Sierra Madre Elementary

Summary:

Sierra Madre Elementary is a public elementary school serving 630 students in grades K-5 within the Pasadena Unified School District. This high-performing school has consistently ranked in the top 10-15% of California elementary schools over the past decade, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger in several recent years.

Sierra Madre Elementary excels academically, with 71.52% of students scoring proficient or better in ELA and 71.82% in math, significantly outperforming their Pasadena Unified and statewide peers. The school also serves diverse student populations well, ranking in the top 10 in California for Asian students and the top 266 for Hispanic students in ELA. Additionally, Sierra Madre Elementary maintains relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and a favorable student-teacher ratio around 26:1.

While Sierra Madre Elementary outperforms its district, some nearby schools in other districts, such as Holly Avenue Elementary and Highland Oaks Elementary in Arcadia Unified, demonstrate even stronger academic performance. Additionally, Sierra Madre Elementary's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, and the school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism rates in the most recent year, which may be an area of concern.


Detail:

Public K-5

 141 West Highland Ave.
       Sierra Madre, CA  91024-1810


(626) 396-5890

District: Pasadena Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
536th of 5,862 California Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,600 Help


Students who attend Sierra Madre Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Sierra Madre Middle
High:    Pasadena High

Student/teacher ratio:  26.2 Help
Number of students:  630

Racial breakdown:

White:
47.6%
Hispanic:
25.9%
Two or more races:
13.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  35.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Sierra Madre Elementary ranks better than 90.9% of elementary schools in California. It also ranks 2nd among 14 ranked elementary schools in the Pasadena Unified School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.5. (See more...)
Help
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 Sierra Madre Elementary is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (47.6%), Hispanic (25.9%), two or more races (13.8%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 35.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Pasadena Unified School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Sierra Madre Elementary is 26.2, which is the highest among 14 elementary schools in the Pasadena Unified School District! (See more...)
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Compare Sierra Madre Elementary employs 24 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Sierra Madre Elementary is $6,600. 9 elementary schools in the Pasadena Unified School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Sierra Madre Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Sierra Madre Elementary 536th of 5862 California public elementary schools. (See Sierra Madre Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


Pasadena Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks Pasadena Unified 730th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Sierra Madre Elementary?

Rank History for Sierra Madre Elementary

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 65.40 1470th 4809 69.4%
2005 66.57 1485th 4822 69.2%
2006 69.05 1384th 4818 71.3%
2007 83.31 834th 5113 83.7%
2008 85.04 750th 5113 85.3%
2009 84.47 783rd 5193 84.9%
2010 90.03 435th 5314 91.8%
2011 90.45 409th 5377 92.4%
2012 88.64 513th 5390 90.5%
2013 88.33 566th 5530 89.8%
2015 90.07 622nd 5611 88.9%
2016 88.72 693rd 5614 87.7%
2017 84.30 938th 5692 83.5%
2018 88.03 737th 5662 87.0%
2019 88.05 750th 5789 87.0%
2022 92.94 524th 5883 91.1%
2023 91.03 638th 5874 89.1%
2024 92.50 536th 5862 90.9%
See the entire list of California Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 63.83 265th 669 60.4%
2024 67.07 242nd 669 63.8%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 91.35 157th 2420 93.5%
2024 94.94 112th 2634 95.7%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.66 381st 5084 92.5%
2019 87.00 404th 5173 92.2%
2022 90.61 324th 5264 93.8%
2023 89.74 399th 5374 92.6%
2024 90.01 454th 5511 91.8%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 87.19 709th 5413 86.9%
2019 85.89 771st 5492 86.0%
2022 87.27 763rd 5635 86.5%
2023 89.00 693rd 5617 87.7%
2024 88.32 702nd 5605 87.5%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 89.59 160th 2128 92.5%
2019 90.27 176th 2585 93.2%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.70 761st 5431 86.0%
2019 87.50 713th 5510 87.1%
2022 95.14 294th 5663 94.8%
2023 90.64 577th 5650 89.8%
2024 93.20 409th 5636 92.7%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 61.83 527th 1149 54.1%
2024 88.90 10th 1203 99.2%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 79.55 711th 4830 85.3%
2019 85.00 504th 4963 89.8%
2022 91.08 316th 5084 93.8%
2023 92.55 256th 5098 95.0%
2024 92.53 266th 5102 94.8%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Sierra Madre Elementary

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.80 654th 2737 76.1%
2019 76.63 576th 2834 79.7%
2022 84.43 293rd 2726 89.3%
2023 76.24 574th 2662 78.4%
2024 76.76 562nd 2647 78.8%
See the entire list of Best California Elementary 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.

