Best Schools in Altadena, California
18 schools · 14 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Altadena?
Use this page to compare every school in Altadena by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Pasadena Rosebud Academy
Elementary · Pasadena Rosebud Academy District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Aveson School of Leaders
Elementary · Aveson School of Leaders District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Stratford School- Altadena Allen
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Altadena for 2026 are Pasadena Rosebud Academy (9.2/10), Aveson School of Leaders (8.8/10), and Stratford School- Altadena Allen (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 14 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
18
8 public · 10 private
Avg Score
7.5
out of 10
Median Home
$1,085,000
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
18
8 public · 10 private
Avg Score
7.5
out of 10
Median Home
$1,085,000
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 69% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Altadena schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +16.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Altadena schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Altadena
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (14 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena Rosebud Academy | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Aveson School of Leaders | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Stratford School- Altadena Allen | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Odyssey Charter | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Mary W. Jackson Steam Multilingual Magnet Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Ocs - South | 7.8 / 10 |
| 7 | St Marks School - Altadena | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Sahag-mesrob Armenian Christian School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Pasadena Waldorf School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 10 | St Elizabeth School | 6.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.5/10
- Median household income
- $133,840
- Median home value
- $1,085,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 52%
- Avg commute
- 28 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 81%
64% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Altadena compares
California rank
#77 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.2
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$134k
134% of California median
Schools in this city
14
About Schools in Altadena, California
Altadena's public school landscape is small and notably consistent. Eight ranked public schools serve the community, averaging 7.7 out of 10. Six of those eight schools — 75% — score 7.0 or higher, a strong floor for a city this size. Parents searching here are not sorting through wide quality variation; the baseline is high across the board.
Pasadena Rosebud Academy leads the city at 9.1 out of 10. Aveson School of Leaders follows at 8.9, and Altadena Elementary scores 8.2. Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary sits at 7.9, a magnet program that combines STEAM academics with multilingual instruction — a meaningful option for families who want specialized programming alongside strong academics. Odyssey Charter rounds out the top five at 7.7, matching the city average precisely and offering a charter alternative without sacrificing performance.
The spread across Altadena's ranked schools is tight. Pasadena Rosebud Academy's 9.1 leads a field where the average sits at 7.7 and 75% of schools clear that mark. This is not a landscape where a few high performers pull up a weak field — the competitive density is real. Families who miss their first-choice school are unlikely to land somewhere they will regret.
The practical challenge in Altadena is enrollment timing, not school quality. Magnet and charter schools operate separate admissions processes from neighborhood zone assignments. Families interested in Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet or Odyssey Charter should confirm application windows early, as these schools often fill ahead of the standard enrollment season. Altadena Elementary provides strong performance at 8.2 with the predictability of zone-based enrollment — a reliable anchor for families who prefer to skip competitive admissions. With three schools scoring above 8.0 and six above 7.0, Altadena gives parents real choice. The priority is knowing which type of school fits best before deadlines pass.
Elementary Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 144 students · Kindergarten–8th | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | 334 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 3 | 466 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 | ||
| 4 | 634 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 | ||
| 5 | 370 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.8 | ||
| 6 | 488 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| Private Schools 8 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Stratford School- Altadena Allen
Private
107 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | St Marks School - Altadena
Private
210 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | 100 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.3 | ||
| 4 | St Elizabeth School
Private
174 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.9 | ||
Show all 14 elementary schools in Altadena
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 395 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 207 students · 6th–12th | 6.6 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena Waldorf School
Private
184 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.3 |
| 2 | Oak Knoll Montessori School
Private
60 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.3 |
Schools in Altadena
Altadena, California · 18 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$133,840
Median Home Value
$1,085,000
Median Rent
$2,298/mo
Population
36,402
College Educated
52%
Homeownership
81%
Avg Commute
28 min
Poverty Rate
7.2%
Community Profile
Altadena has a median household income of $133,840. It is a well-educated community where 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,085,000, with a median rent of $2,298/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 14
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 1
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (6)
Odyssey Charter District
1 school · 466 students
Pasadena Rosebud Academy District
1 school · 144 students
Aveson School of Leaders District
1 school · 334 students
Aveson Global Leadership Academy District
1 school · 207 students
OCS - South District
1 school · 370 students
Pasadena Unified
23 schools · 13,978 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Altadena, California
How many schools are in Altadena, California?
Altadena has 18 schools, including 8 public and 10 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Altadena, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Altadena is 7.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Altadena, California?
The top-ranked school in Altadena on MySchoolScout is Pasadena Rosebud Academy with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Altadena, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Altadena on MySchoolScout is Pasadena Rosebud Academy with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Altadena, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Altadena on MySchoolScout is Charles W. Eliot Middle with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What is the best high school in Altadena, California?
The top-ranked high school in Altadena on MySchoolScout is Aveson Global Leadership Academy with a composite score of 6.6/10.
How many school districts serve Altadena, California?
Altadena is served by 6 school districts: Odyssey Charter District, Pasadena Rosebud Academy District, Aveson School of Leaders District, Aveson Global Leadership Academy District, Ocs - South District, Pasadena Unified.
What is the education level in Altadena, California?
According to Census data, 52% of adults in Altadena have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Altadena, California?
The median household income in Altadena is approximately $133,840 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Altadena, California?
Yes, Altadena has 10 private schools alongside 8 public schools. The top-rated private school is Stratford School- Altadena Allen with a score of 8.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Altadena, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Altadena is 14.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Altadena, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.