Buckeye Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Buckeye Union Elementary

Buckeye Union Elementary is a small-to-mid-sized district in El Dorado County, California, serving kindergarten through eighth grade across multiple schools. The district has undergone a significant structural shift in recent years, expanding beyond its traditional neighborhood schools to operate several independent-study and specialty charter programs. Clarksville Charter, a tuition-free homeschool and independent-study charter under the district umbrella, now serves a substantial population of students from across El Dorado, Amador, Alpine, Sacramento, and Placer counties. This shift means total district enrollment now substantially exceeds the student population in its bounded neighborhood schools alone. The charter framework also includes Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter and Charter Montessori Valley View Campus, giving families within and outside district boundaries multiple pathways.

The neighborhood core comprises five elementary schools and two middle schools, all serving as traditional in-person, classroom-based programs. The district enrolls a student body that is majority white, with meaningful representation from Hispanic and Asian students and smaller numbers from other backgrounds. The median home value in the district's service area is high, placing housing costs well above the national benchmark. The rental market is considerably tighter, with rent-to-income calculations suggesting moderate affordability strain for families at the median income level.

On state testing, Buckeye Union's performance falls in the top quartile among El Dorado County districts when measured by overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, the district shows proficiency rates ranging from strong in the middle grades to solid in the elementary and early-middle grades. Math proficiency is somewhat lower, with fifth grade showing a notably softer result. Science proficiency at the elementary level trails other subjects, though eighth-grade performance is more solid. The district's chronic absenteeism rate is above the county median, a trait parents may want to explore further with the school, whether through attendance conversations or understanding any particular patterns by school or program.

The district has a history of charter renewals and authorizations that come before its board for renewal decisions, most recently including a January 2026 public hearing on The Cottonwood School. This cycle of review and renewal means families considering district programs should stay informed about whether specific schools, especially charters, will continue operating and under what terms.

Per-pupil spending falls in the lower-middle range among county districts, a resource constraint that may shape program breadth and support availability. The district's traditional and charter programs serve different family needs: neighborhood schools offer the conventional district model, while independent-study and specialty charters address families seeking flexibility, language immersion, or alternative pedagogy. For families in or near the district boundaries, the range of options is notably broader than a single-school-type district. For families outside the boundaries, several charter programs accept applications without requiring an interdistrict transfer approval, creating access that is unusual in most California settings.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,255

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 17%

Black 1%

White 60%

Asian 12%

Two+ 9%

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

55%

—

Gr 3

59%

75%

Gr 4

57%

71%

Gr 5

38%

75%

Gr 6

56%

74%

Gr 7

59%

82%

Gr 8

59%

75%

Math

Gr ALL

49%

—

Gr 3

52%

74%

Gr 4

60%

72%

Gr 5

37%

63%

Gr 6

49%

71%

Gr 7

45%

72%

Gr 8

48%

68%

Science

Gr 5

33%

62%

Gr 8

52%

66%

Gr HS

42%

—

Schools in this District

9 schools are officially reported under this district.

Silva Valley Elementary

Buckeye Elementary

Camerado Springs Middle

William Brooks Elementary

Rolling Hills Middle

Blue Oak Elementary

Charter Montessori Valley View Campus

Oak Meadow Elementary

Buckeye Union Mandarin Immersion Charter

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

69%

Grade 3

70%

Grade 4

59%

Grade 5

68%

Grade 6

68%

Grade 7

66%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

72%

Grade 3

68%

Grade 4

69%

Grade 5

71%

Grade 6

78%

Grade 7

73%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

57%

Grade 5

65%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

79%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$737,965

Year-over-year change-0.4%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$569K to $920K

vs. state typical0.95x

vs. national typical2.00x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95682	Shingle Springs	$669K	-0.3%	61.5%
95762	El Dorado Hills	$920K	-0.6%	30.6%
95623	El Dorado	$569K	-0.5%	7.8%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,014/mo

Year-over-year change+3.2%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95762	El Dorado Hills	$3,014	+3.2%	30.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,724/mo

Home price / national median income8.8x

Annual rent / national median income43.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$710/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.