Sierra Madre Elementary 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:
by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Open Quote Our PreK-8th Grade school has three core values: high academic achievement (as evidenced by our test scores, fabulous teachers, and high parent involvement), creative culture (exemplified by our strong Visual and Performing Arts Programs), and a safe and nurturing environment (which our teachers, staff, and parents work together to provide). Our school not only values academics, but also recognizes the importance of enriching the academic experience of our students with monthly assemblies in which all elementary students are exposed to song, drama, instrumental music, and dance. Middle School students are able to expand their interests further in specific areas through enrichment classes.

As state and federal funding has dwindled in recent years, this school has made up for these shortfalls through a strong Annual Fund and high volunteerism. Walk our halls and you will find well-trained volunteers assisting teachers with instruction in classrooms. Community is fostered and built through monthly PTA extracurricular events, including a Fall Festival, Middle School Dances, Father-Daughter Dance, and Mother-Son Game Night, among others. Likewise, our school Annual Fund pays for approximately half of our discretionary funds budget including providing instructional, behavioral, health and recreational aides, arts specialists, and much more.

When looking at our API ranking, be aware that the score is for both an elementary campus and a middle school campus, which are a few blocks apart. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Sierra Madre Elementary

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 283 150 10 237 0 n/a n/a 0 680
1989 269 134 14 263 0 n/a n/a 0 680
1990 237 130 14 272 0 n/a n/a 0 653
1991 219 125 12 274 0 n/a n/a 0 630
1992 283 119 15 238 1 n/a n/a 0 656
1993 286 118 16 285 0 n/a n/a 0 705
1994 287 115 20 280 2 n/a n/a 0 704
1995 296 94 17 271 0 n/a n/a 0 678
1996 296 94 17 271 0 n/a n/a 0 678
1997 275 88 18 271 0 n/a n/a 0 652
1998 292 82 20 282 0 n/a n/a 0 676
1999 274 90 13 315 1 n/a n/a 0 693
2000 262 84 19 329 1 n/a n/a 0 695
2001 258 85 19 346 1 n/a n/a 0 709
2002 264 61 22 304 1 n/a n/a 0 652
2003 264 61 22 304 1 n/a n/a 0 652
2004 294 67 29 307 3 n/a n/a 0 700
2005 367 68 36 346 2 n/a n/a 0 819
2006 434 83 41 398 0 n/a n/a 0 956
2007 481 71 41 315 1 n/a n/a 9 918
2008 545 73 46 279 4 n/a n/a 0 947
2009 607 77 43 247 3 1 2 0 980
2010 503 63 38 338 4 1 68 0 1015
2011 523 68 36 332 4 1 70 0 1034
2012 576 59 47 338 3 1 64 0 1088
2013 601 58 47 313 3 2 55 0 1079
2014 443 37 40 162 2 1 17 0 702
2015 452 34 54 156 1 0 14 0 711
2016 411 33 56 153 1 0 12 0 666
2017 377 34 61 157 0 0 14 0 643
2018 394 29 62 164 0 1 23 0 673
2019 393 28 78 162 0 1 27 0 689
2020 383 24 68 176 1 1 47 0 700
2021 311 21 64 177 1 1 52 0 627
2022 300 13 55 147 1 1 68 0 585
2023 300 12 65 163 2 1 87 0 630

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 Sierra Madre Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 680 28.0 24.2 n/a
1989 680 28.0 24.2 n/a
1990 653 28.0 23.3 n/a
1991 630 26.0 24.2 n/a
1992 656 26.4 24.8 52.7
1993 705 26.8 26.3 57.4
1994 704 27.8 25.3 48.9
1995 678 24.7 27.4 51.6
1996 678 24.7 27.4 51.6
1997 652 28.6 22.8 51.2
1998 676 31.5 21.5 53.6
1999 693 34.5 20.1 52.4
2000 695 36.6 19.0 51.4
2001 709 35.6 19.9 53
2002 652 35.6 18.3 51.1
2003 652 35.6 18.3 51.1
2004 700 33.7 20.8 46.4
2005 819 40.7 20.1 45.1
2006 956 39.4 24.3 39.4
2007 918 43.0 21.3 28.5
2008 947 49.0 19.3 0
2009 980 47.9 18.6 15.9
2010 1015 46.0 22.0 20.8
2011 1034 n/a n/a 21.6
2012 1088 41.5 26.2 n/a
2013 1079 41.7 25.8 20
2014 702 25.8 27.2 19.5
2015 711 27.0 26.3 20.8
2016 666 26.0 25.6 20.3
2017 643 25.3 25.4 17.6
2018 673 28.3 23.7 19.5
2019 689 26.5 26.0 17.6
2020 700 n/a n/a 24.7
2021 627 27.3 22.9 30.5
2022 585 24.5 23.8 34.4
2023 630 24.0 26.2 35.6

