Enrollment
527
California · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Altadena, CA
Altadena Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Altadena Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062994004661
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 1
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Altadena Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 7
- elementary schools in Altadena · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 31:1
- large classes for California
- 57.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Altadena Elementary has class sizes larger than 97% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Altadena Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Altadena, CA.
School address
District: Pasadena Unified · California
NCES ID 062994004661 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
31:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
+44% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.8%
vs 55.5% California avg
+4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Altadena Elementary compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Altadena Elementary
Altadena Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Altadena, California, enrolling 527 students.
Class loads run heavy: 31:1 is larger than about 97% of California schools and 44% above the 21.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 57.8% lands close to the California typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 527 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,762 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #927.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and White (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 39.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Altadena's elementary schools, it stands alongside Jackson Elementary (658 students): Altadena Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (31:1 vs 26.3:1).
Pasadena Unified also operates Marshall Fundamental (1,689 students) and Pasadena High (1,303 students) alongside Altadena Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Altadena Elementary compares
Altadena Elementary on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 31:1 | ▲ 44% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.8% | ▲ 4% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 527 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
31:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
527
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
57.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
31:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 97% in California - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
39.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,889
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $16,509
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.0%
White 26.9%
Two or More 12.7%
African American 12.3%
Asian 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.1, Altadena Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pasadena Unified, which includes Altadena Elementary.
$17,889
Per student
+8%
vs California
Avg $16,509
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 45.4%
State 40.3%
Federal 14.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Altadena Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Fundamental | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pasadena High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John Muir High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Blair High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jackson Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Altadena Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,689
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,303
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 25.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar elementary schools in Altadena
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jackson Elementary
Standard public school
658 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
Odyssey Charter
Standard public school
463 students 25.7:1 students per teacher
Ocs - South
Standard public school
392 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
Aveson School of Leaders
Standard public school
279 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Alma Fuerte Public
Standard public school
227 students 28.4:1 students per teacher
Pasadena Rosebud Academy
Standard public school
169 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~527 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~31:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Altadena Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Altadena Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Pasadena Unified's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Altadena Elementary
How many students attend Altadena Elementary?
Altadena Elementary has 527 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Altadena, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Altadena Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Altadena Elementary is 31:1, which is 44% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 97% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Altadena Elementary?
57.8% of students at Altadena Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Altadena Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Altadena Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 44.0% of enrollment, in Altadena, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Altadena Elementary?
Altadena Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Altadena Elementary rank among elementary schools in Altadena?
By Resource Investment Index, Altadena Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Altadena, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Altadena on the city page.
Is Altadena Elementary a good school?
Altadena Elementary earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Pasadena Unified?
Besides Altadena Elementary, Pasadena Unified also operates Marshall Fundamental (1,689 students), Pasadena High (1,303 students), and John Muir High (1,206 students). See the Pasadena Unified district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.