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Excellent

#1599 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 17% 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

8.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#1,599 of 9,539

In Pasadena

#3 of 21

public schools

In district

#6 of 23

Pasadena Unified

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Pasadena High

8.0/10

High School in Pasadena · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Cis Academy

7.7/10

0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Assumption of the Bvm Elementary School

7.2/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Pasadena High

Pasadena High is a public high school in Pasadena, CA, part of Pasadena Unified. Pasadena High serves approximately 1,355 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Pasadena High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,599 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for Pasadena High show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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
How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.0 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.2
  • CA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

35% of students at Pasadena High were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.27 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.6Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24.6% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency58.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-3.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.5 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)34% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+7.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile65th
College Readiness8.8Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate93%
AP Participation45.9%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,565
Chronic Absenteeism34.8%

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 38.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
31.8% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 58.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
51.5% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
49%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
56%
ELA
65%
2011
Math
57%
ELA
58%
2012
Math
58%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
55%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
30%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
33%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
30%
ELA
63%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
43%
2018
Math
26%
ELA
53%
2019
Math
26%
ELA
53%
2020*
Math
40%
ELA
67%
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: 6.6/10.

How Pasadena High Compares

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

Overall Score
8.0/10
83th percentile in CA
Academic
7.6/10
Very Good
Growth
6.6/10
Average
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent
AP Courses
4
State avg: 2.6
Sports
5
4 boys' · 1 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
72%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
74 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
34.8%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4 AP courses offered
45.9% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics5sports offered
4 boys'·1 girls'·6 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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 7.9/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is LA SALLE COLLEGE PREPARATORY (rated 6.0/10, 1.3 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Learning Works (rated 4.1/10, 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 7.7
ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pasadena 0.3 mi 7.2
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Pasadena 0.3 mi
Norma Coombs Elementary Pasadena 0.4 mi 5.1
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 4.1
Field (Eugene) Elementary Pasadena 0.9 mi 9.3
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 2.6
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 7.9
OUR SCHOOL Pasadena 1.2 mi
Don Benito Fundamental Pasadena 1.3 mi 5.6
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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Burton (Phillip and Sala) Academic High San Francisco, CA 8.0
Cobalt Institute of Math and Science Victorville, CA 8.0
Dana Hills High Dana Point, CA 8.0
Estancia High Costa Mesa, CA 8.0
Kingsburg High Kingsburg, CA 8.0
Maywood Center for Enriched Studies Maywood, CA 8.0

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 ranks #1,599 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Pasadena High's MySchoolScout rating?

Pasadena High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Pasadena High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Pasadena High has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

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

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.8%
4-Year Graduation
93.0%

District

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

How we rate schools

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