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 Sierra Madre Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 680 28.0 24.2 n/a
1989 680 28.0 24.2 n/a
1990 653 28.0 23.3 n/a
1991 630 26.0 24.2 n/a
1992 656 26.4 24.8 52.7
1993 705 26.8 26.3 57.4
1994 704 27.8 25.3 48.9
1995 678 24.7 27.4 51.6
1996 678 24.7 27.4 51.6
1997 652 28.6 22.8 51.2
1998 676 31.5 21.5 53.6
1999 693 34.5 20.1 52.4
2000 695 36.6 19.0 51.4
2001 709 35.6 19.9 53
2002 652 35.6 18.3 51.1
2003 652 35.6 18.3 51.1
2004 700 33.7 20.8 46.4
2005 819 40.7 20.1 45.1
2006 956 39.4 24.3 39.4
2007 918 43.0 21.3 28.5
2008 947 49.0 19.3 0
2009 980 47.9 18.6 15.9
2010 1015 46.0 22.0 20.8
2011 1034 n/a n/a 21.6
2012 1088 41.5 26.2 n/a
2013 1079 41.7 25.8 20
2014 702 25.8 27.2 19.5
2015 711 27.0 26.3 20.8
2016 666 26.0 25.6 20.3
2017 643 25.3 25.4 17.6
2018 673 28.3 23.7 19.5
2019 689 26.5 26.0 17.6
2020 700 n/a n/a 24.7
2021 627 27.3 22.9 30.5
2022 585 24.5 23.8 34.4
2023 630 24.0 26.2 35.6

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.

Kindergarten Immunization Rates

Sierra Madre Elementary

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Compare
YearCompletely ImmunizedReligious ExemptionMedical ExemptionConditionalPolioHepatitis BVaricellaDTPMMR
201289.0%4.0%0.0%6.0%90.0%94.0%94.0%89.0%91.0%
201387.0%4.0%4.0%4.0%87.0%88.0%89.0%87.0%87.0%
201476.0%9.0%1.0%14.0%84.0%87.0%88.0%86.0%77.0%
201597.0%2.0%0.0%1.0%97.0%97.0%98.0%97.0%98.0%
201691.0%8.0%1.0%0.0%91.0%91.0%91.0%91.0%91.0%
201796.0%0.0%1.0%3.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%98.0%
201894.0%0.0%1.0%3.0%97.0%97.0%98.0%96.0%98.0%
201994.0%2.0%3.0%97.0%97.0%98.0%≥99.0%98.0%
202097.5%0.8%1.7%
202195.6%0.0%0.0%
202290.5%0.0%1.1%94.7%92.6%94.7%

Data source: California Department of Public Health
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Sierra Madre Elementary

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $6,600

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Sierra Madre Elementary

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 750th of 5789 Elementary schoolsRanks 638th of 5874 Elementary schools
 2.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Sierra Madre Elementary)70.279.6
 9.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Pasadena Unified)48.545.8
 2.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)48.543
 5.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Sierra Madre Elementary)67.569.9
 2.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Pasadena Unified)48.546
 2.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (California)50.245.1
 5.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Sierra Madre Elementary)70.367.2
 3.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Pasadena Unified)49.151
 1.9%
   4th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.543.7
 5.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Sierra Madre Elementary)77.570.1
 7.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Pasadena Unified)45.447.2
 1.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (California)44.940.8
 4.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Sierra Madre Elementary)67.763.8
 3.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Pasadena Unified)51.346.5
 4.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.746.7
 5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Sierra Madre Elementary)66.475.2
 8.8%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Pasadena Unified)35.633
 2.6%
   5th Grade Mathematics (California)3833.4
 4.6%
5th Grade Science (Sierra Madre Elementary)61.864.2
 2.3%
   5th Grade Science (Pasadena Unified)35.133
 2.2%
   5th Grade Science (California)31.731.9
 0.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students689630
 8.6%
African American2812
 57.1%
American Indian02
Asian7865
 16.7%
Hispanic162163
 0.6%
Pacific Islander11
White393300
 23.7%
Two or More Races2787
 222.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients17.6%35.6%
 18%


Schools Near Sierra Madre Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Sierra Madre Elementary

In the 2022-23 school year, 630 students attended Sierra Madre Elementary.

Yes. Sierra Madre Elementary ranks in the top 9.1% of California elementary schools.

Students at Sierra Madre Elementary are 48% White, 26% Hispanic, 14% Two or more races, 10% Asian, 2% African American.

Students who attend Sierra Madre Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Sierra Madre Middle
High : Pasadena High


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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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