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Sierra Madre Elementary

Q: Is Sierra Madre Elementary a good school?

Sierra Madre Elementary ranks 590 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

590^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 90% of California elementary schools

Summary

Sierra Madre Elementary is a highly regarded K-5 public school serving 652 students in the charming community of Sierra Madre, operating within the Pasadena Unified School District.

The school is a consistent top performer, ranking in the 90th-91st percentile statewide, with over 70% of students proficient in English, Math, and Science—far exceeding both district and state averages. What truly sets Sierra Madre apart is its exceptional success with all students; its programs for special education and economically disadvantaged students rank in the 90th percentile or higher, demonstrating effective support for every learner. Furthermore, the school maintains remarkably low chronic absenteeism, a sign of strong family engagement, especially when compared to other Pasadena Unified schools like Webster Elementary or Willard Elementary.

Interestingly, Sierra Madre achieves these excellent results efficiently, with a higher student-teacher ratio and mid-range per-student spending compared to some nearby schools. While other high-performing schools exist in the area, such as Highland Oaks Elementary in the Arcadia Unified district, Sierra Madre's ability to reach a similar performance level from within a mid-performing district highlights the strength of its own school culture and instructional program.

652

Students ?

24.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,085

Per pupil spending ?

29.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

141 West Highland Ave.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024-1810

(626) 396-5890

District: Pasadena Unified

Students who attend Sierra Madre Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Sierra Madre Middle
High:	Pasadena High

Racial breakdown:

White:

44.6%

Hispanic:

23.9%

Two or more races:

18.7%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Sierra Madre Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 90th percentile in 2013 → 90th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (71% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Pasadena Unified

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 24 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school71%

District avg40%

California avg41%

590^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 10%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd 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	91.3	590 of 5857	89.9%	★★★★☆
2024	92.5	537 of 5869	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	91.0	637 of 5859	89.1%	★★★★☆
2022	92.9	524 of 5883	91.1%	★★★★★
2019	88.1	750 of 5789	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	88.0	737 of 5662	87.0%	★★★★☆
2017	84.3	938 of 5692	83.5%	★★★★☆
2016	88.7	693 of 5614	87.7%	★★★★☆
2015	90.1	622 of 5611	88.9%	★★★★☆
2013	88.3	566 of 5530	89.8%	★★★★☆
2012	88.6	513 of 5390	90.5%	★★★★★
2011	90.5	409 of 5377	92.4%	★★★★★
2010	90.0	435 of 5314	91.8%	★★★★★
2009	84.5	783 of 5193	84.9%	★★★★☆
2008	85.0	750 of 5113	85.3%	★★★★☆
2007	83.3	834 of 5113	83.7%	★★★★☆
2006	69.0	1384 of 4818	71.3%	★★★★☆
2005	66.6	1485 of 4822	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2004	65.4	1470 of 4809	69.4%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	88.9	10 of 1205	99.2%	★★★★★
2019	61.8	527 of 1149	54.1%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	90.3	176 of 2585	93.2%	★★★★★
2018	89.6	160 of 2128	92.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	88.2	684 of 5597	87.8%	★★★★☆
2024	88.3	702 of 5612	87.5%	★★★★☆
2023	89.0	692 of 5609	87.7%	★★★★☆
2022	87.3	763 of 5635	86.5%	★★★★☆
2019	85.9	771 of 5492	86.0%	★★★★☆
2018	87.2	709 of 5413	86.9%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	93.3	221 of 5107	95.7%	★★★★★
2024	92.5	266 of 5107	94.8%	★★★★★
2023	92.6	255 of 5087	95.0%	★★★★★
2022	91.1	316 of 5084	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	85.0	504 of 4963	89.8%	★★★★☆
2018	79.6	711 of 4830	85.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	86.3	519 of 5460	90.5%	★★★★★
2024	90.0	455 of 5517	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.7	398 of 5363	92.6%	★★★★★
2022	90.6	324 of 5264	93.8%	★★★★★
2019	87.0	404 of 5173	92.2%	★★★★★
2018	87.7	381 of 5084	92.5%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	91.5	489 of 5628	91.3%	★★★★★
2024	93.2	410 of 5643	92.7%	★★★★★
2023	90.6	576 of 5638	89.8%	★★★★☆
2022	95.1	294 of 5663	94.8%	★★★★★
2019	87.5	713 of 5510	87.1%	★★★★☆
2018	86.7	761 of 5431	86.0%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.5	295 of 718	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.1	243 of 670	63.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.8	265 of 669	60.4%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	97.8	49 of 2847	98.3%	★★★★★
2024	94.9	112 of 2635	95.7%	★★★★★
2023	91.4	157 of 2420	93.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	74.5	614 of 2598	76.4%	★★★★☆
2024	76.8	562 of 2651	78.8%	★★★★☆
2023	76.2	574 of 2661	78.4%	★★★★☆
2022	84.4	293 of 2726	89.3%	★★★★☆
2019	76.6	576 of 2834	79.7%	★★★★☆
2018	74.8	654 of 2737	76.1%	★★★★☆

