Downtown Magnets High School

What Downtown Magnets High School does

Downtown Magnets High School is a public magnet high school operating within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), located at 1200 Colton Street in downtown Los Angeles. The school serves high school students through specialized academic pathways, including the Downtown Business Magnet and the Downtown Computer Science/Engineering/Multimedia Magnet, alongside the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program — one of only three offered within LAUSD. Two smaller career-themed academies — the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Fashion Design & Merchandising — extend the curriculum into industry-aligned tracks. The school is publicly funded through LAUSD per-pupil allocations and charges no tuition, so its operating model is non-commercial in the conventional sense.

The school's underlying technology infrastructure is limited to standard educational platforms: Schoology for learning management, GoGuardian for device management, and Naviance for college and career planning. No proprietary technical platform or AI capabilities are disclosed. The school's differentiation is instead built on academic outcomes (95%+ IB pass rate, 96.6% college acceptance rate), regulatory credentials (IB authorization, magnet status), and an ecosystem of partnerships. Corporate sponsors — CIT Group, PwC, KPMG, Cornerstone OnDemand, and Cognizant — provide mentorship, internships, and curriculum support, and a USC dual-enrollment partnership enables students to earn college credit in high school. The school has accumulated multiple recognitions, including National Blue Ribbon, California Gold Ribbon, and Magnet Schools of America awards, and is ranked among the top three LAUSD schools. A discrepancy exists in founding dates across sources (1981 vs. 1994), reflecting either a founding-period rebadge or inconsistent record-keeping.

Name

Downtown Magnets High School

Legal name

Downtown Magnets High School

Website

https://downtownmagnets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Downtown Magnets High School is a public LAUSD magnet high school offering specialized pathways in business, computer science/engineering/multimedia, and the IB Diploma Program, serving academically motivated students through corporate sponsorships and a USC dual-enrollment partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Magnet Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Magnet & Specialty Schools (STEM/Arts/IB/CTE) (EDAJAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Public magnet education
• College preparatory programs
• STEM high school
• Business magnet academy
• IB diploma program

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As a LAUSD public magnet high school, Downtown Magnets receives funding from state and federal education sources rather than tuition. No direct revenue is generated from students as public education is free.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Downtown Magnets High School is a public LAUSD magnet high school that delivers tuition-free college-preparatory education through two specialized academic pathways: Downtown HS (Business), comprising the Academy of Finance and the Academy of Fashion Design & Merchandising, and Downtown HS (Computer Science/Engineering/MultiMedia), covering programming, engineering, and digital media arts. The school supplements these pathways with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, college counseling via the Suns College Center, 30+ student clubs, Freeway League athletics, and after-school tutoring, all delivered on a single campus in downtown Los Angeles.

Product overview

Downtown Magnets High School is a LAUSD magnet high school offering two main academic pathways: Downtown HS (Business) with Academy of Finance and Fashion Design academies, and Downtown HS (Computer Science/Engineering/MultiMedia) with STEM-focused courses. The school also offers the IB Diploma Program, one of only three in LAUSD. Students participate in A-G compliant core academics plus pathway-specific coursework. The school supports student development through 30+ clubs, competitive athletics in the Freeway League, college counseling via the Suns College Center, after-school tutoring, and specialized teams including Robotics and Debate. All programs operate from a single campus at 1200 Colton Street, Los Angeles, serving students from throughout the LAUSD district.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Academy of Finance: Part of Downtown HS (Business) pathway offering courses in entrepreneurship, accounting, corporate finance, and international relations.
• Academy of Fashion Design and Merchandising
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program

