Your 2025 Parent’s Guide to South Pasadena Schools (SPUSD): Rankings, Programs, Neighborhoods & Championships
If you’re moving to South Pasadena (91030), you’ll hear it quickly: the schools are a huge reason families plant roots here. South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) is compact (five schools), highly regarded, and deeply woven into neighborhood life — the kind of place where drop-off lines and Saturday games feel like a community reunion.
District at a glance
SPUSD serves approximately 4,600–4,800 students across five schools and regularly ranks among the top districts in California. In Niche’s latest statewide list, SPUSD is #8 Best School Districts in California and #4 in Los Angeles County, with an overall A+ rating. Niche+2Niche+2
Campuses:
Arroyo Vista Elementary (K–5): 335 El Centro St., near the Library and Mission District. California Department of Education
Marengo Elementary (K–5): 1400 Marengo Ave., central/south-central neighborhood grid. Marengo Elementary School+1
Monterey Hills Elementary (K–5): 1624 Via Del Rey, serving the hillside tract/neighborhood. Monterey Hills Elementary School+1
South Pasadena Middle School (6–8): 1500 Fair Oaks Ave. California Department of Education
South Pasadena High School (9–12): 1401 Fremont Ave. (Tigers). Wikipedia
Dual-language immersion (big draw for K families)
SPUSD offers two coveted elementary dual-immersion pathways:
Spanish DI at Monterey Hills (90/10 model in early grades) — majority of instruction in Spanish, gradually balancing with English. South Pasadena Unified School District+1
Mandarin DI at Marengo — launched district-wide for incoming kindergarteners who reside in South Pasadena. South Pasadena Unified School District+1
For families targeting bilingual literacy and global readiness, these programs are a signature advantage — and homes near these campuses typically see strong demand.
How neighborhoods map to schools (quick orientation)
Mission District / Library area leans toward Arroyo Vista (walkable streets, historic character). California Department of Education
Central/South-central grid along Marengo Ave. aligns with Marengo Elementary (classic blocks, easy access to Fair Oaks). Marengo Elementary School
Monterey Hills (the hillside community) funnels to Monterey Hills Elementary (cul-de-sacs, views). Monterey Hills Elementary School
District enrollment pages confirm 91030 residency and boundary checks at registration. Always verify your specific address with SPUSD before you write an offer. South Pasadena Middle School
Rankings & performance snapshots
District: A+ overall (Niche), Top-10 in CA; top-tier teacher ratings. Niche
SPHS: Consistently among California’s best public high schools (Niche lists SPHS at #21 statewide in 2026). U.S. News has also ranked SPHS among top schools in prior cycles. Niche+1
Elementary excellence: Third-party snapshots (GreatSchools/Niche) reflect strong proficiency rates at Arroyo Vista and Monterey Hills; Marengo likewise reports high proficiency. (Use as a directional lens; always check SPUSD’s latest data.) Niche+2GreatSchools.org+2
Athletics, arts & CIF titles
SPHS athletics had a banner stretch recently, including a CIF State title in Girls Volleyball (2024) and a CIF Regional title in Boys Water Polo, plus Girls Cross Country CIF-SS title and Boys Cross Country runner-up — an unprecedented cluster of wins in one season. The program also captured the 2024 CIF State Girls Cross Country (DIII) team championship. South Pasadena Unified School District+1
Notable alumni & legacy
SPHS’s alumni network includes Hollywood icon William Holden (Class of 1937) and actor Alison Brie (’01). Beyond the celebrity shine, it signals a long tradition of arts, performance, and academic balance. Wikipedia+1
Thinking about moving to South Pasadena? Contact the best agent in South Pasadena, Jason Bergman for more information. Buyers: Proximity to a particular elementary or DI program can be a decisive factor. If Spanish at Monterey Hills or Mandarin at Marengo is a must, we’ll align your home search to those boundaries.South Pasadena Unified School District