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CIS Academy

Q: Is CIS Academy a good school?

CIS Academy ranks 1883 rd of 2761 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Virtual, Alternative Grades K-12

1883^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,761 California Alternative Schools

Better than 32% of California alternative schools

Summary

CIS Academy is an alternative public virtual school located in Pasadena, California, serving grades K-12 with a total enrollment of 235 students. The school is part of the Pasadena Unified School District, which is ranked 717 out of 1,543 districts in California and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

CIS Academy has consistently high four-year graduation rates, ranging from 61.8% to 86.4% over the past few years, which are generally higher than the Pasadena Unified School District average. The school's dropout rates have also been relatively low, ranging from 8.2% to 30.3% in recent years, lower than the district average. However, CIS Academy has had higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the district, ranging from 20.4% to 70.5% in recent years. In terms of academic performance, CIS Academy's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are generally higher than the Pasadena Unified School District and the state of California, particularly in 11th grade.

When compared to nearby alternative schools, such as Opportunities for Learning - Duarte and Anahuacalmecac International Univ Prep of N. America, CIS Academy generally performs better in terms of graduation rates, dropout rates, and test scores. However, CIS Academy has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 69.88% to 83.4% over the past few years, suggesting that the school serves a predominantly low-income student population. Additionally, the school has seen a significant increase in spending per student, from $11,319 in 2021-2022 to $28,613 in 2023-2024, and its student-teacher ratio has fluctuated over the years, from 14.1 in 2023-2024 to 23.8 in 2021-2022.

234

Students ?

17.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$28,613

Per pupil spending ?

70.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

300 Madre St.
Pasadena, CA 91107-4634

(626) 396-5800

District: Pasadena Unified

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

65.4%

White:

17.5%

African American:

12.0%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare CIS Academy to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 27th percentile in 2018 → 75th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 48 percentile points since 2018

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (34% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Graduation rate below the California average (80% vs 88%)

!Dropout rate above the California average (19% vs 8%)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg40%

California avg41%

Middle school

1,883^rd of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Bottom 32%▼ down 11 pts since 2022

From bottom 43% (2022) to bottom 32% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

544^th of 2,162

California public high schools ?

Top 25%▲ up 56 pts since 2015

From bottom 19% (2015) to top 25% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	41.3	3045 of 5859	48.0%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	44.1	2749 of 5635	51.2%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	13.1	4900 of 5084	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	46.2	2611 of 5363	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.5	3375 of 5264	35.9%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	25.0	4237 of 5663	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	28.3	1883 of 2761	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.6	1440 of 2783	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	36.5	1568 of 2740	42.8%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	14.7	2275 of 2533	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	54.6	953 of 2509	62.0%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	50.6	982 of 2388	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.8	1438 of 2359	39.0%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	20.1	2136 of 2542	16.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	50.2	1042 of 2579	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.8	1445 of 2458	41.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	7.2	2510 of 2527	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	72.7	544 of 2162	74.8%	★★★★☆
2024	52.4	937 of 2159	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.9	896 of 2170	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.1	956 of 2123	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	15.6	1749 of 2133	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.7	1478 of 2017	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	18.4	1533 of 2021	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	19.9	1525 of 2039	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.4	1617 of 1994	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	16.7	1798 of 2426	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	22.0	1542 of 2354	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2011	25.1	1461 of 2367	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2010	28.4	1320 of 2281	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	64.1	355 of 2238	84.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	64.6	623 of 1906	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.8	1048 of 1915	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	1037 of 1915	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	10.5	1657 of 1833	9.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	19.7	1383 of 1760	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.7	345 of 1900	81.8%	★★★★☆
2024	53.2	821 of 1902	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.5	424 of 1917	77.9%	★★★★☆
2022	37.9	1138 of 1861	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	10.1	1720 of 1814	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	16.6	1360 of 1742	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	70.0	533 of 2013	73.5%	★★★★☆
2024	54.7	844 of 2026	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.9	877 of 2030	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	66.8	505 of 1943	74.0%	★★★★☆
2019	14.1	1668 of 1937	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	16.2	1454 of 1862	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	77.0	405 of 1942	79.1%	★★★★☆
2019	17.7	1492 of 1880	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.4	1388 of 1834	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)51st percentile+3 vs school

Female (2022)51st percentile

Male (2022)25th percentile

Hispanic (2022)4th percentile

Middle school

Hispanic (2024)59th percentile+11 vs school

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

Female (2025)10th percentile-22 vs school

Male (2022)1st percentile-42 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2025)82nd percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)79th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)74th percentile~ school

Female (2025)67th percentile-8 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy40%-9 vs state

