John Muir High School, built to serve the northwest section of Pasadena, became the city’s second high school in 1926. Named after the 19th-century preservationist, it was originally called John Muir Technical High School, then operated as a junior college in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Since 2008, it’s been an early college magnet school, allowing students to earn up to two years of transferable college credit while attending the high school.
The school also offers an arts, entertainment and media academy, a business and entrepreneurship academy, and an engineering and environmental science academy.
Recent improvements at the school include a 1.5-acre campus farm, known as Muir Ranch, that provides internship opportunities for students. And the school has always provided numerous athletic teams for students: Its most famous alumnus, Jackie Robinson, played every sport offered before becoming the first Black major league baseball star. Among other notable alumni are science fiction author Octavia Butler, jazz musician Herbie Lewis, and rock singer David Lee Roth.
John Muir High School
Public High School
|
Grade 9-12
1905 Lincoln Ave,
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena Unified School District
School Details
Head of School
Dr. Lawton Gray IIi
Student Teacher Ratio
22:1
Average SAT Score
1100
Average ACT Score
21
Math Proficiency
18%
Reading Proficiency
43%
Average GPA
3.4
Graduation Rate
92%
Niche Grade
B
B-
A
B
C
B
C+
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
|
Average GPA
3.4
|
Reading Proficiency
43%
|
|
Math Proficiency
18%
|
|
Teachers
|
Student Teacher Ratio
22:1
Teachers
55
|
Full Time Teachers
55
|
|
Teachers in First or Second Year
24.7%
|
|
College Prep
|
Average SAT
1100
Math
540
Verbal
560
|
Average ACT
21
Math
20
English
21
Reading
21
Science
21
|
|
Number of AP Courses
9
|
AP Math Enrollment
Very Low
|
|
AP Science Enrollment
Low
|
Other AP Enrollment
High
|
Clubs and Activities
|
Girls Athletic Participation
Very Low
|
Boys Athletic Participation
Very Low
|
GreatSchools Rating
Source: GreatSchools
GreatSchools Rating Details
Test Scores
|
Math
7.6%
State Average
19.4%
|
Science
5.8%
State Average
11.2%
|
Teachers and Staff
|
Students Per Counselor
233:1
|
Student Diversity
|
Male
52.4%
|
Female
46.8%
|
|
Hispanic
64.2%
|
Black
20.1%
|
|
White
9%
|
Two or more races
3.2%
|
|
Filipino
1.3%
|
Asian
1.2%
|
|
Native American
<1%
|
Pacific Islander
<1%
|
Specialty School Programs
Free/Reduced Lunch Offered
Colleges Students are Considering
Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
University of California - Los Angeles
259 Students
California State University - Northridge
173 Students
University of California - Berkeley
164 Students
University of Southern California
148 Students
University of California - San Diego
126 Students
San Francisco State University
126 Students
Pasadena City College
125 Students
University of California - Santa Barbara
120 Students
University of California - Irvine
100 Students
San Diego State University
100 Students
What Students Want to Study
Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Business
83 Students
Psychology
73 Students
Nursing
54 Students
Biology
47 Students
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
29 Students
Film and Video Studies
29 Students
Computer Science
25 Students
Mechanical Engineering
25 Students
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration
24 Students
Marketing
23 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
4/25/2024
I am a student in the Engineering (EESA) academy at John Muir High School. I am currently taking a mandatory digital electronics class, which has been one of my favorite classes.
4/18/2024
They have this program called dual enrollment, which was what I would consider the best part about the school. You can take the classes during school hours and at the school campus. What I considered as the worst part about the school is the food. It's the same three meals over and over again. I would recommend lunch from home. For what I'd like to change, it would be the food.
7/9/2023
My favourite experience at muir it turkey tussle week it's so fun to see everyone in muir gear and have so much school spirit
GreatSchools Reviews
7/3/2026
Michael dunning said that they the school and district did not have to follow the law, they even kicked out city people and it was about law not immigration. He thinks he can do whatever so that tells me he can talk to underage kids in his logic be ware of this school.
