Dublin Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Dublin Unified

Dublin Unified is a mid-sized kindergarten through twelfth-grade district in Alameda County anchored by Dublin, with satellite communities in Castro Valley and Pleasanton. The district serves a large enrollment concentrated across multiple elementary schools, a pair of middle schools, and two comprehensive high schools alongside alternative and specialized programs.

Academic performance reflects solid proficiency across the curriculum. In English language arts, students show consistent strength from third grade through eighth, with proficiency rates in the upper-to-mid range. Math proficiency runs slightly lower than ELA, starting strong in the early elementary grades and declining through middle school, which mirrors typical performance patterns. Science shows the softest numbers: fifth-grade science proficiency is moderate, and eighth-grade science falls noticeably lower, suggesting this is an area where additional support may benefit students as they move into high school. Across tested subjects and grades, Dublin sits in the top quartile among Alameda County districts on overall proficiency, a genuine strength in the county context.

The district's student body is heavily Asian American, making up the clear majority of enrollment. The remainder consists of white students, Hispanic students, and smaller populations from other racial and ethnic groups. Racial composition is notably skewed toward one group, a fact parents should know when considering the peer environment and whether their child's own racial or ethnic background will be represented in the classroom. Socioeconomic data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility was not available, so the income profile of the district cannot be determined from the provided information.

Dublin sits in a high-cost housing market. Median home values are substantially above state and national benchmarks, and rental prices are correspondingly elevated. The area is densely suburban with established neighborhoods. For families considering the district, the economic reality is that Dublin is in the expensive Bay Area corridor, and a move here carries significant housing costs whether buying or renting.

The district is in the midst of substantial physical and organizational change. Emerald High School, the district's second comprehensive high school, opened recently and moved to its permanent campus in 2024, with full construction finishing through 2026-2027. This reshapes the high school landscape as enrollment has grown substantially. A voter-approved general obligation bond (Measure J) is funding the completion of Emerald, construction of a new middle school to relieve overcrowding, and modernization of older buildings. This is a long-term capital commitment carrying property-tax implications for homebuying families. A subsequent bond proposal failed to reach the ballot in 2024 due to community tensions over the design of the measure, creating some uncertainty about the timing of further facility work.

Recent labor negotiations also signal staffing and classroom conditions. A teacher contract settled in 2026 after a four-day strike includes reductions in elementary class size by one to two students in kindergarten through fifth grade, lowered caseloads for specialists, and retention of elementary counselors at all primary-grade sites. These class-size changes take effect through the 2027-28 school year and directly affect the daily experience and instructional attention a student receives in elementary school.

Chronic absenteeism in the district is low, placing Dublin in the top quartile among Alameda County districts on this measure. That suggests strong engagement and attendance, though graduation rate data was not available.

Per-pupil current spending falls in the lower range compared to other county districts, despite the district's relatively strong academic profile. This indicates the district achieves its results with more modest spending than many peers, a reflection of either efficiency or leaner resource allocation depending on perspective.

For families considering Dublin, the core question is whether the peer composition, housing costs, and active capital and labor environment align with their circumstances. Academic proficiency is solid county-wide, particularly in elementary grades and ELA, though science warrants attention. The district is visibly reinvesting in facilities and staffing after years of growth, a positive signal of responsiveness to enrollment demand.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

12,827

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 9%

Black 3%

White 13%

Asian 67%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

57%

—

Gr 3

50%

79%

Gr 4

57%

81%

Gr 5

65%

85%

Gr 6

58%

82%

Gr 7

59%

84%

Gr 8

58%

81%

Gr 11

53%

—

Math

Gr ALL

52%

—

Gr 3

55%

87%

Gr 4

61%

85%

Gr 5

50%

80%

Gr 6

54%

79%

Gr 7

56%

74%

Gr 8

49%

74%

Gr 11

40%

—

Science

Gr ALL

50%

—

Gr 5

46%

73%

Gr 8

44%

62%

Gr 11

41%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

44%

—

Gr UG_SEC

41%

—

Schools in this District

16 schools are officially reported under this district.

Dublin Elementary

James Dougherty Elementary

Dublin High

Valley High (Continuation)

Frederiksen Elementary

Murray Elementary

Wells Middle

John Green Elementary

Harold William Kolb

Eleanor Murray Fallon

J. M. Amador Elementary

Dublin Unified Preschool

Dublin Unified Transition Program

Cottonwood Creek

York Alternative Learning Center

Emerald High

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

81%

Grade 3

82%

Grade 4

75%

Grade 5

75%

Grade 6

71%

Grade 7

70%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

74%

Grade 3

78%

Grade 4

81%

Grade 5

79%

Grade 6

80%

Grade 7

78%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

68%

Grade 5

60%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

76%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$1.30M

Year-over-year change-8.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1.3M to $1.4M

vs. state typical1.68x

vs. national typical3.54x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94568	Dublin	$1.3M	-8.4%	97.4%
94588	Pleasanton	$1.4M	-8.4%	1.8%
94552	Castro Valley	$1.4M	-3.5%	0.8%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,100/mo

Year-over-year change+1.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$3,024 to $3,749/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94568	Dublin	$3,096	+1.3%	97.4%
94588	Pleasanton	$3,024	+0.3%	1.8%
94552	Castro Valley	$3,749	—	0.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$6,569/mo

Home price / national median income15.6x

Annual rent / national median income44.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$3,469/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.