La Canada Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on La Canada Unified

La Cañada Unified is a small district in Los Angeles County serving kindergarten through 12th grade across four schools. Its enrollment is stable at around mid-sized for its grade span, with the high school carrying a notably larger grade cohort than the elementary schools. The student population skews toward families with higher income and education: roughly two-fifths of students are White, about a third are Asian, about an eighth are Hispanic, with small populations of other groups and a two-race or more category representing a meaningful share. Free-or-reduced-lunch eligibility data was not available, but median household income in the county lands well above the national benchmark, and median home values in the district's primary attendance zones are substantial, suggesting a predominantly affluent enrollment base.

On state assessments, the district performs well. In English language arts across grades three through eight, proficiency runs consistently in the mid-to-high range, with sixth and seventh graders sitting in the upper band. Math proficiency tracks similarly strong across elementary and middle grades, dipping slightly into the low-to-mid eighties at grades five and eight but holding solidly otherwise. Science proficiency shows a different shape: eighth graders perform at a high level, but fifth graders, the only elementary grade tested, show a noticeably lower proficiency rate, a gap worth noting if you have a student in that grade band. Overall, the district's proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Los Angeles County districts, an unusually strong standing. Chronic absenteeism sits far below county medians, another marker of student engagement and family stability.

Spending per pupil is in the lower range relative to county peers, despite the strong academic results, suggesting efficient resource use rather than lavish funding. The district does draw ongoing revenue from Measure LC, a parcel tax renewed multiple times by voters, which funds advanced academic programs, specialized staff, and technology. A new bond measure is on the June ballot, the outcome of which would determine next-phase facility upgrades including conversion of portable classrooms to permanent structures.

Recent changes to the district include a major overhaul of secondary math pathways. The district moved from Common Core-era course naming back to traditional titles: Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra II/Trigonometry, with each course now given a full school year rather than compressed pacing. AP Precalculus is now part of the pathway at the high school. Parent-waiver and placement-test procedures were revised at the same time. For families weighing how their child moves through math, this shift signals a return to more conventional sequencing and arguably less pressure to accelerate.

At the elementary level, third graders now attend full day (8:10 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.) starting in the 2025-26 school year, a direct schedule change affecting family routines and childcare planning.

The district's data footprint is otherwise thin. Graduation rates and high school test data, both standard metrics, were not available in the materials provided. The school environment details, such as discipline practices, course breadth, and staffing ratios, were also not included. A parent seeking a granular picture of high school programming, college placement, or how the schools handle behavior and student support would need to contact the schools directly or visit their sites. What the data show is a district with strong elementary and middle-grade academics, efficient spending, and a notably low absenteeism rate, all anchored in a high-income community with established parental investment in school funding.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,937

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 12%

Black 0%

White 42%

Asian 33%

Two+ 12%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

74%

—

Gr 3

75%

84%

Gr 4

75%

90%

Gr 5

70%

87%

Gr 6

53%

93%

Gr 7

69%

91%

Gr 8

89%

90%

Gr 11

88%

—

Math

Gr ALL

65%

—

Gr 3

88%

84%

Gr 4

65%

88%

Gr 5

61%

83%

Gr 6

53%

89%

Gr 7

56%

87%

Gr 8

79%

83%

Gr 11

59%

—

Science

Gr ALL

33%

—

Gr 5

48%

75%

Gr 8

79%

84%

Gr 12

33%

—

Gr HS

53%

—

Gr UG_SEC

33%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

La Canada Elementary

La Canada High

Paradise Canyon Elementary

Palm Crest Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

85%

Grade 3

86%

Grade 4

82%

Grade 5

87%

Grade 6

86%

Grade 7

83%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

84%

Grade 3

89%

Grade 4

85%

Grade 5

91%

Grade 6

90%

Grade 7

90%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

73%

Grade 5

83%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

90%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$609,330

Year-over-year change-1.2%

Range across 6 ZIP codes$451K to $2.5M

vs. state typical0.78x

vs. national typical1.65x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (6 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93550	Palmdale	$451K	-1.5%	80.8%
91011	La Canada Flintridge	$2.5M	+1.4%	6.8%
93543	Littlerock	$469K	+1.7%	2.5%
91042	Los Angeles	$905K	-0.8%	0.7%
91208	Glendale	$1.6M	+1.0%	0.0%
91206	Glendale	$1.1M	-0.2%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,766/mo

Year-over-year change+0.4%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$2,185 to $6,520/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93550	Palmdale	$2,454	+0.4%	80.8%
91011	La Canada Flintridge	$6,520	—	6.8%
91042	Los Angeles	$2,185	+4.2%	0.7%
91208	Glendale	$3,966	+0.8%	0.0%
91206	Glendale	$2,632	-1.8%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,075/mo

Home price / national median income7.3x

Annual rent / national median income39.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$308/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.