Mathematics35%-3 vs state

Science27%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near CIS Academy

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				CAST Science (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)								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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
CIS Academy	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	300 Madre St.	Pasadena	91107	Los Angeles County	Pasadena Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(626) 396-5800	234	13	17.6	70.9%	41 (17.5%)	28 (12.0%)	153 (65.4%)	4 (1.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)								(n/a)		13.3	36.4	27.8	27.0				72.7	23.5	12.5	60.0	40.2					31.3	13.3	45.8	34.6	$28,613	$6,944	$21,669
Temple City Alternative	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	5830 Kauffman Ave.	Temple City	91780	Los Angeles County	Temple City Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(626) 548-5243	28	1	28.5	32.1%	6 (21.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (46.4%)	7 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (7.1%)								(n/a)					33.3								75.0								66.7	$18,732	$1,163	$17,569
Rancho Learning Center (Alternative)	Public, Alternative	K-12	150 South Third Ave.	Arcadia	91006	Los Angeles County	Arcadia Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 821-6629	64	3	20.7	39.1%	13 (20.3%)	3 (4.7%)	21 (32.8%)	21 (32.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (9.4%)								(n/a)		16.7	9.1		26.5					58.3		25.0	47.7					50.0	33.3	0.0	35.3	$45,624	$8,227	$37,397
Mountain Park	Public, Alternative	K-12	950 South Mountain Ave.	Monrovia	91016	Los Angeles County	Monrovia Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 471-3014	51	5	10.5	72.5%	5 (9.8%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (80.4%)	1 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (7.8%)								(n/a)												47.1	46.7							5.9	13.3	$28,142	$1,618	$26,524
Opportunities for Learning - Duarte	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	1202-1204 Huntington Dr.	Duarte	91010	Los Angeles County	Opportunities for Learning - Duarte District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(626) 303-2113	224	10	23.1	77.2%	34 (15.2%)	11 (4.9%)	163 (72.8%)	5 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.0%)								(n/a)		9.5		18.2	12.5					22.2	9.5	57.1	37.0					5.3	4.8	29.3	17.3
Anahuacalmecac International Univ Prep of N. America	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	4736 Huntington Dr. South	Los Angeles	90032	Los Angeles County	Anahuacalmecac International Univ Prep of N. America Distri	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 352-3148	252	17	14.4	89.7%	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	63 (25.0%)	0 (0.0%)	155 (61.5%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (12.7%)								(n/a)	29.4	21.7			27.9		25.0	52.9	33.3	53.3	56.5	84.2	46.7		20.8	47.1	55.6	60.0	52.2	42.1	43.7	$28,524	$2,355	$26,169
Virtual Academy STEAM	Public, Virtual, Alternative	K-12	4010 East Ramboz Dr.	Los Angeles	90063	Los Angeles County	Los Angeles Unified	No	(n/a)	Yes	(n/a)	(323) 673-5544	816	42	19.6	82.6%	67 (8.2%)	110 (13.5%)	590 (72.3%)	27 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	21 (2.6%)								(n/a)	28.3	43.8	43.4	50.0	39.9	40.0	23.6	34.5	34.2	36.6	46.2	58.1	40.3	37.8	25.5	30.0	41.6	43.9	47.4	43.4	39.4	$18,522	$3,198	$15,324
College View	Public, Alternative	K-12	1700 East Mountain St.	Glendale	91207	Los Angeles County	Glendale Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 246-8363	118	12	9.8	30.5%	62 (52.5%)	3 (2.5%)	32 (27.1%)	17 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.4%)								(n/a)																						$44,854	$14,980	$29,874
Verdugo Academy	Public, Alternative	K-12	1700 East Mountain St.	Glendale	91207	Los Angeles County	Glendale Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(818) 548-0740	135	8	17.9	53.3%	82 (60.7%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (25.9%)	15 (11.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)								(n/a)		58.8	27.8		42.5						61.1	72.2	68.3						29.4	27.8	38.7	$18,905	$6,048	$12,857
Renaissance Arts Academy	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	2558 North San Fernando Rd.	Los Angeles	90065	Los Angeles County	Renaissance Arts Academy District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(323) 259-5700	475	26	18.5	63.6%	115 (24.2%)	46 (9.7%)	237 (49.9%)	54 (11.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	13 (2.7%)								(n/a)	96.4	87.3		94.1	91.5	83.3	88.4	75.9	78.3	86.1	80.4	97.2	84.1	87.5	90.7	93.1	91.3	88.4	87.3	97.2	90.6	$17,689	$2,022	$15,667

Frequently Asked Questions about CIS Academy

Is CIS Academy a good school?

CIS Academy ranks 1883^rd of 2761 California alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend CIS Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 234 students attended CIS Academy.

What is the racial makeup of CIS Academy?

Students at CIS Academy are 65% Hispanic, 18% White, 12% African American, 2% Asian, 2% Not Specified, 1% Two or more races.

What district is CIS Academy 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.