Elementary Schools in Pasadena, California: Pasadena schools average near the state. The 51.7-point spread is where the choice actually lives.
Pasadena, California has 14 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 37.4/100 — within 1.5 points of the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Field (Eugene) Elementary at 71/100, where 52.5% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Pasadena schools average 21.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 14 schools, 1 Growth Engine and 1 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 23.6% (above the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Schools | Avg Score | Exceeded | vs State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 14 | Developing 37.4/100 | 21.3% | -1.5 |
| High | 2 | Solid 57.4/100 | 15.3% | +3.5 |
| Middle | 5 | Developing 32.2/100 | 15.2% | -6.3 |
How Pasadena schools compare
Pasadena has 14 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 37.4/100 — within 1.5 points of the state average of 38.9 (CDE CAASPP 2025).
The top-ranked school is Field (Eugene) Elementary with a Scope Score of 71 and 52.5% of students exceeding standard.
These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Pasadena schools average 21.3% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.4%.
Chronic absenteeism in Pasadena averages 23.6% — above the state average of 17.9%.
How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page
School archetypes in Pasadena
Hidden gems: 2 schools in Pasadena 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
Every school in Pasadena
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Field (Eugene) Elementary Pasadena Unified High Ceiling | 52.5% | Strong 71/100 |
| 2 | Pasadena High Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 18.5% | Solid 65/100 |
| 3 | Hamilton Elementary Pasadena Unified Culture First | 40.8% | Solid 50/100 |
| 4 | John Muir High Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 12.2% | Developing 50/100 |
| 5 | Willard Elementary Pasadena Unified Growth Engine | 25.3% | Developing 50/100 |
| 6 | Aveson School of Leaders Pasadena Unified Culture First | 24.4% | Developing 48/100 |
| 7 | Don Benito Fundamental Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 28.2% | Developing 43/100 |
| 8 | San Rafael Elementary Pasadena Unified Culture First | 26.3% | Developing 40/100 |
| 9 | Washington Elementary STEM Magnet Pasadena Unified On the Rise | 14.0% | Developing 37/100 |
| 10 | Blair High Pasadena Unified On the Rise | 12.9% | Developing 35/100 |
| 11 | Marshall Fundamental Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 19.5% | Developing 35/100 |
| 12 | Norma Coombs Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 17.6% | Developing 34/100 |
| 13 | Aveson Global Leadership Academy Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 17.1% | Developing 33/100 |
| 14 | Webster Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 16.7% | Developing 32/100 |
| 15 | Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 17.9% | Developing 32/100 |
| 16 | Octavia E. Butler Magnet Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 13.2% | Developing 30/100 |
| 17 | CIS Academy Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 13.1% | Needs Support 29/100 |
| 18 | Alma Fuerte Public Los Angeles County Office of Education Building Momentum | 11.1% | Needs Support 26/100 |
| 19 | Pasadena Rosebud Academy Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 8.3% | Needs Support 23/100 |
| 20 | Rose City High (Continuation) Pasadena Unified continuation high school | 1.5% | Needs Support 21/100 |
| 21 | Madison Elementary Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 5.8% | Needs Support 19/100 |
| 22 | McKinley Pasadena Unified Building Momentum | 8.8% | Needs Support 19/100 |
| 23 | Options For Youth - Duarte, Inc Duarte Unified alternative school | 9.1% | Needs Support 17/100 |
| 24 | Learning Works Pasadena Unified alternative school | 0.0% | Needs Support 9/100 |
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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.
Private Schools in Pasadena
Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.
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 school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology