Los Angeles, a sprawling metropolis known for its entertainment industry, is also a hub for educational enrichment, offering numerous venues that cater to those with a penchant for mathematics. From state-of-the-art science centers to esteemed cultural institutions, Los Angeles provides a myriad of opportunities for learning and exploring mathematical concepts. Whether you're looking to delve into intricate mathematical theories or discover the intersection of math and art, the city's diverse array of museums, libraries, and centers offers valuable resources and exhibits to satiate your curiosity and foster a deeper understanding of mathematics.
A dynamic destination where families, adults, and children can explore the wonders of science through interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, innovative programs, and awe-inspiring films.
This science center caters to young minds with interactive exhibits, fostering learning in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in fun and engaging ways.
Griffith Observatory offers astronomical exhibits that integrate mathematical concepts, providing an educational experience for visitors interested in the intersection of math and astronomy.
A unique children's museum that offers interactive exhibits, programs, and activities designed to encourage kids to explore and learn, with several exhibits involving mathematical concepts.
The Los Angeles Public Library offers a wealth of math-related resources, including books, online databases, and learning materials, catering to a variety of learning levels and interests.
California adopted the Common Core Standards for Mathematics in 2010, and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has spent several years implementing those standards. The school district’s Mathematics Branch manages the math instructional programs, and one of its goals is to ensure coherent math instruction throughout the district. Additionally, the LAUSD hopes to provide instruction and support for teachers so that every student becomes proficient in algebra and more advanced math courses.
K-5 students in Los Angeles learn math topics that include arithmetic, mental math strategies, number sense, computational fluency, fractions, and problem-solving techniques. Middle school students focus on ratios, multi-digit arithmetic, basic geometry, algebraic equations, and word problems.
High school students in Los Angeles take algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2. They may also take honors advanced mathematics and a financial algebra course. The high school math curriculum also covers the basics of statistics and probability, and pre-calculus.
According to data from 2019, only 39.7% of students in 3rd through 8th grade in California met the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress math standards. That percentage dropped to 33.8% in the 2020-2021 school year, a change that correlates to the educational challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Los Angeles County, only 31% of students met the math standard in 2021.
In California’s 2019 graduating class (the most recent year for which data is available), an estimated 23% of students took the ACT test. The average composite score was 22.6, slightly higher than the national average composite score of 20.7. The average math score of the 2019 California graduating class was 22.3.
Of the California graduating class of 2021, 24% took the SAT during high school. The average score in the math section was 530 (out of 800).
Los Angeles is a vibrant center for local math competitions and STEM-related events, offering an abundance of enriching experiences for students of all ages. The Los Angeles Math Circle (LAMC) is a top-tier math enrichment program that organizes a variety of competitions, allowing students to explore mathematical concepts in a collaborative environment. Similarly, the Southern California MATHCOUNTS program provides a competitive but enjoyable environment for bright middle school students to enhance their math skills, ultimately contributing to their academic and professional growth in STEM fields.
The Greater Los Angeles Science and Engineering Fair serves as a remarkable platform for students interested in a broader range of STEM fields, incorporating mathematical concepts and analytical thinking into its extensive range of projects and activities. These events offer students unique chances to explore advanced concepts, meet like-minded peers, and experience in-depth math and science topics.
Los Angeles is a focal point for innovative grassroots and governmental initiatives aimed at enhancing math education. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has launched numerous initiatives, such as the Math Support Services Program, aimed at fostering an inclusive and high-quality learning environment, targeting improved math proficiency among students.
Additionally, grassroots organizations like the Los Angeles Math Circle (LAMC) offer enriching programs designed to cultivate a love for math and strengthen math skills among students in the community. The commitment of such organizations and initiatives highlights the ongoing efforts in Los Angeles to provide accessible and quality math education to students, making math engaging and promoting excellence in STEM fields.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena is one of the world’s top institutions for mathematics and has significantly influenced the math scene in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Unified School District is the second-largest public school district in the United States, serving a significant student population with diverse math education programs.
Los Angeles is notable for being home to Fields Medal winners like Terence Tao and Vaughan Jones, who received the award for their groundbreaking contributions to various mathematical fields while affiliated with UCLA.
