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Excellent

#579 of 9,533 schools in CA

Top 6% in state

Pasadena High

High School · Pasadena Unified

2925 East Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107

Enrollment

1,355

Student-Teacher

18.3:1

Score

8.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Pasadena

#1 of 21

public schools

California high schools

#91 of 1,892

In district

#1 of 23

Pasadena Unified

School environment

8.8 / 10

Exceptional

About Pasadena High

Pasadena High is a public high school in Pasadena, CA, part of the Pasadena Unified. The school serves approximately 1,355 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 18.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.6/10, placing it in the 93.9th percentile among CA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 29% proficiency in math, 3 points below the state average and 59% in reading/language arts, 8 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.8/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $124,880, where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a midsize city setting.

What's said publicly about Pasadena High

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026. Reviewed for accuracy.

Pasadena High School is part of the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and offers a Visual Art and Design Academy (VADA) program. The VADA curriculum combines academic courses with visual arts and design projects to provide students with real-world skills for art and design careers or college attendance 1 . The school hosts various events, including a PUSD Dance Festival featuring Beginning, Intermediate, and Orchesis dance groups, and participates in the Jackalope Indie Arts Fair where VADA students showcase their work 1 . Recent student achievements include Josh Irving, a Class of 2026 forward/center, signing to play basketball at Texas A&M, and Paulina, a Class of 2025 student leader and varsity volleyball player, being accepted to Yale University 1 . The school also observes Teacher Appreciation Week and administers AP Testing in May 2026 1 . Faculty members include Mr. Basgall, who previously taught history in the Temple City Unified School District, and Mrs. Hambarsumian, who began her teaching career in Queensland, Australia, in 1998 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. phs.pusd.us
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change+0.19 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.6Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24.6%
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.4%
Math vs. State Avg-3.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.5 pts
Overall Proficiency42%
Expected (poverty-adj.)34%
vs. Expected+7.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile65th
College Readiness9.6Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation45.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$18,056

Pasadena High — Students at Pasadena High score 42% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

71.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 28.8%
School
State
31.8%
ELA Proficiency 59.2%
School
State
51.5%

Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
26%
ELA
53%
2021*
Math
40%
ELA
67%
2024
Math
24.6%
ELA
58.4%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.4/10.

How Pasadena High Compares

See how Pasadena High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
94th percentile in CA
Academic
7.6/10
7.6/10
Growth
8.4/10
Above average
Environment
8.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
72%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
74 teachers

Location

2925 East Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pasadena High may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Marshall Fundamental (rated 7.3/10, 1.2 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is LA SALLE COLLEGE PREPARATORY (rated 6.0/10, 1.3 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Learning Works (rated 5.0/10, 1.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Pasadena, see our Pasadena schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
CIS Academy Pasadena 0.0 mi 8.2
ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pasadena 0.3 mi 7.1
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Pasadena 0.3 mi
Norma Coombs Elementary Pasadena 0.4 mi 7.4
Marianne Frostig Center of Educational Therapy Pasadena 0.4 mi
HIGH POINT ACADEMY Pasadena 0.9 mi 6.8
Learning Works Pasadena 1.0 mi 5.0
Field (Eugene) Elementary Pasadena 0.9 mi 8.2
Webster Elementary Pasadena 1.0 mi 5.3
Villa Esperanza Services Pasadena 1.0 mi
VILLA ESPERANZA SERVICES Pasadena 1.0 mi 6.3
WALDEN SCHOOL Pasadena 1.2 mi 7.1
Options For Youth - Duarte Inc Pasadena 1.2 mi 3.1
Teaching Great Children Pasadena 1.2 mi
St. Gregory's A. & M. Hovsepian School Pasadena 1.2 mi
ST GREGORYS A & M HOVSEPIAN SCHOOL Pasadena 1.3 mi 6.2
Marshall Fundamental Pasadena 1.2 mi 7.3
OUR SCHOOL Pasadena 1.2 mi
Don Benito Fundamental Pasadena 1.3 mi 6.4
LA SALLE COLLEGE PREPARATORY Pasadena 1.3 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 91107 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$124,880

Median Home Value

$1,106,600

Median Rent

$2,311/mo

Population

32,944

College Educated

58.9%

Homeownership

60.2%

Avg Commute

27.4 min

Poverty Rate

6.8%

Median Age

43.5

Community Profile

The community surrounding Pasadena High has a median household income of $124,880. It is a well-educated community where 59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,106,600, with a median rent of $2,311/month. The local poverty rate of 6.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Estancia High Costa Mesa, CA 8.6
Glen A. Wilson High Hacienda Heights, CA 8.6
Nathaniel Narbonne Senior High Harbor City, CA 8.6
Saratoga High Saratoga, CA 8.6
Aragon High San Mateo, CA 8.5
Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High San Francisco, CA 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pasadena High

What grades does Pasadena High serve?

Pasadena High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Pasadena High?

Pasadena High has an enrollment of approximately 1,355 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pasadena High?

The student-teacher ratio at Pasadena High is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Pasadena High rank in CA?

Pasadena High is ranked #579 out of 9,533 schools in CA.

What is Pasadena High's MySchoolScout rating?

Pasadena High has a composite rating of 8.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Pasadena High?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Pasadena High has 28.8% math proficiency and 59.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Pasadena High a charter school?

No, Pasadena High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Pasadena High a Title I school?

No, Pasadena High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pasadena High?

71.8% of students at Pasadena High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
47 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
63 Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,203/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Pasadena). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,355
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
74
Free/Reduced Lunch
71.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Los Angeles County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Pasadena Unified
District Enrollment
13,978
Schools in District
23
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,565
District Rank
#1 of 23

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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