South Pasadena Middle

Summary:

South Pasadena Middle is a highly-rated public middle school in South Pasadena, California, serving 1,084 students in grades 6-8. It is part of the South Pasadena Unified School District, which is ranked 25th out of 1,568 districts in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Pasadena Middle consistently ranks among the top middle schools in California, ranking 45th out of 2,777 schools in the 2023-2024 school year. The school's students perform exceptionally well on standardized tests, with 80.48% proficient or better in English Language Arts/Literacy and 79.56% proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly higher than the state averages. South Pasadena Middle also excels in supporting the academic achievement of various student subgroups, ranking highly for its performance with female, male, Hispanic, White, multi-racial, English Language Learner, and students with disabilities. Additionally, the school has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate, indicating a high level of student engagement and attendance.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Muscatel Middle in Rosemead and Oak Avenue Intermediate in Temple City, South Pasadena Middle significantly outperforms them in academic achievement. The school's consistent high performance, 5-star rating, and exceptional support for diverse student subgroups make it a standout institution in the state of California.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 1500 Fair Oaks
       South Pasadena, CA  91030-4126


(626) 441-5830

District: South Pasadena Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
45th of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,866 Help


Students who attend South Pasadena Middle usually attend:

High:    South Pasadena Senior High

Feeder schools for South Pasadena Middle:

Elementary:    Arroyo Vista Elementary
    Marengo Elementary
    Monterey Hills Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  22.7 Help
Number of students:  1,099

Racial breakdown:

Asian:
37.2%
White:
22.7%
Hispanic:
21.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  18.2% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details South Pasadena Middle ranks better than 98.4% of middle schools in California. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 98.06. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at South Pasadena Middle is diverse. Racial makeup is: Asian (37.2%), White (22.7%), Hispanic (21.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 18.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Pasadena Middle is 22.7. (See more...)
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Compare South Pasadena Middle employs 48.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Pasadena Middle is $9,866.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Pasadena Middle:

SchoolDigger ranks South Pasadena Middle 45th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See South Pasadena Middle in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


South Pasadena Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks South Pasadena Unified 25th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South Pasadena Middle

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Compare

Rank History for all students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 89.14 135th 1769 92.4%
2005 92.10 80th 1777 95.5%
2006 91.91 88th 1804 95.1%
2007 90.14 124th 1999 93.8%
2008 91.89 78th 2005 96.1%
2009 90.48 100th 2063 95.2%
2010 90.54 93rd 2179 95.7%
2011 88.16 133rd 2236 94.1%
2012 87.32 140th 2259 93.8%
2013 87.26 141st 2379 94.1%
2015 96.05 78th 2477 96.9%
2016 96.09 67th 2497 97.3%
2017 97.84 37th 2508 98.5%
2018 97.26 46th 2480 98.1%
2019 97.26 60th 2715 97.8%
2022 97.50 72nd 2740 97.4%
2023 98.01 53rd 2802 98.1%
2024 98.06 45th 2777 98.4%
See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.83 30th 462 93.5%
2019 90.47 17th 554 96.9%
2022 87.56 41st 665 93.8%
2023 90.71 27th 678 96.0%
2024 91.69 19th 699 97.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.11 75th 1364 94.5%
2019 96.92 31st 1442 97.9%
2022 98.68 9th 1540 99.4%
2023 99.78 4th 1529 99.7%
2024 98.45 11th 1477 99.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 91.52 78th 1538 94.9%
2024 99.28 18th 1550 98.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 98.04 29th 2230 98.7%
2019 95.47 61st 2369 97.4%
2022 97.67 38th 2458 98.5%
2023 98.61 27th 2549 98.9%
2024 95.98 79th 2575 96.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.79 41st 2262 98.2%
2019 96.36 56th 2380 97.6%
2022 97.63 52nd 2509 97.9%
2023 96.96 72nd 2547 97.2%
2024 96.67 75th 2546 97.1%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.98 21st 1369 98.5%
2019 96.56 37th 1491 97.5%
2022 94.90 53rd 1531 96.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 97.18 57th 2273 97.5%
2019 97.35 64th 2407 97.3%
2022 96.83 83rd 2527 96.7%
2023 98.23 40th 2558 98.4%
2024 98.45 35th 2547 98.6%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.68 44th 700 93.7%
2019 83.42 58th 745 92.2%
2022 79.49 121st 733 83.5%
2023 82.46 74th 718 89.7%
2024 82.03 85th 741 88.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.75 41st 2072 98.0%
2019 96.22 53rd 2213 97.6%
2022 96.22 53rd 2359 97.8%
2023 96.08 54th 2391 97.7%
2024 96.73 49th 2383 97.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South Pasadena Middle

