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Very Good

#344 of 1,790 private schools in CA

Top 19% of private schools

Pasadena Waldorf School

School

209 E MARIPOSA ST, Altadena, CA 91001

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 8 schools in Altadena. Learn more

Enrollment

184

Student-Teacher

6.2:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Altadena

#4 of 6

public schools

California schools

#81 of 366

Academic performance

7.0 / 10

Strong

About Pasadena Waldorf School

Pasadena Waldorf School serves 184 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Altadena, offering a distinctive educational approach within the public school system. With 30 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains an exceptionally low 6.2:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for highly personalized attention and small class environments that foster close student-teacher relationships. The school has earned a strong 9.0 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranks #762 out of 1,790 California schools, placing it in the 58th percentile statewide.

This performance reflects the school's commitment to its educational philosophy and comprehensive K-12 program structure. Located on East Mariposa Street, Pasadena Waldorf School sits within an affluent and educated community where 52% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding neighborhood boasts a median household income of $129,030 and median home values of over $1 million, while maintaining a low 7.1% poverty rate among its 36,420 residents.

The school operates in Altadena's large suburban setting, where families value educational innovation and have access to the cultural and academic resources of the greater Los Angeles area while enjoying a more residential, community-oriented environment.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 184 students, Pasadena Waldorf School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.2:1, Pasadena Waldorf School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Pasadena Waldorf School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$34,787
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$38,564
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.11x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
86%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$9.1M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 184 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Pasadena Waldorf School compares to 8 public schools serving similar grades in Altadena, CA

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
This School
vs
20.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
184
This School
vs
380
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.3
This School
vs
7.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 63% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.7% vs 0%
Asian 5.4% vs 0%
Black 2.7% vs 0%
Pasadena Waldorf School Altadena Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Pasadena Waldorf School (this school) 7.3
OCS - South 7.2
Altadena Elementary 8.1
Aveson Global Leadership Academy 5.7
Pasadena Rosebud Academy 9.1
Odyssey Charter 7.5
Charles W. Eliot Middle 6.4
Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary 7.8
Aveson School of Leaders 8.6

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in CA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
C+ 4.4 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,169
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 6.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 56%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 184
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in CA

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 63.0%
Two or More 19.0%
Hispanic 8.7%
Asian 5.4%
Black 2.7%
Pacific Islander 1.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

209 E MARIPOSA ST, Altadena, CA 91001

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Pasadena Waldorf School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Pasadena Rosebud Academy (rated 9.1/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Altadena Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Altadena, see our Altadena schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
FAIR OAKS SCHOOL Altadena 0.2 mi
OCS - South Altadena 0.4 mi 7.2
Altadena Elementary Altadena 0.8 mi 8.1
Harriet Tubman Pasadena 0.9 mi
HARRIET TUBMAN PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY Pasadena 0.9 mi
Aveson Global Leadership Academy Altadena 0.9 mi 5.7
ST MARKS SCHOOL - ALTADENA Altadena 0.9 mi 7.7
Saint Mark's School Altadena 0.9 mi
OAK KNOLL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Altadena 1.0 mi 6.3
Pasadena Rosebud Academy Altadena 1.0 mi 9.1
Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School Altadena 0.9 mi
SAHAG-MESROB ARMENIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Altadena 0.9 mi 7.3
Charles W. Eliot Middle Altadena 1.1 mi 6.4
Odyssey Charter Altadena 1.1 mi 7.5
ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL Altadena 1.3 mi 6.9
Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary Altadena 1.2 mi 7.8
St Elizabeth Parish School Altadena 1.3 mi
Octavia E. Butler Magnet Pasadena 1.4 mi 7.2
PASADENA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Pasadena 1.4 mi 7.6
John Muir High Pasadena 1.3 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 91001 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$133,840

Median Home Value

$1,085,000

Median Rent

$2,298/mo

Population

36,402

College Educated

52.1%

Homeownership

80.5%

Avg Commute

27.9 min

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Median Age

46.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Pasadena Waldorf School has a median household income of $133,840. It is a well-educated community where 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,085,000, with a median rent of $2,298/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 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
JCS - Cedar Cove Julian, CA 7.3
MODESTO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Modesto, CA 7.3
POINT QUEST CENTRAL VALLEY Lodi, CA 7.3
Puente Hills High Hacienda Heights, CA 7.3
SPEECH & LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT CENTER Buena Park, CA 7.3
WESTMARK SCHOOL Encino, CA 7.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pasadena Waldorf School

What grades does Pasadena Waldorf School serve?

Pasadena Waldorf School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Pasadena Waldorf School?

Pasadena Waldorf School has an enrollment of approximately 184 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pasadena Waldorf School?

The student-teacher ratio at Pasadena Waldorf School is 6.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Pasadena Waldorf School rank in CA?

Pasadena Waldorf School is ranked #344 out of 1,790 private schools in CA.

What is Pasadena Waldorf School's MySchoolScout rating?

Pasadena Waldorf School has a composite rating of 7.3 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.

Is Pasadena Waldorf School a private school?

Yes, Pasadena Waldorf School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Pasadena Waldorf School a religious school?

No, Pasadena Waldorf School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
60 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
184
Gender Split
58% M / 42% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
167 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
LOS ANGELES
Data Year
2022–2023

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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