Hamilton Elementary School

2089 Rose Villa Street

School District

Pasadena Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

School Map for Pasadena Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 09, 2025

We recently moved into the area and originally planned to transfer our kids to the San Marino School District. However, after just two weeks at Hamilton, we knew this was the right school for our family. We absolutely love the diversity here—did you know there are 26 languages represented at Hamilton? The school’s International Fair was a highlight for us, with 19 countries showcasing their food and culture. The strong parent involvement also creates a sense of community and gives the school a feel similar to a private school. We couldn’t be happier with our decision to stay!
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2024

Great neighborhood school with heavy parent involvement both inside and outside of the class. This school honestly feels like a private school given teachers/parents/administrators care for the kids and facility. School is also very diverse, thanks to Cal Tech professors that are from different countries sending their kids here. The school really feels like the UN at times. Some great groups that are here Annual Fund - Great group of parents that are very involved in the community and supports school from a financial and inclusive POV. Pays for librarian and computer labPTA - Heavy involvement from majority of parents. Highly engaged group of people. Activities throughout the year and helps with maintenance of the facility. Room Parents - There are dedicated room parents throughout the year from K-5thAfrican American Parents Council - Makes sure all AA kids are taken care of and keeping them on trackOverall, cant be beat for the since there's both ethnic and social economic diversity.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2024

Our daughter has had the absolutely most amazing time at Hamilton! There's nothing like your kid always having a smile on their face when you pick them up from school. Hamilton is known for academic excellence, science, student diversity and social-emotional learning. Hamilton has a special focus on leadership, art and science with a wonderful annual science night (there was a real Mars Rover at the last one!). The school has worked w/the Armory for years to provide art classes and more recently a special Pasadena tax started paying for certified art teachers, a music teacher and P.E. teacher. The Annual fund pays for a librarian and computer teacher. (The school is currently looking to replace the previous very popular teacher). Our daughter is in 1st grade and also attended Kindergarten here. All the teachers her and her friends in other classed have had are wonderful, communicate well w/parents (even during weekends and evenings) and genuinely seem to love kids. In Kindergarten, she had the amazing Ms. Yamada, an exceptional teacher who installed a love for learning in our daughter and won "best teacher" award for Pasadena (and another LA county teaching award). Our daughter used to say: "I love Ms. Yamada the most, then Mommy, then Daddy." Ms. Negrete and Ms. Anderson have also won teaching awards. Hamilton has an active and welcoming parent community which organizes an amazing Multi-Cultural fair, School Dance and Science Fair. Hamilton celebrates kindness week and recognizes students once a month for leadership, helping other students and academic excellence. Bullying is non-existent, at least in the Kinder through 2nd grade group our daughter spends time with. (Our daughter was born w/a small disability and this was important to us). The Annual Fund fund-raises very actively which to some might be a negative if they prefer not to get involved and to some it might be a plus since this funds extra programs. (However, more than half of the students are eligible for free lunch by pre-Covid criteria and no one is pushed into donating if they don't feel comfortable). My husband was offered a great job opportunity in another city and we will likely stay because we love Hamilton that much. Send your child here if you can! (Getting into Hamilton by lottery can be competitive but I've also heard good things about other PUSD elementary schools.) Let's support our excellent non-charter public schools and dedicated teachers!
Submitted by parent on November 06, 2019

We struggled with the decision to send our children to a public school over a private one and spent the first year carefully observing and weighing our child's experience. We have since concluded that it was the right choice for us. The positive nature of the school and teacher, the quality of parent involvement, the community feel, and the rich and diverse student population (for example- dozen of languages and cultures are represented) all make this a winning school.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2019

Amazing. The PTA and Annual Fund are very active. There are tons of events. The computer lab is run by a teacher who just got the Milken Award (Nobel for teachers)!
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2018

Overall, I'm glad we went here instead of paying $30K a year for private school. The kids have learned well, score above standard and we've made great friends. Cannot beat the neighborhood, with heavy parent involvement that serves like a second staff at the school. Heavy fundraising, as parent funds support the computer lab, librarian and art program each year. Grants take care of music and swimming at the Rose Bowl. However, not immune to the chaos and mismanagement of PUSD. 5th graders have a 34-1 student to teacher ratio in 2018. New principal has a lot to learn in how to effectively lead and communicate. Some teachers are openly resentful. A few more are obviously only going through the motions until they can retire.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2018

