For the first time in 13 years, 24th Street Elementary held a fifth-grade culmination ceremony on June 10 — thanks to a determined group of parents and staff who organized to bring fifth grade back to the school. 

24th Street Elementary lost their fifth grade in 2013 when an unprecedented agreement handed Crown Preparatory Academy charter the entire senior grade, making 24th Street the only elementary school in the district without one. This forced families to transfer their children for just one year, disrupting students’ education and emotional continuity.  

 “My son built a community with his friends and teachers, and I didn’t want that taken away from him,” parent Joanna Montiel says. “I wanted him to complete it, and to finish strong with everybody that supported him from the start.” 

In spring of 2025, educators and families launched the “Fight for Fifth” campaign with an email action, weekly pickets to pressure the district and LAUSD school board, and packing the room during a Board District 1 Town Hall and Crown Prep board meeting. In June 2025, they learned their fight was successful and that fifth grade would be reinstated at the school starting in the 2025-2026 school year. 

Andrea Hernandez Cruz and Cesar Cruz with daughters Annabelle and Ayleen Cruz

“It was a long battle of going to meetings, but it was so worth it,” parent Andrea Hernandez Cruz says. “The staff here, the school in general, really feels like home. The time that they take with these kids, all the improvements that they make to this school every year, has been amazing. We were so happy that we got to spend an extra year in this school.” 

The culmination ceremony spoke to the importance of the moment and the legacy that will impact every student going forward, who will be able to culminate with their classmates instead of being forced to transfer schools after fourth grade. 

Parents Miguel Avila and Karen Rodriguez

“This is a milestone for us,” parent Karen Rodriguez said. “Our son gets to finish out his elementary school career at the same school where he started.” 

During the ceremony, staff and parents who led the fight were called to the front of the stage to be recognized for never giving up on their vision to bring back fifth grade. 

“We fought for our students,” Montiel says. “We were going to get fifth grade back. I didn’t see this going any other way.” 

Parents Miguel Avila and Karen Rodriguez

UTLA members Maria Olmos, Dr. Hadrain Carter, and Luz Ortega united with staff and parents to organize the Fight for Fifth campaign.