Public schools in Pasadena, CA
24 open public schools with an address in Pasadena, operated by 7 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
24
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
15,254
24 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
21.5:1
California median 21.6:1
Charter schools
6
7 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Pasadena public schools
The federal directory lists 24 public schools in Pasadena, CA: 14 elementary, 1 middle, 8 high, 1 combined or other. The 24 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 15,254 students, an average of 636 per school. The largest campus is Options For Youth - Duarte Inc (3,369 students), and the largest elementary school is Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary (546).
Pasadena Unified operates the most schools here (18), plus 6 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 21.5:1, similar to the statewide school median of 21.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 6 charter schools, 7 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 9 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 5 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 9 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 69% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Pasadena
Pasadena Unified
Public school district
18 schools in Pasadena · 23 total
Alma Fuerte Public District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Pasadena
Aveson Global Leadership Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Pasadena
Aveson School of Leaders District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Pasadena
Learning Works District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Pasadena
Options For Youth - Duarte Inc District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Pasadena
Pasadena Rosebud Academy District
Independent charter agency
1 school in Pasadena
Elementary schools in Pasadena
14| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma Fuerte Public Alma Fuerte Public District · Charter | KG–08 | 227 | 18.9:1 | |
| Aveson School of Leaders Aveson School of Leaders District · Charter | KG–05 | 279 | 16.7:1 | |
| Don Benito Fundamental Pasadena Unified | KG–05 | 384 | 22.6:1 | |
| Field (Eugene) Elementary Pasadena Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 449 | 25.5:1 | |
| Hamilton Elementary Pasadena Unified | KG–05 | 510 | 24.9:1 | |
| Longfellow (Henry W.) Elementary Pasadena Unified | KG–05 | 546 | 24.3:1 | |
| Madison Elementary Pasadena Unified | KG–05 | 411 | 24.9:1 | |
| McKinley Pasadena Unified | KG–08 | 538 | 18.2:1 | |
| Norma Coombs Elementary Pasadena Unified | KG–05 | 370 | 21.8:1 | |
| Pasadena Rosebud Academy Pasadena Rosebud Academy District · Charter | KG–08 | 169 | 16.9:1 | |
| San Rafael Elementary Pasadena Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 412 | 25.8:1 | |
| Washington Elementary STEM Magnet Pasadena Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 428 | 21.7:1 | |
| Webster Elementary Pasadena Unified | KG–05 | 277 | 19.8:1 | |
| Willard Elementary Pasadena Unified · Magnet | KG–05 | 394 | 21.9:1 |
Middle schools in Pasadena
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Octavia E. Butler Magnet Pasadena Unified · Magnet | 06–08 | 481 | 18.4:1 |
High schools in Pasadena
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aveson Global Leadership Academy Aveson Global Leadership Academy District · Charter | 06–12 | 200 | 13.4:1 | |
| Blair High Pasadena Unified · Magnet | 06–12 | 1,053 | 18.3:1 | |
| John Muir High Pasadena Unified · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,206 | 22:1 | |
| Learning Works Learning Works District · Charter | 06–12 | 212 | 25.4:1 | |
| Options For Youth - Duarte Inc Options For Youth - Duarte Inc District · Charter | 07–12 | 3,369 | 28:1 | |
| Pasadena High Pasadena Unified | 09–12 | 1,303 | 18.2:1 | |
| Rose City High (Continuation) Pasadena Unified · Alternative School | 09–12 | 113 | 10.4:1 | |
| Thurgood Marshall Secondary Pasadena Unified | 06–12 | 1,689 | 21.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Pasadena
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS Academy Pasadena Unified · Virtual · Alternative School | KG–12 | 234 | 17.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White14.4%
- Hispanic61.9%
- Black10.9%
- Asian6.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial5.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 24 Pasadena schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (15,254 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Pasadena
How many public schools are in Pasadena, CA?
The current NCES directory lists 24 open public schools with a location address in Pasadena: 14 elementary, 1 middle, 8 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 15,254 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Pasadena?
Schools with an address in Pasadena belong to 7 education agencies, led by Pasadena Unified (18 schools), Alma Fuerte Public District (1 school), Aveson Global Leadership Academy District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Pasadena?
Options For Youth - Duarte Inc reported the largest high-school enrollment in Pasadena, with 3,369 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Pasadena?
Yes. 6 of the 24 public schools in Pasadena are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Alma Fuerte Public, Aveson Global Leadership Academy, Aveson School of Leaders. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Pasadena schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Pasadena public schools is 21.5:1, similar to the California school median of 21.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Pasadena guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby California cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All California cities