los Angeles 99 2 10 27.00 429 Live Oak Charter Petaluma 102 2 9 27.00 430 Carver (George Washington) Elementary San Francisco 92 7 7 26.80 431 Today's Fresh Start-Compton Los Angeles 104 6 4 26.80 432 Libertas College Preparatory Charter Los Angeles 110 3 5 26.80 433 McKinley Elementary Petaluma 98 2 10 26.80 434 Cesar Chavez Elementary Norwalk 113 1 6 26.80 435 Nueva Vista Elementary Bell 82 10 7 26.60 436 Mission Preparatory San Francisco 61 8 16 26.60 437 Fairgrove Academy La Puente 103 6 4 26.60 438 Wescove Elementary West Covina 112 3 4 26.60 439 Ibarra Elementary San Diego 45 21 8 26.40 440 Grape Street Elementary Los Angeles 96 11 1 26.40 441 Castlemont Primary Academy Oakland 105 7 2 26.40 442 John Muir Elementary Glendale 93 6 7 26.40 443 William W. Orr Elementary Norwalk 114 2 4 26.40 444 North Ranchito Elementary Pico Rivera 117 2 3 26.40 445 Florence Elementary San Diego 41 19 11 26.20 446 Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Santa Ana 68 13 8 26.20 447 Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary Los Angeles 86 13 2 26.20 448 Malabar Street Elementary Los Angeles 92 11 2 26.20 449 Chase Street Elementary Panorama City 98 9 2 26.20 450 One Hundred Twenty-Second Street Elementary Los Angeles 89 7 7 26.20 451 Kittridge Street Elementary Van Nuys 107 7 1 26.20 452 Roosevelt Elementary Pomona 107 6 2 26.20 453 Aspire Firestone Academy Charter South Gate 110 4 3 26.20 454 Aspire Gateway Academy Charter South Gate 110 4 3 26.20 455 William Anderson Elementary Lawndale 101 2 8 26.20 456 Cajon Valley Community Day El Cajon 73 12 7 26.00 457 Rosa Parks Environmental Science Magnet Berkeley 91 6 7 26.00 458 New Horizons Charter Academy North Hollywood 76 5 13 26.00 459 KIPP Iluminar Academy Los Angeles 100 4 6 26.00 460 GOALS Academy Anaheim 106 4 4 26.00 461 Bitely (Arlene) Elementary Rosemead 100 3 7 26.00 462 Sierra Elementary Lancaster 115 3 2 26.00 463 East Oakland Leadership Academy Oakland 118 2 2 26.00 464 Rosa Parks Elementary San Diego 42 19 10 25.80 465 One Hundred Twelfth Street Elementary Los Angeles 99 7 3 25.80 466 Rosecrans Elementary Compton 105 4 4 25.80 467 William R. Anton Elementary Los Angeles 105 4 4 25.80 468 Willard (Frances E.) Elementary Rosemead 102 1 8 25.80 469 Endeavor College Preparatory Charter Los Angeles 80 14 2 25.60 470 Albion Street Elementary Los Angeles 80 11 5 25.60 471 One Hundred Eighteenth Street Los Angeles 80 10 6 25.60 472 Gates Street Elementary Los Angeles 74 9 9 25.60 473 Willard F. Payne Elementary El Monte 64 10 11 25.40 474 Bryson Avenue Elementary South Gate 91 10 2 25.40 475 Roosevelt Elementary Lynwood 88 7 6 25.40 476 Columbia Elementary El Monte 91 6 6 25.40 477 Orange Grove Elementary Anaheim 100 5 4 25.40 478 Emerson Elementary Compton 100 3 6 25.40 479 Harry Wirtz Elementary Paramount 112 2 3 25.40 480 Betty Plasencia Elementary Los Angeles 81 8 7 25.20 481 State Street Elementary South Gate 93 8 3 25.20 482 Kelly Elementary Compton 105 5 2 25.20 483 N.E.W. Academy Canoga Park Canoga Park 74 8 9 25.00 484 Melbourne (Ella P.) Elementary Lakewood 86 8 5 25.00 485 Jefferson Elementary Paramount 95 5 5 25.00 486 Paddison Elementary Norwalk 110 2 3 25.00

*For this study, the term ‘school zone’ – as well as the data listed for each school – includes a 1/2 mile radius around each school. For more information, see our methodology section below..

Interactive Map

Zoom in on any area of the map for a more detailed view. Hover over the circles for information on the school name and total number of pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle accidents. Larger circles represent more dangerous school zones.

Key Findings

There were a total of 62,785 car accidents, 6716 pedestrian accidents, 5,114 bicycle accidents within 1/2 mile of the 486 schools in our study.

215 of the schools are located in Los Angeles, 38 in Oakland, 31 in San Francisco.

23 of the 25 most dangerous schools in our study are located in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Four of the five schools with the highest number of bicycle accidents within 1/2 mile are located in San Francisco.

School with the most car accidents within 1/2 mile: Selma Avenue Elementary in Los Angeles.

School with the most pedestrian accidents within 1/2 mile: Tenderloin Community in San Francisco.

School with the most bicycle accidents within 1/2 mile: Marshall Elementary in San Francisco.

Averages for schools in our study: 133.01 car accidents, 14.22 pedestrian accidents, 10.83 bicycle accidents, 41.64 total score.

A tale of two schools

The two highest scoring (read: most dangerous) schools in our study are Jardin De La Infancia in Los Angeles and Tenderloin Community in San Francisco.

