San Marino Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on San Marino Unified

San Marino Unified is a small district on the east side of Los Angeles County serving kindergarten through twelfth grade across four schools: two elementary buildings, a middle school, and a high school. The community is affluent, with substantial property values, and the student body is predominantly Asian, with smaller shares of white and multiracial students. The district's academic profile is strong across the core subjects measured by state tests.

In English language arts and mathematics, San Marino students show high proficiency rates that remain consistent from third grade through eighth grade, hovering in the mid-to-upper-eighties across most grades. Fifth-grade ELA proficiency is notably higher. Math results are similarly solid, with sixth grade reaching the highest proficiency levels. Science proficiency, measured in grades five and eight, registers lower than ELA and math, with fifth grade scoring around four-fifths proficient and eighth grade closer to seventy-three percent. The gap between science and the other two subjects is worth noting if your child's strength or interest lies in STEM; many students are performing at grade level in science, but the subject is a relative soft spot for the district overall compared to its literacy and numeracy performance.

The student body is stable and small by county standards, with roughly twenty-nine hundred students distributed fairly evenly across the thirteen grade levels. Free-or-reduced-price lunch data and English learner counts were not available, so the economic composition and language-support landscape of the district cannot be described from the data on hand. The district positions itself well on chronic absenteeism, placing in the top quartile among Los Angeles County districts, meaning students are attending school regularly.

When compared to other Los Angeles County districts, San Marino's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, reflecting strong academic performance relative to its peers countywide. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range among county districts, indicating the district manages its budget efficiently despite serving an affluent area.

Two recent ballot measures shape the district's financial and program landscape. In June 2025, voters renewed Measure R, a parcel tax that continues for a set number of years and funds roughly eleven positions including teachers, librarians, and counselors. In November 2024, voters approved Measure M, a major school facilities bond that is the district's first since an earlier date. Both measures are funded through property taxes assessed on assessed home values, making them direct considerations for families purchasing property in the area, as they add to the local tax burden.

A meaningful program addition is the Titan Medical Arts Academy at San Marino High, a four-year dual-enrollment pathway in partnership with Pasadena City College that lets students earn college credit while in high school. The inaugural cohort included a substantial number of students. The program includes access to Anatomage tables and medical-grade virtual reality tools, offering a distinctive pathway for students interested in healthcare careers and a lasting addition to the school's course offerings.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,933

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 7%

Black 1%

White 18%

Asian 62%

Two+ 12%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

82%

—

Gr 3

88%

87%

Gr 4

83%

88%

Gr 5

95%

91%

Gr 6

80%

88%

Gr 7

74%

83%

Gr 8

76%

82%

Gr 11

71%

—

Math

Gr ALL

80%

—

Gr 3

85%

86%

Gr 4

86%

87%

Gr 5

77%

86%

Gr 6

72%

92%

Gr 7

82%

85%

Gr 8

81%

84%

Gr 11

76%

—

Science

Gr ALL

61%

—

Gr 5

74%

80%

Gr 8

67%

74%

Gr 11

67%

—

Gr 12

61%

—

Gr HS

68%

—

Gr UG_SEC

64%

—

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

86%

Grade 3

87%

Grade 4

85%

Grade 5

89%

Grade 6

85%

Grade 7

83%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

87%

Grade 3

87%

Grade 4

92%

Grade 5

87%

Grade 6

81%

Grade 7

81%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

79%

Grade 5

73%

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$2.70M

Year-over-year change+6.7%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1.3M to $2.9M

vs. state typical3.48x

vs. national typical7.34x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
91108	San Marino	$2.9M	+7.2%	90.1%
91107	Pasadena	$1.3M	+0.3%	5.2%
91775	San Gabriel	$1.3M	+4.0%	4.7%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$5,870/mo

Year-over-year change+1.6%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$3,072 to $6,172/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
91108	San Marino	$6,172	—	90.1%
91107	Pasadena	$3,072	-1.5%	5.2%
91775	San Gabriel	$3,198	+5.1%	4.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$13,635/mo

Home price / national median income32.3x

Annual rent / national median income84.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$7,765/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.