4/6/2025
Our family is proud to say that the third generation is now attending John Muir High School Early College Magnet in Pasadena, CA—and with good reason. This school has been a pillar of excellence, growth, and opportunity for our family and the entire community.John Muir High School Early College Magn...
11/12/2024
Muir is definitely on the rise. It has a warm community vibe and robust team sports. It's a great local option for parents who would like to send their children to public school. Obviously, which school you send your children to is a very personal choice. I definitely suggest checking it out because...
9/5/2024
The office staff is terrible. Every interaction I’ve had with the attendance clerk has been met with an attitude.
Agents Specializing in Attendance Zone
-
Amalia Khachikian
Amalia Khachikian
Responds QuicklyBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
(424) 359-1579
45 Total Sales
1 in Attendance Zone
$905,000 Price
-
Sophia Kelley
Sophia Kelley
Christie's RE SoCal
(747) 998-0297
37 Total Sales
2 in Attendance Zone
$2.1M - $3.8M Price Range
-
Annie Deng
Annie Deng
COMPASS
(626) 605-6271
33 Total Sales
3 in Attendance Zone
$1M - $3.2M Price Range
-
Giusy Mele-Brown
Giusy Mele-Brown
BHHS California Properties
(626) 313-3578
59 Total Sales
7 in Attendance Zone
$475K - $2.3M Price Range
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Marcille Dilsaver Hughes
Marcille Dilsaver Hughes
BHHS California Properties
(323) 310-4703
40 Total Sales
5 in Attendance Zone
$820K - $4.6M Price Range
-
Tracy Macrum
Tracy Macrum
COMPASS
(213) 267-3143
26 Total Sales
2 in Attendance Zone
$1.6M - $1.8M Price Range
Map
Attendance Zone
List Price Range
$640K - $1.4M
Homes For Sale
4
Average Home Value
$1,001,822
Median Lot Size
6,969 Sq Ft
% Renters
44%
Average Household Income
$106,921
% of College Grads
25.1%
Median Age
39
Average House Size
1,228 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
44.2%
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
$1,725 - $1,925 per month
- Cottages D Caroline Atlas
- Studio - 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 500+ Sq Ft
- 390-400 N Madison Ave
- Pasadena, CA
$2,000 per month
- Apartment for Rent
- 1 Bed
- 1 Bath
- 645 Sq Ft
- 760 Earlham St
- Unit Unavailable
- Pasadena, CA
$2,495 - $2,595 per month
- Apartment for Rent
- 2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 856 Sq Ft
- 570 N Los Robles Ave
- Pasadena, CA
$2,350 - $3,200 per month
- Altadena Townhouse Apartments
- 1 - 2 Beds
- 1.5 Baths
- 1,000 Sq Ft
- 699-713 E Altadena Dr
- Altadena, CA
Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
- 1st to 12th
- Private
- Pre-K to 12th
- Private
- 6th to 12th
- Charter
Parks in this Area
Brookside Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Football
- Grills
Additional Neighborhoods in this Area
Northwest Pasadena
Neighborhood of early 20th-century character homes bound by the highway
John Muir High School is a public school for students in grades 9-12 in Pasadena, CA and is served by the Pasadena Unified School District in California. Annual tuition is $0. The school has a total enrollment of 936 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 22:1. Academic records show that 18% of students achieve proficiency in math, and 43% are proficient in reading. John Muir High School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of B+ and a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10. The average GPA is 3.4, the graduation rate is 92%, and average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1100 and an ACT score of 21. The average home value in this area is $1,001,822. Discover additional schools in the area, like Odyssey Charter School - SOUTH, Pasadena Waldorf School, Aveson Global Leadership Academy, and more. Learn more about what Pasadena has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near John Muir High School.