International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School: Full Guide

Location: South Gate, CA

Are you a student or parent at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?

We've written the best guide to ISLC available. Here we'll cover:

Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
How safe ISLC is to attend
SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by ISLC students
Which AP/IB classes you can take at ISLC
Every sports team you can join at ISLC

Let's get started!

Basic Information

International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School is a public school, supporting grades 6 to 12 . It's located in South Gate, CA in Los Angeles County.

Based on its location, ISLC is classified as a school in a large suburb. Here's the location on a map:

Contact Information

Mailing address:

International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School
5225 Tweedy Blvd.
South Gate, CA 90280

Phone number: 3233577521

International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School homepage: https://islc-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com/

Principal: Guillermina Jauregui
Email the principal: [email protected]

Student Demographics

Student Enrollment

The total enrollment at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School is 836 students, making it a somewhat large high school, in the top half of all California high schools by size.

As a mid-sized high school, ISLC strikes the balance between size and comfort. There will be enough students to provide a diversity of experiences, like clubs and sports, for you to join. But it'll be small enough that you'll likely get to know most people in your class.

Growth in Student Body Size

Is International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.

From our calculations, the enrollment at ISLC has steadily increased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.

	Male Students	Female Students	All Students
9^th grade	77	82	159
10^th grade	59	69	128
11^th grade	38	36	74
12^th grade	25	38	63

As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 96 students larger than the senior class. This suggests that the school is growing in size and taking on more students.

There are a few reasons this could be happening. The city of South Gate could be growing in population, thus sending more students into ISLC. Alternatively, ISLC could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.

Gender Split

Are there more boys or girls at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School?

From our statistics, ISLC has a 47:53 split between male and female students in the high school grades.

ISLC has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Los Angeles County. Since the student body is roughly half and half, it should feel like there are equal numbers of boys and girls in your classes.

This usually means that ISLC doesn't strongly select for either males or females, unlike other schools that have a large majority of males or females.

Ethnicity Breakdown

What's the racial diversity at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?

From our statistics, ISLC has a very homogenous student body, with over 90% of students identifying as one ethnicity. This is especially extreme - fewer than 10% of California schools show as little racial diversity as ISLC does. When attending class, you'll be surrounded by students of the same ethnicity.

The majority of students at ISLC are Hispanic. In California, Hispanic students make up the majority of all students at 51.5%, and are thus the most common ethnicity. Predominantly Hispanic schools are the most common type of homogenous school, and ISLC fits within this category.

	Percentage	Number
American Indian/Alaska Native	0.3%	3
Asian	0.1%	1
Hispanic	97.3%	814
Black	1.6%	14
White	0.3%	3
Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander	0.1%	1
Two or more races	0.0%	0

High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of South Gate. If you'd like to see how other nearby schools look in diversity, just google "[name of school] prepscholar" to find our guide to that specific school.

Income Level of ISLC Families

What are the family incomes of students at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School? To determine this, we look at the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches, a classification by the US federal government.

To qualify for a reduced price meal, family income needs to be below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $45,000 or below.

To qualify for a free meal, family income needs to be below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4, this means an income of around $32,000 or below.

The lower the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price meals, the higher the income levels are likely to be.

At ISLC, 11.6% of students qualify for reduced-price lunches, and 75.3% qualify for free lunches.

This means ISLC has a high percentage of students at or near poverty. Almost a third of all schools in California show this level of poverty, and by National Center for Education Statistics standards, ISLC can be classified as a high poverty school. The income level of families in South Gate is thus likely to be low.

	Number	Percent
Reduced-price lunches	97	11.6%
Free lunches	630	75.3%
Do not qualify for reduced-price or free lunches	109	13.0%

As with ethnicity, this likely reflects the surrounding community in South Gate and doesn't speak much about the school itself.

Unfortunately, schools in areas of lower income levels are likely to be more poorly funded. As a result, they might feature less advanced coursework like AP/IB classes, and you may not have a full range of sports and extracurriculars to draw from. Because ISLC is an especially high poverty-level school, it might not have the resources you need to meet your full potential.

You definitely don't have control over the city, the school, or other families, but you can structure your own learning to be more productive. If you'd like to open yourself to more opportunities, you can look into whether it's possible to transfer to a nearby school with higher income levels.

If not, don't be alarmed - it's possible that ISLC has all that you need for your ambition. And you can definitely be proactive about learning outside of your school, looking to your community or to the Internet to find more resources.

