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Schools in Altadena · Pasadena Unified School District

Altadena’s public schools outscore 58% of California districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Altadena, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#374of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
45%
▼ 2 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
33%
▼ 0 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85%
▼ 1 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$24.9K
▲ 17% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
21.1
CA 21.6
Schools in town
13
7,120 students on the public path
In brief

Altadena’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 431 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Altadena’s, its schools beat 41%, lower than their 58% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 45% of tested students were proficient in reading and 33% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $24,911 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and four high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

OCS - South, Pasadena Waldorf School (private), Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School (private), St. Elizabeth School (private), Oak Knoll Montessori School (private), Princeton Montessori School (private), Firehouse Preschool (private), Fair Oaks School (private) and Meher Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Altadena’s grade

B Test scoresC Graduation

B: better than 58% of California school districts, #374 of 847 California towns. Both inputs trail the California average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 58%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (431)Better than 41%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 7,348 test results and a graduating class of 1,208 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Altadena’s students in the tested grades sat them (7,333 in math, 7,363 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Altadena, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8Charles W. Eliot MiddlePasadena Unified School DistrictNo scores
9–124 high schoolsDepends on your addressB+ to A−

Altadena’s public schools are run by Pasadena Unified School District, which also serves Pasadena and Sierra Madre. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Pasadena Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 23 schools · 13,639 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 21.1 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$24,911CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading45%
State average 46.7% · 7363 students tested
Math33%
State average 33.1% · 7333 students tested

Altadena vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Altadena’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
AltadenaBPasadena Unified
PasadenaBPasadena Unified

Every school in Altadena

17 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Altadenaby address
Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
658 students25:1Rate it →
Altadena Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
527 students23:1Rate it →
Webster Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Pasadena
277 students20:1Rate it →
Charles W. Eliot Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
407 students17:1Rate it →
Also serving Altadenain other towns
Marshall Fundamental
High · Grades 6–12 · Pasadena
A−
1,689 students21:1Rate it →
Blair High
High · Grades 6–12 · Pasadena
B+
1,053 students18:1Rate it →
Pasadena High
High · Grades 9–12 · Pasadena
A−
1,303 students18:1Rate it →
John Muir High
High · Grades 9–12 · Pasadena
B+
1,206 students22:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
OCS - South
Elementary · Grades K–8
Charter
392 students20:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Pasadena Waldorf School
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
247 students6:1Rate it →
Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
186 students14:1Rate it →
St. Elizabeth School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
154 students14:1Rate it →
Oak Knoll Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Nonsectarian
115 students5:1Rate it →
Princeton Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
44 students6:1Rate it →
Firehouse Preschool
Elementary · Grades PK–2
Private · Nonsectarian
38 students8:1Rate it →
Fair Oaks School
Elementary · Grades K–5
Private · Nonsectarian
30 students5:1Rate it →
Meher Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
18 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Altadena’s schools

Are Altadena’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Altadena children attend outscore 58% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #374 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 41%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Altadena in?

Pasadena Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 13,639 students in 23 schools (2024–25).

Where do Altadena kids go to high school?

One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: Marshall Fundamental, Pasadena High, John Muir High and Blair High.

What is Altadena’s graduation rate?

85% of the class of 2023 in Pasadena Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Altadena spend per student?

$24,911 in Pasadena Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Altadena?

Yes: Pasadena Waldorf School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 247 students), Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 186 students), St. Elizabeth School (Catholic, grades K–8, 154 students), Oak Knoll Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 115 students), Princeton Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 44 students), Firehouse Preschool (nonsectarian, grades PK–2, 38 students), Fair Oaks School (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 30 students) and Meher Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 18 students). Altadena also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Altadena families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Altadena → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.