Acalanes Union High, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Acalanes Union High

Acalanes Union High School District serves the four-community area of Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, and Walnut Creek in the East Bay hills. The district operates four main high schools—Acalanes, Campolindo, Las Lomas, and Miramonte—plus an independent study program, serving students in grades nine through twelve across the region.

The district sits in one of the state's most expensive housing markets. Home values in the service area are substantial, with weighted mediums well above the state benchmark, and rental costs similarly elevated. The communities range from highly affluent—Orinda and parts of Lafayette carry the highest values—to somewhat more moderate areas in portions of Walnut Creek. Families considering a move to the area should understand that housing affordability here is constrained; renting is cheaper relative to buying than the national average, but both rent and purchase prices are steep compared to income. The unemployment rate in the region remains stable.

Academically, state testing data from the most recent year shows that roughly four in five students met standards in English language arts, while roughly two in three met standards in math and science. The reading result is solid; the math and science results show room for growth. A notable strength is chronic absenteeism: the district ranks in the top quartile among Contra Costa County's districts on this measure, meaning its students attend more regularly than most peers countywide. This is an asset not all districts hold.

The most pressing fact a parent needs to know concerns the district's fiscal position and recent ballot outcome. Acalanes receives among the lowest state funding allocations of any high school district in California. That reality means the district depends on local property tax revenue through parcel taxes to maintain program breadth and class sizes. In May 2025, a parcel tax measure failed at the ballot, falling short of the two-thirds approval required. The defeat has direct consequences. The district is implementing budget reductions for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, including larger class sizes, reduced elective offerings, and scaled-back professional development and supply budgets. Further cuts are expected in subsequent years without new revenue sources. This is not a short-term disruption; it reflects a structural funding gap.

The district has also begun transitioning to a by-trustee-area election system for its governing board, with the change taking effect starting in 2026. Parents will elect their board representative from their geographic trustee area rather than voting district-wide. This does not change school attendance boundaries or where students attend; it changes representation on the board.

The student body is predominantly white, with meaningful representation from Asian and multiracial students and smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and other groups. Free-and-reduced-price lunch data was not available. Special education and English learner enrollment counts were also not reported.

For families weighing this district, the academic profile is competitive and the attendance culture is strong. The immediate consideration is the fiscal constraint. Families should understand what budget reductions mean for class sizes and course availability in the schools they are considering. The affordability of the area itself is another hard fact: housing costs here are among the highest in the state, and that reality frames any family's decision to locate in these communities.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,415

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 11%

Black 2%

White 60%

Asian 17%

Two+ 10%

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

59%

—

Gr 11

59%

—

Math

Gr ALL

39%

—

Gr 11

39%

—

Science

Gr ALL

47%

—

Gr 11

41%

—

Gr 12

27%

—

Gr HS

40%

—

Gr UG_SEC

40%

—

Schools in this District

5 schools are officially reported under this district.

Acalanes Center for Independent Study

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.66M

Year-over-year change-1.1%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$698K to $2.6M

vs. state typical2.14x

vs. national typical4.51x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94563	Orinda	$2.0M	-0.7%	25.5%
94549	Lafayette	$2.0M	-0.4%	23.4%
94556	Moraga	$1.7M	-0.9%	22.5%
94596	Walnut Creek	$1.1M	-0.5%	7.0%
94595	Walnut Creek	$698K	-3.2%	6.5%
94553	Martinez	$774K	-4.3%	4.7%
94597	Walnut Creek	$1.0M	-1.5%	3.2%
94598	Walnut Creek	$1.4M	-1.4%	0.9%
94507	Alamo	$2.6M	+0.4%	0.8%
94611	Piedmont	$1.4M	-2.5%	0.5%
94583	San Ramon	$1.4M	-6.9%	0.4%
94803	Richmond	$735K	-5.0%	0.0%
94708	Berkeley	$1.6M	-3.0%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,853/mo

Year-over-year change+3.6%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$2,372 to $5,300/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94563	Orinda	$5,300	—	25.5%
94549	Lafayette	$3,544	+3.8%	23.4%
94556	Moraga	$3,731	—	22.5%
94596	Walnut Creek	$2,799	+3.7%	7.0%
94595	Walnut Creek	$2,649	—	6.5%
94553	Martinez	$2,372	+1.9%	4.7%
94597	Walnut Creek	$2,791	+4.1%	3.2%
94598	Walnut Creek	$3,415	+4.8%	0.9%
94611	Piedmont	$2,691	+4.1%	0.5%
94583	San Ramon	$2,816	+3.4%	0.4%
94803	Richmond	$2,835	—	0.0%
94708	Berkeley	$4,801	—	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$8,373/mo

Home price / national median income19.8x

Annual rent / national median income55.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$4,520/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

Academic Performance
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.