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 90.57 59th 1496 96.1%
2019 89.29 97th 1602 93.9%
2022 92.55 42nd 1555 97.3%
2023 92.82 30th 1552 98.1%
2024 91.03 61st 1535 96.0%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

South Pasadena Middle Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: California Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
Facebook Profile Picture by a student on FaceBook
Wednesday, January 4, 2012

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Enrollment information for South Pasadena Middle

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 329 18 241 115 5 n/a n/a 0 708
1989 322 24 259 135 4 n/a n/a 0 744
1990 356 36 260 136 2 n/a n/a 0 790
1991 386 42 276 144 2 n/a n/a 0 850
1992 386 55 313 155 3 n/a n/a 0 912
1993 365 53 286 167 3 n/a n/a 0 874
1994 400 43 281 164 4 n/a n/a 0 892
1995 390 46 300 146 4 n/a n/a 0 886
1996 390 46 300 146 4 n/a n/a 0 886
1997 391 44 314 170 4 n/a n/a 0 923
1998 400 47 319 169 1 n/a n/a 0 936
1999 385 46 317 155 5 n/a n/a 15 923
2000 368 36 323 143 3 n/a n/a 34 907
2001 381 36 357 138 5 n/a n/a 45 962
2002 393 37 347 181 1 n/a n/a 82 1041
2003 393 37 347 181 1 n/a n/a 82 1041
2004 388 31 373 188 6 n/a n/a 64 1050
2005 431 36 373 177 2 n/a n/a 50 1069
2006 442 42 432 175 6 n/a n/a 0 1097
2007 411 37 402 153 4 n/a n/a 56 1063
2008 375 32 399 149 4 n/a n/a 0 959
2009 358 33 397 149 4 0 72 0 1013
2010 349 41 421 191 5 3 7 0 1017
2011 344 32 422 232 4 1 19 0 1054
2012 366 34 427 242 6 1 22 0 1098
2013 350 33 425 262 8 1 35 0 1114
2014 338 25 417 268 7 2 47 0 1104
2015 329 21 430 276 5 3 53 0 1117
2016 318 19 402 276 1 2 80 0 1098
2017 355 18 395 279 2 1 116 0 1166
2018 318 15 368 274 1 0 136 0 1112
2019 327 13 379 282 1 1 141 0 1144
2020 313 18 401 298 2 2 179 0 1213
2021 315 19 382 277 1 2 180 0 1176
2022 300 14 358 279 1 2 191 1 1146
2023 269 18 361 258 1 1 174 2 1084
2024 249 15 409 238 1 0 183 4 1099

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Pasadena Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 708 28.0 25.2 n/a
1989 744 30.5 24.3 n/a
1990 790 33.1 23.8 n/a
1991 850 37.9 22.4 n/a
1992 912 38.5 23.6 10.1
1993 874 37.0 23.6 11.6
1994 892 36.2 24.6 10.1
1995 886 37.4 23.7 12.6
1996 886 37.4 23.7 12.6
1997 923 36.8 25.1 11.2
1998 936 36.7 25.5 12.6
1999 923 38.8 23.8 12.3
2000 907 38.2 23.7 9.7
2001 962 40.0 24.1 11.1
2002 1041 40.4 25.8 9.9
2003 1041 40.4 25.8 9.9
2004 1050 39.5 26.6 9.3
2005 1069 41.4 25.8 12.1
2006 1097 42.2 26.0 9.5
2007 1063 40.2 26.4 7.8
2008 959 48.4 19.8 10.1
2009 1013 41.3 21.4 9.3
2010 1017 39.5 25.7 9.7
2011 1054 n/a n/a 12.5
2012 1098 42.3 25.9 n/a
2013 1114 46.0 24.2 15.9
2014 1104 46.0 23.9 18.3
2015 1117 49.0 22.7 16.5
2016 1098 48.0 22.8 15.8
2017 1166 48.3 24.1 15.4
2018 1112 46.1 24.0 19
2019 1144 44.9 25.4 17.6
2020 1213 n/a n/a 15.5
2021 1176 49.3 23.8 15.5
2022 1146 49.9 22.9 14.1
2023 1084 48.6 22.2 16.8
2024 1099 48.3 22.7 18.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Pasadena Middle