Great neighborhood school. My kids went to Hamilton and they went on to do well academically and socially. Why pay for a private school when the best K-5 in Pasadena is a available.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2018

For this to be a public school, a 6 out of a 10 is what I give it. If it were a private school, it would be gettin no a two or three.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2016

One of the great values of public schools is the education that parents and students of diverse backgrounds receive from each other. Good leadership, committed teachers, and strong parent involvement make Hamilton's diversity one of its strengths. Its test scores are excellent, with close attention being paid to results on an ongoing basis to ensure that teaching resources are being smartly allocated. Besides fun events like the Fall Carnival and the Cultural Fair, the school also offers a good variety of extracurricular activities, such as scouting, sports, and chess. All of this easily makes Hamilton one of the best elementary schools in Pasadena.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2016

Hamilton has many positives going in it's favor until you get to the fifth grade. If you have a child who has special needs, in the fifth grade especially , you will recieve very little actual support. The fifth grade teachers for the exception of one, are not flexible or supportive instead arrogant and set in there ways. We all know what a massive impact a teacher has on a child, Its sad when you've invested 5 years in a school and your last year , your child is sad to go to school.A great principal, make these changes already!!
Submitted by other on June 04, 2015

All three of my kids attend Hamilton.Great school, incredible and dedicated teachers and staff. Amazing families.Love this community. So diverse in culture. So grateful my girls have an educational experience like this!
Submitted by other on June 04, 2015

I have had three kids go through Hamilton and seen it improve over the last 12 years. This school offers almost everything you could want: strong, dedicated teachers, a strong principal, a diverse parent and student group, extras such as clubs and electives and targeted fundraising (not the nickle and dime stuff that gets annoying). The more involved you become at this school the more you get out of it.
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2014

This is a great school. It isn't perfect but there is strong leadership. Most impressive is the leaderships responsiveness to each student. A student will not fall in the cracks here. Data is kept on each classroom and student and the school uses it to provide interventions, professional development, or programs. Its a safe and diverse school. It would be great to see more diverse teachers however many of the non-diverse teachers are culturally competent.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2014

Hamilton Elementary School is one of the best public elementary schools in Pasadena! We have high parent involvement via the PTA and Annual Fund. The school principal is very knowledgeable and motivated and she really cares about each student's academic performance and her staff's teaching effectiveness. If you are looking for the perfect elementary school, it doesn't exist. However, I would put Hamilton Elementary up against any of the private schools in Pasadena.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2013

The teachers at Hamilton really care about the students and it shows. Hamilton is one big community parents join together with the teachers in order to make the kids enjoy school.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2013

Hamilton is a fantastic school. The principal is great and works so hard to keep the school culture friendly and supportive. The teachers truly care about all their students. I moved to Hamilton's neighborhood a few years ago so that my two children could attend and I have not been disappointed. It has been a great experience for my children. My oldest child is now in 5th grade and I love the teachers. They make learning fun and my child is comes home excited about school. My younger child too!
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2012

Hamilton is a great school--friendly families, excellent principal. My children are in 4th and 1st grade. We've had a wonderful experience.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2012

I transferred my daughter from private school to Hamilton in 4th and 5th grade. The teachers were great. It's also depends on your child, if your child is very responsible then you will not be disappointed. Math is not a problem. she is now in 7th grade and taking Algebra. I feel that the new or current principal is not doing a good job.API score went down. Most of the parents doesn't like.Parent involvement also went down. She is not approachable. Math is good but reading is not enough in all grades. They do not have AR accelerated reading in the school.
Submitted by parent on July 03, 2012

Don't make the mistake that we made. Hamilton was great for 1st-3rd grade, but by the time we realized how terrible the 4th and 5th grades are, it was too late. My child wasn't able to get into private schools for middle school because he hadn't been taught the basic math skills necessary to get by. The 4th grade math is truly where Hamilton fails, and it is very hard to recover from the lack of instruction. After months of private tutoring, we are hoping to catch up to my son's peers at other public schools. I will say, the lower grades are fine and the K-3rd teachers were great.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2012

My sons have been going to Hamilton for the past two years and will attend again next year. Although most PUSD schools are mediocre at best, Hamilton is really a good school. The teachers are very good and keep you updated on your kids (as long as you the parent show some interest). The parent involvement is pretty good. Lots of participation during school events. I really appreciate the diversity of the school.