#1 – Jardin De La Infancia – Los Angeles



Total Score: 129.80

Car Accidents: 271

Pedestrian Accidents: 72

Bicycle Accidents: 54

#2 – Tenderloin Community – San Francisco

Total Score: 125.20

Car Accidents: 209

Pedestrian Accidents: 88

Bicycle Accidents: 54

Larger School Districts

Of school districts with 20 or more elementary schools, Los Angeles had the highest number of accidents near elementary schools with over 62,000 within a 1/2 mile. This comes as no surprise considering Los Angeles has significantly more schools than any other school district in the state. However, when looking at the average number of accidents per elementary school, Oakland Unified had the highest number per capita, at 109.64. followed by Los Angeles (103.10), Glendale (94.15), San Francisco (91.15) and Compton (89.96).

With the high number of schools listed in Los Angeles, we created a tool specifically for L.A. parents to check the safety score of their child’s school. Visit our Los Angeles School Zone Safety Tool to see where your child’s school ranks in the county.

A Bit About Getting To School

Pedestrians and bicyclists of any age are among the most vulnerable users of the road, but children – due to their small size and inability to judge speed and distance – are at even greater risk of serious injury or death in pedestrian accidents. In 2009, over 23,000 children ages 5-15 were injured and another 250 were killed walking or riding their bikes in the U.S.

On average, only 13 percent of children age 5- 14 walk or bicycle to school everyday. However, the distance that children live from school makes a huge impact on how they get there. According to the National Household Travel Survey by the U.S. DoT, nearly 80 percent of students age 6-12 walk or bike to school if they live within 1/4 of a mile from school.

While children walking or biking to school are more vulnerable to injury, the risk does not drop to zero if they ride the bus or are dropped off at school. As more and more parents drop their kids off at school, these trips begin to account for a higher and higher percentage of total rush hour trips and contribute heavily to traffic congestion. In 2009, American families made 6.5 billion vehicle trips, driving over 30 billion miles, to take their children to and from school. This accounted for as much as 14 percent of all traffic during morning and afternoon commutes. Nationally, the motor vehicle fatality rate is 11.2 per billion vehicle miles traveled while the injury rate sits at 780 per billion VMT. On a simple rate basis, 30 billion miles of school trips may have resulted in 336 traffic fatalities and 23,400 injuries (all estimates and hypothetical based on overall rates, of course).

Tips For Getting Kids to School Safely

Take Your Kids To School : We know this isn’t always possible, but if it is, it’s a great way to ensure your children get to school safely. If you can’t, talk to other parents nearby who do drive their kids to school and see if you can carpool.

: We know this isn’t always possible, but if it is, it’s a great way to ensure your children get to school safely. If you can’t, talk to other parents nearby who do drive their kids to school and see if you can carpool. Plan a Safe Route : If parents can’t accompany their kids to and from school, take some time after work to walk to your child’s school and find the safest possible route. Look for streets with sidewalks, intersections with stop lights and crosswalks, also look for streets with less traffic and encourage your kids to take this route.

: If parents can’t accompany their kids to and from school, take some time after work to walk to your child’s school and find the safest possible route. Look for streets with sidewalks, intersections with stop lights and crosswalks, also look for streets with less traffic and encourage your kids to take this route. Lead By Example : The best way to teach your kids to be safe while walking or biking to school is by leading by example. Whenever you are walking, make sure to stay aware of your surroundings, put your phone away, look both ways, always use a crosswalk, and teach your kids safe walking habits by practicing them yourself.

: The best way to teach your kids to be safe while walking or biking to school is by leading by example. Whenever you are walking, make sure to stay aware of your surroundings, put your phone away, look both ways, always use a crosswalk, and teach your kids safe walking habits by practicing them yourself. Get Other Parents Involved : Talk to other parents about creating a walking group that walks to school together. Just one adult in the group can make a big difference and help kids commute safely.

: Talk to other parents about creating a walking group that walks to school together. Just one adult in the group can make a big difference and help kids commute safely. Get On Your Kids Level : The world looks a lot different to a child than it does an adult. At 3 or 4 feet tall, their view is severely altered and often they can’t see over cars or obstructions that adults can. Take a look at the world and streets from their perspective to identify potential dangers and address them accordingly.

: The world looks a lot different to a child than it does an adult. At 3 or 4 feet tall, their view is severely altered and often they can’t see over cars or obstructions that adults can. Take a look at the world and streets from their perspective to identify potential dangers and address them accordingly. Teach Kids to Walk In Groups : If adults are not available, encourage your kids to walk with friends. The larger a group is, the easier it is for drivers to see and the more eyes will be on oncoming traffic.

: If adults are not available, encourage your kids to walk with friends. The larger a group is, the easier it is for drivers to see and the more eyes will be on oncoming traffic. Start a Safe Routes to School Program: If your community doesn’t have a Safe Routes to School Program, look into starting one. Talk to your principal or teachers to get them on board. You can find more information on the Safe Routes to School National Partnership webpage.

This study was conducted by data visualization firm 1point21 Interactive and the Panish Shea & Boyle LLP personal injury attorneys serving Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Methodology

In order to find the California schools zones that are most dangerous for children going to and from, we queried and collected all 2015 collision records from the California Highway Patrol’s SWITRS database – well over 435,000 individual records. Next, we removed any collisions that took place on a highway or freeway from our list. Then we compared them against the geolocation of every single elementary school in California – over 6,000 of them – to identify all collisions that occurred within a 1/2 mile of each school

Once we had the raw numbers, we calculated each school’s score by breaking down the collisions by type: motor vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle.

Weights used in our formula: Accident (1) + Pedestrian Accident (3) + Bicycle Accident(3)

Pedestrian and bicycle collisions were weighed more heavily in our score, as these road users – especially when they are children – are much more vulnerable to injury and death than those in motor vehicles.

Our list shows the 486 schools with a score of 25 or higher – nearly 3 times the average score for all elementary schools (8.69)

Data Sources:

Collision Data – SWITRS

School Location Data – California Department of Education