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San Rafael Elementary

Q: Is San Rafael Elementary a good school?

San Rafael Elementary ranks 2275 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

2275^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 61% of California elementary schools

Summary

San Rafael Elementary is a K-5 public school serving 412 students in the Pasadena Unified district, performing as a solid, middle-ranked school in a neighborhood with a wide range of school performance.

The school has notable strengths, including outperforming its district in English and Math and maintaining a very low chronic absentee rate of 13.6%, which is much better than nearby schools like McKinley (31.3%) and Yorkdale Elementary (25.8%). It achieves these results efficiently, spending less per student than several lower-performing neighboring schools. However, there are areas for growth, particularly in 5th grade, where scores drop significantly from 4th grade, and in Science, where it trails both district and state averages.

Compared to other local options, San Rafael sits in the middle of a highly varied landscape. It performs significantly better than some schools in the same district but lags behind top performers like Arroyo Vista Elementary and Dahlia Heights Elementary. It's also noteworthy that specialized magnet schools such as Rockdale Visual & Performing Arts Magnet achieve high rankings while serving different student populations, highlighting the diversity of educational approaches in the area.

412

Students ?

25.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,497

Per pupil spending ?

34%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1090 Nithsdale Rd.
Pasadena, CA 91105-1499

(626) 396-5790

District: Pasadena Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

72.3%

White:

15.0%

Two or more races:

8.5%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare San Rafael Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 78th percentile in 2018 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the California median (61st percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 78th-percentile peak (2018) to 61st (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Large classes — about 26 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg40%

California avg41%

2,275^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 39%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From top 29% (2015) to top 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

7^th of 14Elementary Schools in the Pasadena Unified

717^th of 1,543Pasadena Unified among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	55.5	2275 of 5857	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.5	2047 of 5869	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.2	2323 of 5859	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.1	1733 of 5883	70.5%	★★★★☆
2019	71.7	1532 of 5789	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	76.9	1268 of 5662	77.6%	★★★★☆
2017	72.9	1430 of 5692	74.9%	★★★★☆
2016	73.8	1356 of 5614	75.8%	★★★★☆
2015	66.2	1643 of 5611	70.7%	★★★★☆
2013	47.2	2852 of 5530	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	28.1	4077 of 5390	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	19.4	4725 of 5377	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	24.7	4246 of 5314	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	30.8	3644 of 5193	29.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	22.2	4179 of 5113	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	20.6	4242 of 5113	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	20.4	3969 of 4818	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	31.6	3186 of 4822	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2004	18.8	4031 of 4809	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	70.1	505 of 2585	80.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	56.9	2102 of 5597	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.8	2237 of 5612	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	54.4	2190 of 5609	61.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	71.0	1483 of 5635	73.7%	★★★★☆
2019	74.6	1311 of 5492	76.1%	★★★★☆
2018	80.8	994 of 5413	81.6%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	58.5	1791 of 5107	64.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.6	1249 of 5107	75.5%	★★★★☆
2023	60.5	1634 of 5087	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	78.0	820 of 5084	83.9%	★★★★☆
2019	74.6	936 of 4963	81.1%	★★★★☆
2018	81.9	604 of 4830	87.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.3	2997 of 5460	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.9	2995 of 5517	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	29.7	3918 of 5363	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	54.1	2028 of 5264	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.3	2516 of 5173	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.6	1817 of 5084	64.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	53.0	2339 of 5628	58.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.8	1712 of 5643	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.7	2352 of 5638	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.7	1882 of 5663	66.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.2	1631 of 5510	70.4%	★★★★☆
2018	70.3	1475 of 5431	72.8%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	60.2	781 of 2847	72.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	52.0	1375 of 2661	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	82.1	387 of 2834	86.3%	★★★★☆
2018	74.3	668 of 2737	75.6%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2019)80th percentile+7 vs school

Special Education (2025)73rd percentile+11 vs school

Hispanic (2025)65th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)62nd percentile~ school

Male (2025)58th percentile-3 vs school

White (2023)48th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)45th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy51%+3 vs state

Mathematics45%+8 vs state

Science26%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, February 5, 2015

San Rafael has had a major turnaround in recent years - the Dual Language Immersion program is a success, the school has received a California Distinguished School Award, and test scores have gone up considerably. None of this reflects the wonderful community of students, parents, teachers and administrators that make up this school. Although the district has its issues, the San Rafael Community works tirelessly to make up any shortfalls - through both fundraising and volunteering - including creating an on-campus art studio, computer lab, annual school musical, and hiring classroom aides and a P.E. teacher. Close Quote

