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8.4 avg / 10

La Canada Unified School District

School District · La Canada, California

Students: 3,937
Teachers (FTE): 164

Avg Rating

8.4

out of 10

Schools

4

3 elem, 1 high

Per-Pupil Spending

$16,784

Student-Teacher Ratio

24:1

District shortlistschools + peers

Evaluating La Canada Unified?

A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge La Canada Unified as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Palm Crest Elementary

9.0/10

La Canada · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

La Canada High

8.6/10

La Canada · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

Paradise Canyon Elementary

8.5/10

La Canada · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.

How this district compares

California rank

#30 of 713

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+2.1

above California avg

Per-pupil spending

$16,784

$863 vs California median

District size

3,937 students

Larger than California median

The short answer

La Canada Unified ranks #30 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. La Canada Unified's schools with real test data average 8.4/10 across 4 schools. Its top-rated schools are Palm Crest Elementary (9.0/10), La Canada High (8.6/10), and Paradise Canyon Elementary (8.5/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Most improved · 2022 → 2024
Palm Crest Elementary

STAAR proficiency rose +2.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among La Canada Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.

Top-Rated Schools in La Canada Unified

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (4 of 4). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Palm Crest Elementary 9.0 / 10
2 La Canada High 8.6 / 10
3 Paradise Canyon Elementary 8.5 / 10
4 La Canada Elementary 7.4 / 10

See all 4 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About La Canada Unified

La Canada Unified is a La Canada, California school district serving 4 schools. The district educates 3,937 students with a student-teacher ratio of 24:1. The district invests $16,784 per student annually.

With an average rating of 8.4/10, La Canada Unified is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.

The highest-rated school in the district is Palm Crest Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.

In standardized testing, La Canada Unified students show an average math proficiency of 86.8% and ELA proficiency of 88.1%.

The district includes 3 elementary schools , and 1 high school.

District Map

Schools in La Canada Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency 86.8%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 88.1%
School
State
N/A

Average proficiency across all schools in La Canada Unified with test data.

District Details

City
La Canada
Total Enrollment
3,937
Teachers (FTE)
164
Child Poverty Rate
0.0%
Data Year
2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in La Canada Unified?

La Canada Unified has 4 schools in total — 3 elementary, and 1 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for La Canada Unified?

The average composite rating for La Canada Unified is 8.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the per-pupil spending in La Canada Unified?

La Canada Unified spends $16,784 per student per year.

What is the student-teacher ratio in La Canada Unified?

The average student-teacher ratio in La Canada Unified is 24:1.

What is the top-rated school in La Canada Unified?

Palm Crest Elementary is the highest-rated school in La Canada Unified with a composite score of 9.0/10.

What are the test scores in La Canada Unified?

Across schools in La Canada Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 86.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 88.1%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does La Canada Unified compare to other districts in California?

La Canada Unified has an average school rating of 8.4/10 across 4 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating
8.4/10
Math Proficiency
86.8%
ELA Proficiency
88.1%

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 rate

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.

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