Skip to main content

Excellent

#1599 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 17% in state

Pasadena High

High School · Pasadena Unified · Pasadena, CA

A Pasadena Unified high school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.

2925 East Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107

  • Math 25% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 58% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 93.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

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, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.3:1
District spending per student$21,565
Chronic Absenteeism34.8%

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

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency25%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency58%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 12 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 42% recently.

Show all 14 years
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
25%
ELA
58%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 58% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

71.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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

The neighborhood

Where Pasadena High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Los Angeles map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 47Car-Dependent
  • Transit 35Some Transit
  • Bike 63Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,203/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Pasadena), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$124,880

Median home value

$1,106,600

Median rent

$2,311/mo

College educated

58.9%

Homeownership

60.2%

Poverty rate

6.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 91107; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
45.9% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics5sports offered
4 boys'·1 girls'·6 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Cis AcademyEnrollment path unverified7.7K–120.0 mi235Compare →
Marianne Frostig Center of Educational TherapyPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–120.4 mi138Compare →
Learning WorksCharter · enrollment unverified4.17–121.0 mi186Compare →
Villa Esperanza ServicesPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–121.0 mi44Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Pasadena Unified

Schools in district
23
Rank in district
#6 of 23
District spending per student
$21,565NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

Pasadena High is listed in Pasadena Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Pasadena High

Pasadena High is a public high school in Pasadena, CA, part of Pasadena Unified, serving approximately 1,355 students in grades 9th-12th with a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,599 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records 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

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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,355
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
74
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Los Angeles County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.8%
4-Year Graduation
93.0%
Area population (ZIP 91107)
32,944
Area average commute
27.4 min
Area median age
43.5
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 91107; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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.