The first thing to know is that if you are moving here or starting a family, Pasadena offers a lot of choices. More than most places! Pasadena has 23 public schools and also offers more private schools per capita than anywhere else in the country.
Pasadena private tuition expenses are over $21,000 per year on average, which is even higher than the average private school cost in other parts of California. Over 30% of all K-12 students here are enrolled in private schools compared to the state average of 10% (according to PrivateSchoolReview.com). Why are there so many private schools in Pasadena? To put it bluntly, during the 1960s and 70s, private school enrollment exploded here as white families abandoned public schools to avoid integration.
If you are thinking about relocating to Pasadena, please check out the PDF below outlining PUSD's diverse program offerings. My advice to new families is to take a look at all options, then tour the schools that you might like the most. Meet parents who have children attending and ask questions about their experiences.
Ask yourself what you value most as a parent? If that answer is test scores, some public schools here might look flawed. In CA, private schools are considered a business with no oversight of operation. There is not state required testing accountability at all. State teaching credentials are not even required at private schools. For more information see CalEd Facts on Private Schools here. Pasadena's top 5 public schools which rank from 8/10-10/10 at PublicSchoolReview.com are:
Field Elementary
Hamilton Elementary
San Rafael Elementary
Webster Elementary
Don Benito Elementary
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