Public Schools

The West San Gabriel Valley offers a broad range of public and private schools, including major colleges or universities:  California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech), Art Center College of Design, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Fuller Theological Seminary, and Pasadena City College.  Nearby are Occidental College, The Claremont Colleges (Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, Scripps College), California State Polytechnic University at Pomona (Cal Poly), The University of Southern California (USC), and The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).  

Private Schools
A list of over 35 private schools in the greater Pasadena area, with links to the ones that have their own web Sites.

Public Schools
Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, and Arcadia each have separate public school districts.  (Altadena and Sierra Madre are serviced by the Pasadena School District.)  Following are links to the individual school districts.

Arcadia Unified School District
234 Campus Drive
Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 447-9223
Projected district enrollment:  9,250
Number of teachers, administrators, and classified employees:  About 750
Status of elementary class-size reduction:  1st thru 3rd grade
Standardized dress (uniform) requirements:  Camino Grove, Holly Avenue, Hugo Reid, Longley Way elementary schools
Year-round schedule:  Holly Avenue elementary school
Some academic achievements:  Arcadia High School's Advanced Placement Government Team was state champion and finished 2nd in the nation in the "We the People" competition in Washington, D.C., in May 1997.  High School's Science Bowl Team was the county champion and finished 5th in the National Science Bowl competition.  All three middle schools have bands and orchestras.  85 % of high school graduates went on to college in 1996, with 65 % enrolling in 4-year universities, and 29 % attending community colleges.  

La Canada Unified School District
5039 Palm Drive
La Canada-Flintridge, CA 91011
(626) 952-8300
The La Canada Unified School District has a highly informative web Site, that will be useful to anyone with school-age children, even if they don't go to a school in the district.  
Status of elementary class-size reduction:  1st and 2nd grade, and either K or 3rd grade.
Some academic achievements:  98% of high school graduates go on to college.

Pasadena Unified School District
351 S. Hudson Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 795-6981
Projected District Enrollment:  22,500
Number of teacher, administrators, and classified employees: About 3,000 full-time and part-time employees.
Status of elementary class-size reduction:  1st thru 3rd grade
Voluntary dress (uniform):  Burbank, Don Benito, Field, Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Linda Vista, Loma Alta, Longfellow, Madison, Roosevelt, Webster, and Willard elementary schools; Wilson Middle School. 
Security:  District has its own police force.  Metal detectors and wands used at the middle and high school campuses; at special events, such as football games; and at other times when warranted.
Some academic achievements: Dropout rate has decreased four consecutive years; SAT scores increased this year over last year; 65 % of graduates go on to two- and four-year colleges; seven career academies offer specialized instruction at the high school campuses, including: Computer Careers (Marshall Fundamental), Geo Space (Muir High), Health Careers (Blair High), Business and Finance (Muir High), Graphic Arts (Pasadena High), Technology and Business (Blair High), Visual Arts and Design (Pasadena High).  Academic scholarships totaled more than $900,000, including several University of California Regents' scholarships (considered some of the most competitive academic funding offered in the State of California), a $24,000 Xerox University Award, and an $80,000 Pitzer College Trustee Scholarship.

Blair IB Magnet School (my son, Ryan, goes there)

San Marino Unified School District
1665 West Drive
San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 299-7000
Projected District Enrollment:  3,100
Number of teacher, administrators, and classified employees: About 300
Status of elementary class-size reduction:  Kindergarten thru 3rd grade
Standardized dress (uniform) requirements:  None 
Some academic achievements:  Each campus (elementary, middle, and high schools) has been designated a California Distinguished School.  San Marino High School consistently ranks in the Top 10 high schools in the state.  In 1996, San Marino High School recorded the highest combined SAT scores in L.A. County.  95% of the district's graduates consistently go on to college.

South Pasadena Unified School District  
1020 El Centro St.
So. Pasadena, CA 91030
(626) 441-5700
Projected district enrollment:  3700      
Status of elementary class-size reduction:  1st thru 3rd grade
Some academic achievements:  South Pasadena Middle School was designated a Blue Ribbon School for 1996, "A Recognized School of Excellence".

School Performance Reports

We now have access to the SAT-9 and Advanced Placement test scores for nearly every public school in California (plus many other performance measurements). See the following link for more information. California Dept. of Education Student Performance Page.

Here is a link to another website that gives evaluations of school performance, GreatSchools.net.

Some information on school districts from The Pasadena Star News.