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)

Asian (2024)99th percentile+8 vs school

Special Education (2025)98th percentile+8 vs school

Hispanic (2025)96th percentile+6 vs school

Disabled (2019)93rd percentile+6 vs school

Male (2025)91st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)90th percentile~ school

Female (2025)88th percentile~ school

White (2025)76th percentile-14 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)59th percentile-31 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy73%+24 vs state

Science70%+38 vs state

Mathematics68%+31 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Our PreK-8th Grade school has three core values: high academic achievement (as evidenced by our test scores, fabulous teachers, and high parent involvement), creative culture (exemplified by our strong Visual and Performing Arts Programs), and a safe and nurturing environment (which our teachers, staff, and parents work together to provide). Our school not only values academics, but also recognizes the importance of enriching the academic experience of our students with monthly assemblies in which all elementary students are exposed to song, drama, instrumental music, and dance. Middle School students are able to expand their interests further in specific areas through enrichment classes.

As state and federal funding has dwindled in recent years, this school has made up for these shortfalls through a strong Annual Fund and high volunteerism. Walk our halls and you will find well-trained volunteers assisting teachers with instruction in classrooms. Community is fostered and built through monthly PTA extracurricular events, including a Fall Festival, Middle School Dances, Father-Daughter Dance, and Mother-Son Game Night, among others. Likewise, our school Annual Fund pays for approximately half of our discretionary funds budget including providing instructional, behavioral, health and recreational aides, arts specialists, and much more.

When looking at our API ranking, be aware that the score is for both an elementary campus and a middle school campus, which are a few blocks apart. Close Quote