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School Safety

How safe is International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School to attend? Can you expect a lot of conflict as a student here?

To study this, we look at disciplinary data for two types of incidents at ISLC: referrals to law enforcement (when incidents are reported to police), and arrests.

These are the most serious disciplinary actions available to school administration and are more severe than suspensions or expulsions. Suspensions are often discretionary and can be given just for being disruptive in class. In contrast, law enforcement referrals and arrests often indicate incidents that put the safety of other ISLC students at risk.

In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 0 referrals to law enforcement, and 2 school-related arrests (2 males, 0 females). This is out of a total enrollment of 866 students.

To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.

This means that 0.2 ISLC is a safe school. For every 100 students, there is much fewer than 1 law-enforcement related action. It's not a perfect record, but it happens so infrequently that it might have just been a few bad apples.

With this record, is International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School significantly different from other schools in the area? It could be that ISLC has an especially bad record, or it could be that the local area shows a pattern.

Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:

Los Angeles Unified School District Safety

School Name	Total Referred	Enrollment
Frank Lanterman	0	222
Youth Opportunities Unlimited	6	323
Jane Addams Continuation	0	216
William Tell Aggeler Opportunity High	0	65
John R. Wooden High	0	144
Angel's Gate (continuation)	0	84

Academic Performance

Now we get to a major aspect of assessing a high school: academic performance. How good of an education will you get at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?

We've compiled everything we could find about ISLC's academics here.

Standardized Testing

Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School students. These are tests that are administered to large populations of students for comparison purposes.

Let’s start by taking a look at the data for nationally administered standardized tests.

SAT Scores

As you probably know, the SAT is a critical test used for college admissions. The higher the score you get, the better your academic performance compared to students nationwide, and the easier it is to get into top colleges.

We did in-depth research and found the average International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School SAT scores.

The average composite SAT score is a 1340 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 63 at ISLC take the SAT.

This is a below-average SAT score, putting International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School in the bottom 50% of all California schools. Only 27% of students here score the national average or higher. Because the SAT measures academic achievement, this suggests that ISLC may offer a somewhat lacking high school education, compared to schools with higher SAT averages.

Note, however, that an average is just an average - top performers will still be able to impress. If you work hard and get an SAT score well above ISLC's average, you'll have a great shot at entering a good college.

Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:

Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)

Source	Critical Reading	Math	Writing	Composite
ISLC	448	455	442	1340
California	498	510	496	1504
United States	495	511	484	1490

Note that the SAT has since changed to a 1600 scale, but the trends above for your high school are likely to continue. Just use this guide to convert between the old 2400 scale and the new 1600 scale.

To learn more about SAT percentile rankings, read our guide on what SAT percentiles really mean.

How good is 1340 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1340 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1340 or any other SAT score!

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Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School students credit for college.

Here's what we're looking for: high average AP test scores as well as high AP passing rates.

AP Scores

Every year, roughly 81 students in grades 9-12 at ISLC take 113 AP exams. It's important to understand how students score on the AP - earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test means passing the test and often earning college credit.

The average score of all AP exams taken at ISLC is 2.5 out of 5.

Unfortunately, this score puts ISLC at below average performance. For AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and the majority of students who take AP tests at ISLC don't pass. This performance places International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School in the bottom 50% of schools for AP tests in California.

This isn't all bad news. It's already good that ISLC offers an AP program, so you can start dipping your toes into college-level courses. Some schools are new to offering AP courses, and teachers often get better at preparing students for AP tests. Furthermore, a good number of students still earn a passing grade of 3 or above. With hard work throughout the year, you'll still be able to beat your school's average.

We have specific data on how many students got a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) on AP exams in the chart below:

AP Test-Taking Statistics

Another way to gauge the quality of a school's AP program is to see how many AP students actually took AP exams at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School. If a lot of students enroll in AP courses but don't actually take the AP tests, it can be a sign that students don't feel adequately prepared to take the test, or the school isn't encouraging students to take the exams enough.

At ISLC, there is a total enrollment of 99 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).

Of AP-taking students, 79 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 4 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 15 took AP courses but took NO tests.

This is good test participation. Most AP students at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School take the AP test for every one of their AP courses, outnumbering the students who take some or no AP exams. This is a good sign that students feel confident enough to take tests for all AP courses available to them, which reflects well on the teachers and course material. ISLC can continue to improve by reducing the number of students who take AP exams for some or none of their courses, but it's in a good state.

