Marshall Fundamental, Pasadena CA

Original Research by School Decision on Marshall Fundamental

Marshall Fundamental is a mid-sized, six-through-twelve public school in Pasadena. It serves a predominantly low-income and Hispanic student population, with a substantial majority qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch and more than half identifying as Hispanic. The student body reflects meaningful diversity across race and ethnicity, with meaningful representation of white, Asian, and Black students alongside the Hispanic plurality.

On state testing, Marshall's academic performance sits below the midpoint relative to other secondary schools in Los Angeles County. In English language arts, proficiency rates hover around half across the middle grades. Mathematics proficiency runs lower, in the mid-to-high thirties across sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. Science proficiency on the standardized exam reached the low forties. These results suggest that fewer than half of students are meeting grade-level standards in most subjects, a pattern parents should understand as they consider fit.

The school offers Advanced Placement coursework, indicating a college-prep pathway for students capable of and interested in that level of work. Beyond that program designation, information about other course offerings, electives, vocational pathways, or dual-credit opportunities was not available to review. The school's website may carry more detail on program breadth and student support structures.

Marshall is located in Pasadena, a diverse city anchored by Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and historic downtown and commercial districts. Housing costs in the area are steep, with home values and rents both substantially above state and national medians; a parent relocating would find the affordability markedly challenging. The city itself has been through major disruption due to the January 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed or severely damaged multiple school campuses across the district and displaced many students. Pasadena Unified is navigating rebuilding, significant budget cuts beginning in 2026-27 that will affect staffing and programs, and a halted school-consolidation process as of June 2026. These district-level transitions may shape programs, facilities, and staffing in coming years.

The school's graduation rate and chronic absenteeism data were not available for review. A parent evaluating Marshall should inquire directly with the school about college-going rates, academic supports for students below proficiency, attendance patterns, and how the district's current budget and rebuilding challenges are affecting day-to-day operations and course availability.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

97.0%Cohort of 236 students · Class of 2021

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

2,394 schools plotted. 142 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 638%

School 38% · District 34% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 738%

School 38% · District 34% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 833%

School 33% · District 30% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 647%

School 47% · District 46% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 750%

School 50% · District 47% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 41% · ▲ 3 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Science

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 29% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 36% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▼ 1 pts below state median · even with county median

This schoolPasadena Unified, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income33%Higher-income77%44 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income38%Higher-income75%37 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income36%Higher-income68%33 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income26%Higher-income62%36 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income28%Higher-income59%31 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income24%Higher-income58%34 pp gap