South Pasadena Unified
South Pasadena Unified has 5 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 82.0/100 — 38.2 points above the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Marengo Elementary at 88/100, where 66.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $11,641 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 6.4%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 80.9 | 3 | 59.6% | 4.9% |
| Middle | 83.6 | 1 | 58.0% | 6.3% |
| High | 83.5 | 1 | 55.2% | 10.8% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in South Pasadena Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: South Pasadena Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 83.6.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -4.2pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 10.4 points — moderately consistent between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 6.4%, 11.8pp above the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 1.1%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Marengo Elementary leads the district at 88 with 66.9% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in South Pasadena Unified
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
South Pasadena Unified spends $11,641 per student in current expenditures — $3,174 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Elementary Schools (3)
South Pasadena Unified has 3 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 80.9 — 37.2 points above the state average of 43.8. 3 of 3 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -4.2pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Marengo Elementary with a Scope Score of 88 and 66.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Growth | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marengo Elementary South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 88 | 66.9% | 88.8% | -5.4pp | 5.1% | 0.2% |
| 2 | Monterey Hills Elementary South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 78 | 52.0% | 78.3% | +4.5pp | 3.5% | 0.7% |
| 3 | Arroyo Vista Elementary South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 77 | 59.8% | 83.8% | -11.7pp | 6.1% | 0.2% |
Middle Schools (1)
South Pasadena Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 83.6 — 43.1 points above the state average of 40.5. 1 of 1 middle schools score above 70.
District-wide growth averages +1.4pp, suggesting schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is South Pasadena Middle with a Scope Score of 84 and 58.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Growth | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Pasadena Middle South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 84 | 58.0% | 81.3% | +1.4pp | 6.3% | 1.8% |
High Schools (1)
South Pasadena Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 83.5 — 36.0 points above the state average of 47.5. 1 of 1 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is South Pasadena Senior High with a Scope Score of 84 and 55.2% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Score | Exceeded | Met+ | Absent | Susp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Pasadena Senior High South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 84 | 55.2% | 75.5% | 10.8% | 2.5% |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about South Pasadena Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology