Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

La Canada Unified

California · Public School District
4
Schools
3,871
Students
$21,376
Per-Pupil Spend
+49% nat'l
5.1%
Free Lunch Rate
-47pp vs nat'l
99.5%
Graduation Rate
+13.0pp vs nat'l
District Overview

La Canada Unified is a public school district in California serving 3,871 students across 4 schools. It includes 3 elementary, 1 high schools. Its graduation rate of 99.5% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $21,376 is above average for a US public school district. Only 5% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting a relatively low-poverty student body. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 54/100.

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All Schools (4)
Elementary Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
La Canada ElementaryKG–06622
Palm Crest ElementaryKG–06599
Paradise Canyon ElementaryKG–06657
High School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
La Canada High07–121,993
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$21,376+49% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
36%
58%
State
36.0%
Local (property tax)
58.5%
Federal
5.5%

This district draws the majority of its budget from local property taxes (58%), typical of wealthier suburban districts.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
4
Schools
3,871
Students
5%
Free Lunch
$21K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate99.5%
Opportunity Score54/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
99.5% graduation rate — 13.0 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $21,376 per pupil — 49% above the national average of $14,347.
Low economic disadvantage rate
Only 5% of students qualify for free lunch, well below the national rate of 52.2%.
Limited school choice
With only 4 schools in the district, families have fewer options for different programs or learning environments.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in La Canada Unified?
La Canada Unified has 4 public schools, serving a total of 3,871 students.
What is the graduation rate for La Canada Unified?
The graduation rate is 99.5%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does La Canada Unified spend per student?
La Canada Unified spends $21,376 per pupil — 49% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in La Canada Unified?
5% of students in La Canada Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in La Canada Unified?
No, La Canada Unified does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does La Canada Unified serve?
La Canada Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for La Canada Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in La Canada Unified is 54/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.