Summary:
In the Altadena, California area (zip code 91001), five public schools serve students from kindergarten through 8th grade, with four elementary schools and one middle school, collectively enrolling over 2,400 students across three different districts.
When comparing schools, Odyssey Charter stands out as the top performer, consistently earning high state rankings and the best test scores in English, math, and science. Another charter, OCS - South, also performs well. In contrast, the traditional Pasadena Unified schools show more varied results: Altadena Elementary and Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary perform near state averages, while Charles W. Eliot Middle is a significant concern, with very low proficiency rates and the highest chronic absenteeism in the area.
Key insights for parents include a notable drop in 5th-grade math scores at several elementary schools and the fact that all schools in 91001 struggle with chronic absenteeism, exceeding the state average. Interestingly, higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results here. The transition to middle school appears challenging, with a sharp performance decline at the sole middle school compared to the elementary feeders. The area offers a mix of educational models, with charter schools demonstrating strong academic outcomes.
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