Pasadena Unified
Pasadena Unified has 20 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 44.3/100 — 0.5 points near the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Field (Eugene) Elementary at 75/100, where 52.5% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $15,197 per student (above the state average of $14,815). 1 school shows positive growth trajectories. Chronic absenteeism averages 25.8%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Developing 45.0/100 | 14 | 24.3% | 23.4% |
| Middle | Developing 41.6/100 | 3 | 19.5% | 22.6% |
| High | Developing 44.1/100 | 3 | 10.7% | 40.3% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Pasadena Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Pasadena Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 45.0.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -7.7pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 54.8 points — showing significant variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 25.8%, 7.7pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 2.0%, near the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Field (Eugene) Elementary leads the district at 75 with 52.5% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
School archetypes in Pasadena Unified
Hidden gems: 2 schools in Pasadena Unified are classified as Growth Engine or On the Rise — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Pasadena Unified spends $15,197 per student in current expenditures — $382 above the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (14)
Pasadena Unified has 14 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 45.0 — 1.2 points near the state average of 43.8. 1 of 14 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -7.7pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Field (Eugene) Elementary with a Scope Score of 75 and 52.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Field (Eugene) Elementary Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 52.5% | Strong 75/100 |
| 2 | Sierra Madre Elementary Pasadena Unified Strong All-Around | 43.0% | Solid 67/100 |
| 3 | Hamilton Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 40.8% | Solid 58/100 |
| 4 | Willard Elementary Pasadena Unified Growth Engine | 25.3% | Solid 51/100 |
| 5 | San Rafael Elementary Pasadena Unified Culture First | 26.3% | Developing 49/100 |
| 6 | Don Benito Fundamental Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 28.2% | Developing 47/100 |
| 7 | Altadena Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 23.1% | Developing 42/100 |
| 8 | Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 17.9% | Developing 40/100 |
| 9 | Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementa Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 19.8% | Developing 39/100 |
| 10 | Norma Coombs Elementary Pasadena Unified On the Rise | 17.6% | Developing 38/100 |
| 11 | Webster Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 16.7% | Developing 38/100 |
| 12 | Washington Elementary STEM Magnet Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 14.0% | Developing 38/100 |
| 13 | McKinley Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 8.8% | Needs Support 24/100 |
| 14 | Madison Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 5.8% | Needs Support 24/100 |
Middle Schools (3)
Pasadena Unified has 3 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 41.6 — 1.1 points near the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -3.3pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Sierra Madre Middle with a Scope Score of 66 and 37.8% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Madre Middle Pasadena Unified Strong All-Around | 37.8% | Solid 66/100 |
| 2 | Octavia E. Butler Magnet Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 13.2% | Developing 32/100 |
| 3 | Charles W. Eliot Middle Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 7.3% | Needs Support 27/100 |
High Schools (3)
Pasadena Unified has 3 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 44.1 — 3.4 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Pasadena High with a Scope Score of 63 and 18.5% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena High Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 18.5% | Solid 63/100 |
| 2 | John Muir High Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 12.2% | Developing 49/100 |
| 3 | Rose City High (Continuation) Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 1.5% | Needs Support 20/100 |
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 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