About Us

Chandler At A Glance

Founded: 1950 by Thomas and Catherine Chandler

Head of School: John Finch, installed in 2001

Student Population: 445 students
Lower School (K-5): 260
Middle School (6-8): 185
 
Ethnic diversity: 49% self reported

Faculty: 47
Faculty holding advanced degrees: 15
 
Campus: 4.5 acres
 
Buildings: 4
 
Financial Aid: In order to enhance the socioeconomic diversity of the Chandler School community, approximately 12% of tuition income is directed toward financial aid.
                              
Athletics: 99% of Middle School students participate in at least one interscholastic sport.
Teams: Boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, flag football, boys and girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, golf, swimming, tennis.
 
1950
  • Chandler School is founded by Thomas and Catherine Chandler. 14 students, grade four through eight, enroll at the Altadena campus.
1958
  • Chandler School features an enrollment of 70 students.
  • The Chandlers purchase the current Armada Drive property with the help of 40 parents. Construction of the new campus is completed one room at a time, with donated materials and labor. School opens on Sept. 20, 1958 with two buildings, an athletic field and 114 students.
  • A board of trustees is formed and Chandler becomes a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.
1963
  • A kindergarten building is constructed and the first kindergarten class is enrolled.
1972
  • The South Campus is completed and Chandler enrolls 17 students in its high school.
1975
  • Chandler High School closes its doors as the school focuses on its K-8 program. Ninth grade is retained until 1979.
  • The Chandler Family Associates (CFA) is established.
1976
  • Mr. Chandler retires and Arthur L.P. Brown becomes Chandler's second headmaster.
1979
  • Jefferson C. Stephens, Jr. is named Chandler's third headmaster.
  • With enrollment at 286, additional classrooms are added to the Lower School. Enrollment increases to 366.
1983
  • A computer lab is added to the Middle School
1988
  • A fine arts building is completed and is named for Assistant Headmaster Vernon L. Hill in 1991.
1990
  • Enrollment reaches 420 students.
1992
  • Chandler joins a collaboration with three other independent schools and the Pasadena Unified School District to provide a summer enrichment program, the Skills Enrichment Program, for Pasadena public school students.
1996
  • A new Middle School Library and Technology Center opens.
  • Mr. Chandler passes away at age 85. Mrs. Chandler remains active in the school community to this day.
1998
  • Pasadena Planning Commission approves Chandler's 10-year Master Plan and the Chandler 2000 Lower School Project.
2001
  • Chandler completes the new Lower School and dedicates it to retiring Headmaster Jefferson C. Stephens, Jr.
  • John Finch becomes Chandler's fourth head of school.
2008
  • The city of Pasadena approves Chandler's Master Development Plan including the South Campus project.
  • The One-to-One Middle School Laptop Program is implemented; each student has their own laptop.
2010
  • Chandler celebrates its 60th anniversary.
2011
  • The new South Campus opens for the start of the 2011-2012 school year, as part of Phase I of the South Campus Capital Campaign
  • Enrollment reaches its current level of 450 students.
2013
  • Construction begins on Phase II of the South Campus Capital Campaign. A new parking structure and Tower are slated to be completed by 2015.
2015
  • Construction is completed for the new parking structure and Tower and a dedication is held on January 5, 2015.