Products and services

• Downtown HS (Business) Magnet Program Business-focused magnet pathway offering two academies — Academy of Finance and Academy of Fashion Design & Merchandising — for college-bound high school students, providing real-world business experience through internships and partnerships with industry sponsors including CIT Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, and Cornerstone OnDemand.
• Downtown HS (Computer Science/Engineering/MultiMedia) Magnet Program STEM-focused magnet pathway offering courses in computer programming (Java), engineering (Intro to Engineering, Architectural Design, 3D Solid Modeling, Principles of Engineering), and digital media arts, incorporating hands-on project-based learning into students' high school education.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program Rigorous academic program offered at only 3 schools in LAUSD, coordinated by Ms. Marilyn Watt; students apply through Downtown HS (Business) to be considered for this pathway.
• Suns College Center College preparation center providing guidance on college applications, scholarships, A-G requirements, and financial aid, featuring college visits and individual counseling sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95%+ IB Pass Rate (2017-2023)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIT GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for the Academy of Finance, providing support for resume writing, interview skills workshops, mock interviews, internship opportunities, and business plan coaching.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for the Academy of Finance, supporting student development in finance and accounting through workshops and mentorship programs.
• KPMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor for the Academy of Finance, providing professional development support and industry connections for students.
• Cornerstone OnDemandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for the Academy of Finance program.
• CognizantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting the Academy of Finance program.
• Los Angeles Education PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides support for the Academy of Finance through resume writing, interview skills workshops, and business plan coaching.
• Network for Teaching EntrepreneurshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Academy of Finance with entrepreneurship education, coaching, and networking opportunities.
• FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for the Academy of Fashion Design and Merchandising, providing articulation and pathway opportunities.
• Woodbury UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting the Fashion Design pathway with potential for articulation.
• California Market CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion industry partner providing senior-year internship opportunities for Fashion Design students.
• University of Southern California (USC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 5-week after-school college credit classes in finance and accounting at USC for Academy of Finance students during the first 2 months of the school year.
• National Academy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with NAF, a national network of career-themed academies providing curriculum and industry connections.
• California Partnership AcademiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with CPA, a state program supporting academy-style career education.
• Los Angeles Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing resources and services to students.
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)coreOthersParent district providing oversight, funding, curriculum standards, and centralized application systems for all magnet schools including Downtown Magnets.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bravo Medical Magnet High School: Another LAUSD public magnet high school with a specialized academic focus (medical/health sciences). Directly comparable as a same-district magnet competing for the same college-bound applicant pool through the LAUSD E-Choices application system.
• Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES): LAUSD magnet middle and high school with a college-preparatory focus. Comparable as an LAUSD magnet school with strong college-readiness outcomes and shared district-level reputation dynamics.
• Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts: LAUSD magnet high school specializing in visual and performing arts. Comparable as a district magnet with specialized pathways, awards history, and the same centralized magnet application funnel as Downtown Magnets.
• Alexander Hamilton High School (Humanities Magnet): LAUSD public magnet offering a humanities-focused pathway. Comparable as an LAUSD magnet competing through the E-Choices system for similar high-achieving students with specialized academic themes.

Emerging players

• USC Hybrid High School: STEM-focused charter high school in Los Angeles with strong college-prep outcomes and industry-aligned programming. Comparable as a Los Angeles-area, college-prep, STEM-themed secondary school competing for similar student demographics.
• Alliance Marc & Eva Stern Math and Science High School: Alliance College-Ready charter high school in Los Angeles with a math/science focus. Comparable as a Los Angeles-area secondary school targeting college-bound students through STEM pathways, competing for similar applicant demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Palos Verdes Peninsula High School: Established public high school in the greater Los Angeles region recognized for strong college-prep outcomes and AP/IB offerings. Comparable as a high-performing California public high school with IB access, though outside the immediate LAUSD magnet application funnel.

Regional players

• Lowell High School (San Francisco USD): Highly ranked public magnet-style high school in San Francisco with rigorous academics and selective admissions. Comparable as a top-tier public magnet high school with selective admissions and strong college placement, though serving a different metropolitan area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/laschools
• Facebookfacebook.com/laschools
• Instagraminstagram.com/downtownmagnets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/downtown-magnets-high-school

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Downtown Magnets High School