Schools Near Sierra Madre Elementary

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 (2024)
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	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
Sierra Madre Elementary	Public	K-5	141 West Highland Ave.	Sierra Madre	91024	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5890	652	27	24.2	29.8%	291 (44.6%)	11 (1.7%)	156 (23.9%)	70 (10.7%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	122 (18.7%)	91.3	590^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.9%		92.5	537^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.9%	53	70.4		70.4	74.5	69.4	75.5				73.0	66.3	67.3	70.8				68.2	90.5	94.7			92.6	94.7	$25,085	$3,831	$21,254
Pasadena Rosebud Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3700 Denair St	Pasadena	91107	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Rosebud Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 318-1261	169	10	16.9	56.2%	0 (0.0%)	84 (49.7%)	56 (33.1%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (16.6%)	23.7	4530^th of 5857 public elementary schools	22.7%		57.8	2160^th of 5869 public elementary schools	63.2%	2370	18.8	53.3	35.5	38.9	40.0	25.0	23.1	54.6	60.0	39.8	22.2	20.0	12.5	23.1	9.1	46.7	22.6	71.4	71.4	71.4	71.4	71.4	71.4
Don Benito Fundamental	Public	K-5	3700 Denair St.	Pasadena	91107	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5870	384	17	22.6	48.2%	97 (25.3%)	34 (8.9%)	187 (48.7%)	25 (6.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (10.2%)	60.1	2064^th of 5857 public elementary schools	64.8%		62.3	1965^th of 5869 public elementary schools	66.5%	99	34.6		34.6	46.0	61.5	58.2				55.9	48.0	38.5	40.0				41.8	89.1	93.5		89.1	93.5	93.5	$25,328	$3,829	$21,499
Field (Eugene) Elementary	Public	K-5	3600 Sierra Madre Blvd.	Pasadena	91107	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5860	449	18	25.5	28.7%	20 (4.5%)	4 (0.9%)	47 (10.5%)	290 (64.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (19.4%)	93.9	410^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.0%		93.5	471^st of 5869 public elementary schools	92.0%	61	61.8		61.8	73.8	73.2	82.4				76.8	86.7	82.5	60.9				75.8	97.2					97.2	$22,684	$3,304	$19,380
Highland Oaks Elementary	Public	K-5	10 Virginia Dr.	Arcadia	91006	Los Angeles County	Arcadia Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 821-8354	655	28	23.3	19.1%	55 (8.4%)	1 (0.2%)	93 (14.2%)	426 (65.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	78 (11.9%)	95.6	269^th of 5857 public elementary schools	95.4%		95.4	312^th of 5869 public elementary schools	94.7%	43	83.2		83.2	71.9	75.4	89.6				78.7	79.0	75.8	81.1				78.4							$16,930	$1,642	$15,288
Hugo Reid Elementary	Public	K-5	1000 Hugo Reid Dr.	Arcadia	91007	Los Angeles County	Arcadia Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 821-8346	583	24	24.2	34.5%	38 (6.5%)	7 (1.2%)	142 (24.4%)	327 (56.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	65 (11.1%)	83	1020^th of 5857 public elementary schools	82.6%		85.7	923^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	84.3%	97	51.3		51.3	73.0	56.7	65.8				64.7	79.0	56.3	57.1				62.5							$18,990	$1,942	$17,048
Willard Elementary	Public	K-5	301 South Madre St.	Pasadena	91107	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5690	394	18	21.9	64.2%	43 (10.9%)	29 (7.4%)	261 (66.2%)	40 (10.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.1%)	59.3	2100^th of 5857 public elementary schools	64.1%		61.8	1988^th of 5869 public elementary schools	66.1%	112	38.7		38.7	52.1	54.1	56.5				54.4	30.4	45.2	40.3				39.8	94.4	97.2	97.2	95.8	97.2	95.8	$28,733	$4,133	$24,600
Norma Coombs Elementary	Public	K-5	2600 Paloma St.	Pasadena	91107	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 396-5660	370	17	21.7	64.1%	43 (11.6%)	60 (16.2%)	224 (60.5%)	16 (4.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.0%)	50.4	2565^th of 5857 public elementary schools	56.2%		43.3	2976^th of 5869 public elementary schools	49.3%	411	34.2		34.2	45.5	40.7	63.2				48.5	39.5	39.2	31.6				37.1	94.4	96.3			94.4		$27,532	$4,713	$22,819
Holly Avenue Elementary	Public	K-5	360 West Duarte Rd.	Arcadia	91007	Los Angeles County	Arcadia Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 821-8355	789	33	24.2	49.7%	41 (5.2%)	13 (1.6%)	161 (20.4%)	527 (66.8%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.4%)	43 (5.4%)	91.5	575^th of 5857 public elementary schools	90.2%		94.1	421^st of 5869 public elementary schools	92.8%	154	58.2		58.2	71.6	73.4	68.7				71.3	78.3	77.9	64.2				73.5							$15,933	$1,976	$13,957
Mayflower Elementary	Public	K-5	210 North Mayflower Ave.	Monrovia	91016	Los Angeles County	Monrovia Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 471-2200	524	23	22.7	45.4%	144 (27.5%)	23 (4.4%)	244 (46.6%)	58 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (10.5%)	84.1	958^th of 5857 public elementary schools	83.6%		76.7	1305^th of 5869 public elementary schools	77.8%	347	57.8		57.8	52.8	72.5	66.7				63.7	60.7	70.0	62.2				64.1							$18,102	$1,841	$16,261

Frequently Asked Questions about Sierra Madre Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Sierra Madre Elementary?

Students at Sierra Madre Elementary are 45% White, 24% Hispanic, 19% Two or more races, 11% Asian, 2% African American.

What schools do graduates of Sierra Madre Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sierra Madre Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sierra Madre Middle
High : Pasadena High

How many students attend Sierra Madre Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 652 students attended Sierra Madre Elementary.

Is Sierra Madre Elementary a good school?

Sierra Madre Elementary ranks 590^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Sierra Madre Elementary in?

Pasadena Unified

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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.