PUSD at a Glance

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) serves approximately 15,000 Kindergarten through 12th grade students who reside in Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre. There are a total of 23 schools in the district, including 14 sites serving elementary grades (TK or K-5), 6 sites serving grades 6-8, and 4 sites serving grades 9-12. There are also two alternative high school options, and an Independent Study program serving students from TK-12th grade. Every school provides a curriculum based on the California Common Core Standards, attention to social and emotional learning, arts and other enrichment programs, after school programs, and a diverse population that PEN believes leads to a rich learning environment for all students.

The District’s Enrollment Guide (aquí en español) provides a directory of PUSD schools and an overview of programs and services. See also PEN’s Who to Contact page. Some highlights about PUSD schools include:

  • Awards & recognition include a National Blue Ribbon School, California Distinguished schools, Title 1 Achieving schools, and more*

  • All four Pasadena Unified high schools (Blair, Muir, Marshall, and PHS) have made the Washington Post’s “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” list in recent years

  • Transitional Kindergarten (TK) For the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, TK students must turn 4 years old by September 1, 2025.

  • Spanish Dual Language Immersion Programs at San Rafael, Jackson & Longfellow Elementary schools, and Blair IB Secondary (6-12) and Washington STEAM Multilingual Academy (6-8)

  • French Dual Language Immersion Program at Altadena Arts Elementary and Eliot Arts Middle School

  • Mandarin Dual Language Immersion Program at Field Elementary, Sierra Madre Middle, and Pasadena High School

  • Armenian World Language at Webster Elementary and Armenian Academy at Blair High School

  • STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) magnet schools at Jackson and Washington Elementary and Butler Middle

  • Altadena Arts Magnet elementary school and Eliot Arts Magnet middle school create a K-8 arts program that nurtures academic development through the integration of music, dance, theater and visual arts across the curriculum

  • Math Academy, a highly accelerated math program that starts in 6th grade at Sierra Madre & Butler Magnet middle schools. Students complete BC Calculus by the end of 8th grade and learn college-level pure & applied mathematics in high school.

  • The prestigious International Baccalaureate program (primary program at Willard; middle and diploma programs at Blair) focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world.

  • Computer Science Immersion at Norma Coombs Elementary

  • High School College & Career Academies

  • Early College Program at John Muir High School, where students engage in a rigorous, four-year program, earning up to two years of transferable college credit while in high school

  • Dual Enrollment allows students to earn college credit for specified high school courses

  • Center for Independent Studies (CIS) serves students from TK through 12th grade

  • Recognized leader in the transition to Common Core Standards/21st Century Learning

  • Arts for All school district including instrumental music, My Masterpieces visual arts program, Open Stage Performing Arts program, and the annual No Boundaries fine art exhibit

  • Through the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center, all 3rd grade students receive free swim lessons

  • Middle School Robotics program, and 3D printers for student use

  • Pasadena LEARNS Afterschool program (see also City of Pasadena’s After-School Adventures Program, available at several PUSD campuses)

*U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly awarded silver medals to Blair and Marshall Secondary Schools (both 6-12) and Pasadena High School, ranking them among the country’s top high schools; Newsweek named it a top national public high school and ranked it above La Cañada, San Marino and South Pasadena high schools.

Pasadena Unified School District website

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The 2024-2025 school year began on Monday, August 19, 2024.  View the academic calendar.

PUSD students are accepted at some of the country's most elite colleges and universities.  See where the Class of 2024 was accepted.

New in 2025-2026: Pan African Immersive Storytelling Academy for middle school students. Accepting only 6th grade students in it’s first year.