Several institutions in Los Angeles organize events and workshops to celebrate Math Awareness Month in April, aiming to increase public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics.
UCLA's Department of Mathematics has significantly influenced the field of mathematics, with faculty and alumni receiving numerous awards and honors, contributing to the advancement of mathematical knowledge and education.
In 2021, the mean SAT score in California was 1057 with a standard deviation of 247. The scores were further broken down into a mean score of 527 or Evidence-based Reading and Writing (ERW), and a mean score of 530 math. The percentage of the graduating class taking the SAT was 24%, showing a decrease from the previous years, which could be a reflection of changing college admission policies amid the pandemic. Data from NCES
The average ACT scores for California students were notably high with a composite score of 26.1, accompanied by scores of 26.2 in English, 25.6 in Mathematics, 26.6 in Reading, and 25.5 in Science. The percentage of graduates taking the ACT in California was 5% in 2021, showing a significant drop from 31% in 2017, likely a result of the pandemic and a move towards test-optional admissions policies by many colleges and universities. Data from NCES
There are several benefits to working with an online service when you want to find a math tutor in Los Angeles. You don’t need to limit yourself to tutors who live in your local area. Your child can meet with an expert via the internet and enjoy learning at home or another place where they feel comfortable.
Consider the tutor’s qualifications, personality, and teaching style to find an instructor who will work well with your child. With Learner, the first tutoring session is free, so you can ensure the tutor is a good match for your student.
When you hire a math tutor from Learner, you invest in their education and long-term success. Your child gets all the benefits of one-on-one instruction from an expert tutor who can thoroughly explain complicated math concepts. Tutoring sessions are recorded and always available for review.
Answer questions about your child's background and unique needs.
Schedule a call with our Academic Advisor to identify learning goals and objectives.
We will custom match the right tutor for your child. Your initial session is commitment-free.
Finding an expert math tutor can feel overwhelming. Here are some answers to the most common questions about private math tutoring services.
Most Learner students see improvements in their self-confidence, homework, and quiz grades within a few weeks. But these aren’t the only progress markers. Your child’s tutor will give detailed feedback after every session so you and your child can see where they’re improving and which areas still need work.
Many Los Angeles classrooms are crowded and full of distractions, making it difficult for students to ask questions or pay attention to examples. At Learner, your student will meet with their tutor in our virtual classroom, which is designed to be a safe and distraction-free learning environment.
A good understanding of math isn’t just essential to graduating high school or getting a good standardized test score. Math concepts show up in everyday life and have applications in every industry. Our tutors offer relatable examples and word problems to help students understand the importance of key math concepts.
Chelsea from Learner helped me to get a full ride to Duke University.
“Chelsea from Learner was the perfect match for me. She customized the training so that it would push me hard - but not too hard where I would get frustrated. I worked with Chelsea for years because she took a genuine interest in me and my future.”
"Stephanie taught me how to be more organized. I was getting Bs and Cs before I started working with her. I used to get overwhelmed before studying for a test. Stephanie taught me how to create “study guides” so I’d have all the big ideas in one place. I am now getting As and Bs and my parents are much happier."
"When I first started working with Alan, I told him I would never be good at math. I barely passed my first two years of high school math and I needed one more hard math class to graduate. Alan believed in me and worked with me on the basics. Little by little, he built up my confidence to the point where I realized I am good at math and I did well in the class."
At Learner, we offer math tutoring to Los Angeles students of all ages, from elementary school to college. Our private tutors have also worked with nontraditional adult students and high schoolers preparing for the SAT and ACT. Here are some of the most popular math subjects we offer.
Scholarship Award: $1,000
The Women in STEM Scholarship is a recurring scholarship that’s open to women who are STEM majors. The next deadline to apply is November 20th, and winners will be announced on December 20th.
Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) play crucial roles in today’s rapidly evolving technological advancements. However, the STEM industry hasn’t always advocated for equal representation, leaving women disadvantaged. With this considered, Learner’s Annual Women in STEM Scholarship strives to encourage and support women pursuing a STEM career, recognizing the boundless potential they bring to global innovation.
The journey to gender equality in STEM fields, although progressing, still has a long way to go. Beyond fairness, the industry as a whole needs bright, young minds to continue its advancement, and we believe women are the key to filling the gap. By offering support to dedicated women pursuing a STEM education, we hope to encourage the next generation of STEM leaders, minimizing financial strain and inequality.