Schools Near San Rafael Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
San Rafael Elementary	Public	K-5	1090 Nithsdale Rd.	Pasadena	91105	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5790	412	16	25.7	34.0%	62 (15.0%)	9 (2.2%)	298 (72.3%)	7 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.5%)	55.5	2275^th of 5857 public elementary schools	61.2%		60.5	2047^th of 5869 public elementary schools	65.1%	228	26.2		26.2	51.5	70.7	33.9				51.3	60.6	58.6	16.9				45.0							$19,497	$17,852	$1,645
Annandale Elementary	Public	K-5	6125 Poppy Peak Dr.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 254-9168	90	5	18.0	88.9%	2 (2.2%)	1 (1.1%)	81 (90.0%)	4 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	13.1	5410^th of 5857 public elementary schools	7.6%		25	4359^th of 5869 public elementary schools	25.7%	1051	15.4		15.4	15.4		23.1				25.0	15.4		15.4				19.4	93.6						$80,017	$76,780	$3,237
Rockdale Visual & Performing Arts Magnet	Public	K-6	1303 Yosemite Dr.	Los Angeles	90041	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-6793	325	15	21.6	46.5%	71 (21.8%)	3 (0.9%)	176 (54.2%)	35 (10.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (12.3%)	85.9	882^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	84.9%		82.1	1065^th of 5869 public elementary schools	81.9%	183	54.4		54.4	63.2	64.4	69.6	69.8			66.9	63.2	66.7	63.0	55.8			62.2							$33,725	$32,150	$1,575
San Pascual Elementary Sci Technical Engr Arts And Math (STEAM) Magnet	Public	K-5	815 San Pascual Ave.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-8354	249	11	22.6	76.3%	17 (6.8%)	7 (2.8%)	199 (79.9%)	13 (5.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.8%)	58.1	2163^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	63.1%		50	2557^th of 5869 public elementary schools	56.4%	394	40.0		40.0	36.7	41.9	57.1				45.4	63.3	41.9	42.9				48.2	96.9				96.9		$37,909	$35,646	$2,263
Garvanza Elementary School Technology and Leadership Magnet	Public	K-5	317 North Avenue 62	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 254-7328	239	12	19.9	81.6%	7 (2.9%)	2 (0.8%)	210 (87.9%)	14 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.1%)	54.6	2332^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	60.2%		56.1	2236^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.9%	96	37.1		37.1	51.7	42.1	51.4				48.0	55.2	47.4	22.9				41.2	88.1	94.9	93.2	91.5	89.8	91.5	$64,060	$60,400	$3,660
Dahlia Heights Elementary	Public	K-6	5063 Floristan Ave.	Los Angeles	90041	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-1419	410	17	24.1	23.7%	155 (37.8%)	2 (0.5%)	111 (27.1%)	40 (9.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (24.4%)	93.7	422^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	92.8%		92.3	553^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	90.6%	131	60.8		60.8	91.2	81.6	76.5	79.5			82.7	91.2	85.7	49.0	71.8			75.0							$30,329	$29,042	$1,287
Yorkdale Elementary	Public	K-5	5657 Meridian St.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 255-0587	205	10	20.5	82.9%	12 (5.9%)	1 (0.5%)	180 (87.8%)	7 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.4%)	33.2	3708^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.7%		33.4	3648^th of 5869 public elementary schools	37.8%	60	15.2		15.2	43.3	42.9	18.2				34.7	43.3	34.3	21.2				32.7	91.3				91.3		$45,576	$42,442	$3,134
Arroyo Vista Elementary	Public	K-5	335 El Centro St.	South Pasadena	91030	Los Angeles County	South Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 441-5840	667	26	25.2	17.4%	201 (30.1%)	5 (0.7%)	137 (20.5%)	204 (30.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	119 (17.8%)	97.5	111^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.1%		96.8	180^th of 5869 public elementary schools	96.9%	69	77.4		77.4	89.9	83.3	83.1				85.4	90.8	81.6	74.2				82.1							$16,156	$15,674	$482
McKinley	Public	K-8	325 South Oak Knoll Ave.	Pasadena	91101	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5630	538	30	18.1	78.4%	48 (8.9%)	94 (17.5%)	344 (63.9%)	32 (5.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.3%)	19.4	4884^th of 5857 public elementary schools	16.6%		17.1	5117^th of 5869 public elementary schools	12.8%	233	16.1	12.3	14.1	28.6	32.1	27.9	29.2	21.0	25.4	26.9	31.1	17.2	14.5	11.9	10.0	11.0	14.8	92.8	97.1	95.7		97.1	97.1	$30,474	$28,546	$1,928
Richard Riordan Primary Center	Public	K-5	5531 Monte Vista St.	Los Angeles	90042	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 551-6822	136	7	19.4	77.9%	10 (7.4%)	1 (0.7%)	113 (83.1%)	4 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.9%)	88.9	715^th of 5857 public elementary schools	87.8%					(n/a)				70.6	63.6					70.3	70.6	72.7					67.6							$56,945	$53,384	$3,561

Frequently Asked Questions about San Rafael Elementary

What district is San Rafael Elementary in?

Pasadena Unified

What is the racial makeup of San Rafael Elementary?

Students at San Rafael Elementary are 72% Hispanic, 15% White, 8% Two or more races, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

How many students attend San Rafael Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 412 students attended San Rafael Elementary.

Is San Rafael Elementary a good school?

San Rafael Elementary ranks 2275^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate San Rafael Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.