Note: The most recent data we have available is from 2012, so the statistics may have changed since then. Most likely, however, the trends are likely to continue - above average schools are likely to stay above average, and below average schools are likely to stay below average.

AP Passing Rates

For AP students at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School who take the exam, it's important to know how they do. Here we have specific data on how many students got a passing grade (a 3 or above) on all, some, or none of the AP exams that they took.

Of all AP test takers, 14 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 11 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 56 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.

Unfortunately, this is poor performance compared to other high schools. At International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School, the majority of AP students fail ALL of the AP exams they take. This usually means that they're not adequately prepared for the national AP exam at the end of the year.

This isn't necessarily the school's fault. AP courses may be too advanced for the typical student at ISLC, and it's still a good thing that AP courses are offered at all. Furthermore, it's possible that a majority of the AP exams taken by students at ISLC are on the more difficult side.

However, if you're a student at ISLC, this is a warning that you'll have to go above and beyond the typical student to pass your AP exams. This may entail self-studying, figuring out who the better AP teachers are and trying to get into their classes, and working hard.

To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School, you'll have to talk to your guidance counselor (who can then help you find that information). For instance, one AP Calculus teacher may have an above-90% passing rate, while another might only have a 50% passing rate. If you can, you'll want to take the class with the teacher who has more students get a 3 or above on the AP exam.

Find out more about the average score for each AP subject here.

State Tests

As of 2014, eleventh graders attending International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School must take standardized tests in English/Language Arts and Math as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These align with the new Common Core standards and are called the "Smarter Balanced" tests.

If ISLC students meet or exceed state standards, they're academically prepared to graduate high school and go to college. Specifically, we care about the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards. The larger this number, the higher the preparation of students at ISLC.

English/Language Arts

At International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School, 69% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.

This is considered good and puts ISLC in the top 25% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. Most ISLC students pass or exceed state standards, though there is also a sizable portion of students who fail to meet state standards.

English/Language Arts Test Results (2015)

Read more about what’s measured in each ELA area score here.

Math

The other major test taken for state assessments is Math. Across the state, Math performance is generally lower than English/Language Arts performance, so it's natural for this number to be lower.

At International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School, 41% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts ISLC in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of ISLC students don't meet state standards, and only a small percentage pass.

Math Test Results (2015)

Read more about what’s measured in each Math area score, go here.

Academic Offerings

In addition to the standard high school curriculum, many high schools like International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School offer advanced coursework as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.

Brief Intro to AP/IB

AP and IB courses are designed at the difficulty level of college introductory classes. There are several important benefits to taking advanced coursework at ISLC. First, taking more advanced classes shows colleges that you're committed to challenging yourself academically, and that you're one of the more advanced students at ISLC. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.

Furthermore, many colleges will accept your ISLC AP/IB coursework as college coursework. In some cases, you'll be able to skip introductory-level classes and move to more advanced classes. In other cases, you'll be able to avoid having to take required courses and might even be able to graduate earlier than the standard 4 years. Often this will require you to pass the AP test, getting a score of 3 or above.

So what advanced courses does International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School offer?

AP Courses

International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School offers AP courses in 9 subjects.

This is a relatively low number of AP subjects, putting International Studies Learning Center at Legacy High School in the bottom 50% of California schools offering AP courses. You'll likely be able to take the most popular courses like Calculus, English, and US History, but you won't have most other subjects available.

The total number of AP subjects is 38, so ISLC is missing most. If you want to take any AP courses not being offered at ISLC, ask your counselor for ideas on how to cover the gap. If you're a strong student, you might consider transferring schools to access a more advanced curriculum.

Of course, keep in mind that even though ISLC doesn't offer many AP courses, it might teach the ones it does offer quite well. You can see student performance in the AP score analysis section above.

The following AP courses were offered at ISLC during 2015-2016:

Course Title
Biology
Calculus AB
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
Human Geography
Spanish Language and Culture
Spanish Literature and Culture
United States History
World History

Sports Teams

What’s Next?

Want to get more useful information about high school classes and preparing for colleges? Our blog has a ton of articles and advice on topics ranging from coursework and GPA to letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and much more!

Ready to bulk up your schedule and maximize your college preparedness? Read all about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.

Not quite in high school yet, but eager to get started? We've also got information for younger students interested in advanced learning opportunities, both in and out of school.

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