South Pasadena Unified: South Pasadena Unified schools score 33.8 points above the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 4.2 points.
South Pasadena Unified has 5 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 78.6/100 — 33.8 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Marengo Elementary at 84/100, 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 6.3%, below the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Strong 78.3/100 | 3 | 59.6% | 4.9% |
| Middle | Strong 81.9/100 | 1 | 58.0% | 6.3% |
| High | Strong 76.1/100 | 1 | 55.2% | 10.7% |
South Pasadena Unified's middle schools average 81.9/100 — 39.3 points above the state average.
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in South Pasadena Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
South Pasadena Unified has 5 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 78.6/100 — 33.8 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
Strongest level: South Pasadena Unified's middle schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 81.9.
District-wide elementary growth averages -4.2pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.
Score range of 9.2 points — remarkably consistent between schools.
District chronic absenteeism averages 6.3%, 11.6pp below the state average of 17.9%.
District suspension rate averages 1.1%, near the state average of 1.6%.
Marengo Elementary leads the district at 84 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
Every school in South Pasadena Unified
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
Elementary Schools (3)
South Pasadena Unified has 3 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 78.3 — 33.5 points above the state average of 44.8. 3 of 3 elementary schools score above 70.
Growth averages -4.2pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Marengo Elementary with a Scope Score of 84 and 66.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marengo Elementary South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 66.9% | Strong 84/100 |
| 2 | Monterey Hills Elementary South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 52.0% | Strong 76/100 |
| 3 | Arroyo Vista Elementary South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 59.8% | Strong 75/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
South Pasadena Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 81.9 — 39.3 points above the state average of 42.6. 1 of 1 middle schools score above 70.
Grade-to-grade growth averages +1.4pp — schools are adding value beyond what students arrive with.
The highest-scoring middle school is South Pasadena Middle with a Scope Score of 82 and 58.0% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Pasadena Middle South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 58.0% | Strong 82/100 |
High Schools (1)
South Pasadena Unified has 1 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 76.1 — 32.4 points above the state average of 43.7. 1 of 1 high schools score above 70.
The highest-scoring high school is South Pasadena Senior High with a Scope Score of 76 and 55.2% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Pasadena Senior High South Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 55.2% | Strong 76/100 |
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.
Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology