It is racially and ethnically diverse, and its students consistently receive among the highest scores in standardized testing within LAUSD.

[2] In 1999 Martha Groves of the Los Angeles Times said that Community was a "high-achieving, innovative elementary school.

"[3] In 2002 Carol Lynn Mithers, a writer and a parent of a Community magnet student, said in a Los Angeles Times opinion column that the school "is one of the district's jewels.

"[4][5] The school also serves as one of two meeting places for the Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council.

[4] At the time of its founding, it was located on the property of the campus of the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) in Mid-City,[3][4] and it remained there for a period of around 25 years.

Several black and Jewish parents decided to establish an alternative school so that the various ethnic groups could more easily interact with one another.

After its founding, according to Martha Groves of the Los Angeles Times, "the school has gained a reputation for parent involvement and student achievement.

Cummins offered to add amenities and cooperative programs in exchange for a short-term lease at the Walgrove site for New Roads.

[8] Residents of the Mid-City were opposed, since the plan would remove the final remaining elementary magnet school.

The project manager proposed building a new facility would have a $4.2 million budget, so a new campus could be constructed on the site of the Walgrove playground using pre-fabricated modular structures.

Mithers said that after the proposal was presented, the parent body voted to endorse the plans,[4] "[a]mid much grumbling".

"[15] The school features a 4-acre (1.6 ha) playground, gardens, and a library that includes a small amphitheater and private reading rooms.

Stephanie Guzman of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism of the University of Southern California said that Community, "[s]urrounded by million dollar homes and views," "is what you’d expect for Bel Air.

While at its Mid-City location, the school did not have covered halls,[4] its own art room, auditorium,[3] food preparation area,[4] or cafeteria/lunchroom.

After mandatory class-size reductions occurred, more classes needed to be made, so the school converted two bathrooms and the library into classrooms.

"[3] During that year, Martha Groves of the Los Angeles Times said "Against the odds, teachers and the school's devoted parents have made the place a nurturing home, painting colorful murals and creating a palpable sense of, well, community.

The school's magnet coordinator says that "If you live in Bel Air and come from a wealthy community, you don’t get any points.

Because of the ways the application process gives favor to residents of other communities, children from Bel-Air generally do not attend the school.

Our philosophy is, if we teach our best all the time and give them the activities and information they need, they’ll be fine on the exam.

[16][17] Community Charter School students receive among the highest standardized testing scores within LAUSD.

[18] The school also hosts Caring Adults Teaching Children How (CATCH), a volunteer program where a mentor works with a child for one hour per week on reading skills.

The Governor of California Office on Child Development and Education awarded Community Magnet the CATCH program as a grant in 1995.