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 708 28.0 25.2 n/a
1989 744 30.5 24.3 n/a
1990 790 33.1 23.8 n/a
1991 850 37.9 22.4 n/a
1992 912 38.5 23.6 10.1
1993 874 37.0 23.6 11.6
1994 892 36.2 24.6 10.1
1995 886 37.4 23.7 12.6
1996 886 37.4 23.7 12.6
1997 923 36.8 25.1 11.2
1998 936 36.7 25.5 12.6
1999 923 38.8 23.8 12.3
2000 907 38.2 23.7 9.7
2001 962 40.0 24.1 11.1
2002 1041 40.4 25.8 9.9
2003 1041 40.4 25.8 9.9
2004 1050 39.5 26.6 9.3
2005 1069 41.4 25.8 12.1
2006 1097 42.2 26.0 9.5
2007 1063 40.2 26.4 7.8
2008 959 48.4 19.8 10.1
2009 1013 41.3 21.4 9.3
2010 1017 39.5 25.7 9.7
2011 1054 n/a n/a 12.5
2012 1098 42.3 25.9 n/a
2013 1114 46.0 24.2 15.9
2014 1104 46.0 23.9 18.3
2015 1117 49.0 22.7 16.5
2016 1098 48.0 22.8 15.8
2017 1166 48.3 24.1 15.4
2018 1112 46.1 24.0 19
2019 1144 44.9 25.4 17.6
2020 1213 n/a n/a 15.5
2021 1176 49.3 23.8 15.5
2022 1146 49.9 22.9 14.1
2023 1084 48.6 22.2 16.8
2024 1099 48.3 22.7 18.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Pasadena Middle

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $9,866

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Pasadena Middle

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 60th of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 53rd of 2802 Middle schools
 0.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South Pasadena Middle)82.579.3
 3.2%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South Pasadena Unified)82.679.3
 3.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.544.2
 4.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (South Pasadena Middle)77.878
 0.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (South Pasadena Unified)77.878
 0.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (California)38.533.2
 5.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South Pasadena Middle)82.783.3
 0.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South Pasadena Unified)82.283.3
 1.1%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Pasadena Middle)76.880.5
 3.7%
   7th Grade Mathematics (South Pasadena Unified)76.380.5
 4.2%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South Pasadena Middle)83.979.6
 4.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (South Pasadena Unified)83.779.6
 4.1%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (South Pasadena Middle)79.874.3
 5.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (South Pasadena Unified)79.874.3
 5.5%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (South Pasadena Middle)70.265.2
 5%
   8th Grade Science (South Pasadena Unified)70.265.2
 5%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students11441084
 5.2%
African American1318
 38.5%
American Indian11
Asian379361
 4.7%
Hispanic282258
 8.5%
Pacific Islander11
White327269
 17.7%
Two or More Races141174
 23.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients17.6%16.8%
 0.8%


Schools Near South Pasadena Middle









Frequently Asked Questions about South Pasadena Middle

Yes! South Pasadena Middle is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 45th of 2777 California middle schools.

Students at South Pasadena Middle are 37% Asian, 23% White, 22% Hispanic, 17% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Students who attend South Pasadena Middle usually go on to attend South Pasadena Senior High

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,099 students attended South Pasadena Middle.


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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.





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