Pasadena Unified School District
School District · Pasadena, California
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
23
14 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
13,978
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
Avg Rating
6.8
out of 10
Schools
23
14 elem, 3 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
13,978
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.5:1
Evaluating Pasadena Unified?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Pasadena 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.
Field (eugene) Elementary
Pasadena · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Sierra Madre Middle
Sierra Madre · Middle. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Sierra Madre Elementary
Sierra Madre · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#234 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.5
above California avg
Per-pupil spending
$21,565
+$3,918 vs California median
District size
13,978 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Pasadena Unified ranks #234 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Pasadena Unified's schools with real test data average 6.8/10 across 23 schools. Its top-rated schools are Field (eugene) Elementary (9.3/10), Sierra Madre Middle (8.9/10), and Sierra Madre Elementary (8.4/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.7/10 despite 83% 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 Pasadena Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +16.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Pasadena Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Pasadena Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (23 of 23). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Field (eugene) Elementary | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Sierra Madre Middle | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Sierra Madre Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | San Rafael Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Mary W. Jackson Steam Multilingual Magnet Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Pasadena High | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Marshall Fundamental | 7.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Hamilton Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Cis Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Blair High | 7.2 / 10 |
See all 23 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Pasadena Unified
Pasadena Unified is a Pasadena, California school district serving 23 schools.The district educates 13,978 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.5:1. District-level spending was $21,565 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.8/10, Pasadena Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Field (eugene) Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.3/10.
In standardized testing, Pasadena Unified students show an average math proficiency of 39.8% and ELA proficiency of 45.6%.
The district includes 14 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Pasadena Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Pasadena Unified with test data.
Schools in Pasadena Unified
23 schoolsElementary Schools14
High Schools5
Other Schools1
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Pasadena
- Total Enrollment
- 13,978
- Teachers (FTE)
- 651
- District spending per student
- $21,565NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Pasadena Unified?
Pasadena Unified has 23 schools in total — 14 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Pasadena Unified?
The average composite rating for Pasadena Unified is 6.8/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Pasadena Unified?
Pasadena Unified's district-level spending was $21,565 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Pasadena Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Pasadena Unified is 21.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Pasadena Unified?
Field (eugene) Elementary is the highest-rated school in Pasadena Unified with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What are the test scores in Pasadena Unified?
Across schools in Pasadena Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 39.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 45.6%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Pasadena Unified compare to other districts in California?
Pasadena Unified has an average school rating of 6.8/10 across 23 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
- 6.8/10
- Math Proficiency
- 39.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 45.6%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Pasadena Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.