We at Learner recognize the importance of promoting a diverse and inclusive learning environment. Our scholarship is a testament to our dedication to equal opportunities in STEM, aimed at reducing barriers that impede the academic journey of young women in these fields. By doing so, we hope to inspire more women to pursue and thrive in STEM careers, contributing to a richer, more diverse professional realm.
We believe more diverse representation in STEM will fuel innovation, drive growth, and lead to more comprehensive solutions for global challenges. We also envision this scholarship serving as a catalyst to motivate other institutions and organizations to promote gender equality in STEM education and careers.Through Learner’s Annual Women in STEM scholarship, we aim to foster a community of women empowered by knowledge, driven by curiosity, and ready to contribute to the STEM field.
Amount: $1,000
Application deadline: November 20
Winner announcement: December 20
Recurring: Annually
You can apply for this scholarship on the Bold.org scholarship platform. Follow the directions and submit your application for the Women in STEM Scholarship, along with a short essay answering the following prompts:
The application will be open through November 20.
The scholarship award is $1,000.
Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. Recipients will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
The prize check will be sent to the scholarship winner’s college institution in their name and in the name of their institution (depending on the school’s requirements).
Yes, the Women in STEM Scholarship is an annual scholarship.
Learner manages this scholarship with the support of the Bold.org scholarship platform. Bold.org takes student confidentiality and privacy incredibly seriously. Please refer to the application page on Bold.org for full details.
More Americans than ever are earning diplomas, which boosts earnings and decreases their risk of unemployment.
Learner analyzed data from the Census Bureau via the University of Minnesota IPUMS to see what the most common college majors are for American workers in Los Angeles, based on a national analysis. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
In 2022, 37.5% of adults 25 and older had earned a bachelor's degree or higher, up from around 28% in 2009. The rise may be due in part to a shift in job requirements: Roles that once required just a high school education now call for a college degree. Americans holding bachelor's degrees had an unemployment rate of just 2.2% last year, compared to 3.9% for those with only high school degrees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
New York Federal Reserve research published in 2019 found that college graduates had a substantial premium over workers with only high school degrees, earning about $30,000 a year more on average. They estimate that for students who complete their degrees, the return on investment for a college degree is around 14%.
Nationally, business is by far the most common undergraduate major. As of 2022, around 8.5 million adults working full-time had a bachelor's degree in a business-related field, while 2.9 million of them also earned some kind of postgraduate degree in the field, such as a master's degree in business or accounting.
Common jobs for business majors include accountants, who make a median income of $80,000 yearly; financial analysts, who make around $100,000; and market researchers, who take home about $75,000, per BLS data. Engineering and education were the next most common fields for full-time workers, with around 4.5 million graduates each.
College is becoming increasingly expensive. However, for some, especially those with an academic aptitude, earning a degree can still make financial sense.
Read on to see what the most common college degrees are in Los Angeles.
#5. Engineering
- Workers with only a bachelor's degree in 2022: 26,400
-- Median annual income: $83,500
- Workers with this bachelor's degree, plus a postgraduate degree in 2022: 18,500
-- Median annual income: $109,900
#4. Social sciences
- Workers with only a bachelor's degree in 2022: 43,800
-- Median annual income: $65,400
- Workers with this bachelor's degree, plus a postgraduate degree in 2022: 30,700
-- Median annual income: $102,400
#3. Communications
- Workers with only a bachelor's degree in 2022: 45,100
-- Median annual income: $74,100
- Workers with this bachelor's degree, plus a postgraduate degree in 2022: 9,600
-- Median annual income: $90,300
#2. Fine arts
- Workers with only a bachelor's degree in 2022: 68,600
-- Median annual income: $56,600
- Workers with this bachelor's degree, plus a postgraduate degree in 2022: 16,300
-- Median annual income: $75,300
#1. Business
- Workers with only a bachelor's degree in 2022: 90,400
-- Median annual income: $70,100
- Workers with this bachelor's degree, plus a postgraduate degree in 2022: 28,000
-- Median annual income: $99,700
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 35 cities.
This story originally appeared on Learner and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.