490 Macdonald St
Pasadena, CA 91103

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 Magnet is truly a gem. Over the past several years, it has consistently delivered on its promise to provide both a strong high school education and the incredible opportunity for students to earn college credits—many even graduate with multiple Associate of Arts degrees by the time they finish high school. That’s right: students are leaving Muir not just with their high school diploma, but with college degrees in hand. This is a game-changer for families and students alike.The dedication of the teachers, staff, and administrators is second to none. They are passionate, supportive, and deeply invested in the success of every student. The programs here go beyond academics—they build character, confidence, and real-world skills.We are deeply grateful to have such an innovative and forward-thinking school in our community. John Muir High School Early College Magnet continues to be a source of pride and inspiration for our family, and we look forward to seeing future generations thrive here.

Extremely chaotic. Students are disrespectful to teachers. Have little concern for learning. At times kids are running around wild. Feel that teachers don't really care about the situation or just feel things are just out of control.

We have been at WESM now for 3 years and could not be happier. The staff and teachers are all very caring and my son with learning disabilities is enjoying school and loves the teachers. They have a new Environmental Sciences program that he especially loves as he gets to work with materials like clay, and recycled materials, and 2nd grade classes are working in groups to build tiny sustainable cities, and learning about the materials they can use. They also have a new Spanish Language program that also deals with the culture of different countries, and he can now tell you all about the Bolivian Salt flats and more! They are adding some really engaging murals for the kids to enjoy, the playground is getting upgrades, and some native trees have been planted that will add more natural shade for the kids in years to come. They have a stem lab and math lab also, have upgraded their phonics and language curriculums, are a community school and have a dedicated staff member for that along with social workers, RSL, speech therapists, Special Ed classes with amazing teachers and more. A new PTA has been created and the school also does monthly family fun nights to engage the community. We are looking forward to the next 3 years at Washington Elementary Stem Magnet.