Chualar Union, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Chualar Union

Chualar Union is a small district serving kindergarten through eighth grade across multiple sites in Monterey County. The enrollment is small, with roughly equal representation across the grade bands. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and the district sits in a rural agricultural area with direct ties to the Salinas Valley region and the Gonzales area.

State assessment results show a mixed academic picture. English language arts performance is uneven across grades. Third graders showed proficiency at a moderate level, but fourth-grade performance dropped sharply. Results improved in the upper elementary grades, with sixth and seventh graders showing higher proficiency rates. By eighth grade, proficiency remained solid. Mathematics performance is consistently lower. Fourth graders showed very low proficiency, while third graders performed better. Performance in the middle grades ranged from modest to low, and eighth-grade results were similarly modest. Science results, available only for fifth and eighth grades, show pronounced weakness in fifth grade. Eighth-grade science proficiency was in the low range.

Among Monterey County's districts, Chualar Union's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint, meaning it outperforms the county median when all tested subjects and grades are aggregated. However, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern; the district sits in the bottom quartile of the county, well above the county median rate. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range for the county.

The district is in an area where home values are moderate to lower compared to state benchmarks. Mortgage payments on a typical home would take up a meaningful share of household income, and renting is somewhat more affordable than buying. The local housing market has edged down slightly over the past year. Unemployment in the region is stable.

Recent developments center on facility needs. Voters approved Measure J, a school bond, in November 2024 after an earlier bond measure failed in March. The passage of Measure J adds a property-tax obligation for families moving into the area and reflects the district's ongoing need for building repairs and classroom modernization. That context is relevant for families considering the district as part of a move to the area.

The district operates a single elementary school. A parent looking at Chualar Union should understand that the school serves a predominantly Hispanic community in a rural setting, that reading instruction shows more strength than mathematics in early grades, that mathematics proficiency is an area to track closely, and that attendance patterns present a challenge the district is managing. The recent bond passage signals both commitment to facility improvement and a property-tax picture worth understanding before relocating to the area.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

262

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 98%

White 1%

Two+ 0%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

44%

—

Gr 3

33%

—

Gr 4

22%

—

Gr 5

39%

—

Gr 6

55%

—

Gr 7

64%

—

Gr 8

45%

—

Math

Gr ALL

26%

—

Gr 3

43%

—

Gr 4

11%

—

Gr 5

25%

—

Gr 6

32%

—

Gr 7

27%

—

Gr 8

15%

—

Science

Gr 5

—

Gr 8

30%

—

Gr HS

17%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

Chualar Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

Grade 4

26%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

29%

Grade 7

27%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

22%

Grade 4

39%

Grade 5

60%

Grade 6

67%

Grade 7

50%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

Grade 5

31%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

53%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$831,766

Year-over-year change-1.7%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$637K to $1.2M

vs. state typical1.07x

vs. national typical2.26x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93925	Chualar	$714K	-3.3%	59.5%
93908	Salinas	$1.2M	+0.6%	26.8%
93926	Gonzales	$637K	+1.2%	11.2%
93901	Salinas	$781K	-0.3%	2.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,285/mo

Year-over-year change+0.8%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93901	Salinas	$2,285	+0.8%	2.5%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$4,197/mo

Home price / national median income9.9x

Annual rent / national median income32.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,912/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.