Davis Joint Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Davis Joint Unified

Davis Joint Unified serves kindergarten through twelfth grade across a cluster of communities in Yolo County, with enrollment spread across elementary schools, junior highs, a senior high, a continuation school, and a charter academy. The district's test results show mid-range proficiency across subjects. In English language arts, the district's proficiency sits at a moderate level, with seventh graders performing above the rest of the grade band. Math proficiency is somewhat lower, dipping noticeably in fifth grade before recovering in the middle and upper grades. Science results, available for fifth and eighth grade only, show proficiency in the upper fifties. These results place the district in the top quartile for overall proficiency among Yolo County's districts, though parents should understand that proficiency rates mean roughly two-thirds of students meet grade-level standards in any given subject, leaving room for academic support needs.

The district spans multiple cities with notably different housing markets. Davis itself carries home values well above the state average, with both purchase and rental costs considerably higher than the broader region. The surrounding communities in the district, including Dixon and Woodland, have more moderate home values. The affordability picture is tight: monthly mortgage payments significantly exceed typical rents, and rents consume a substantial share of household income even for families with above-median earnings. This housing dynamic shapes who can afford to live in the district and affects family stability and access.

Chronic absenteeism in Davis Joint Unified is among the lowest in the county, a strength indicator. The district also ranks in the upper half among its peers for per-pupil spending, meaning it invests substantial resources per student.

A major change now reshaping the district's future is an enrollment decline. Publicly reported projections show Davis Joint Unified losing a significant share of students over the coming decade, on top of substantial losses already recorded. This contraction has triggered a school consolidation process. The district is weighing closure or consolidation of schools, with one scenario proposing that Patwin Elementary close in 2028-29 and students move to other elementary campuses. A Board decision on these changes is expected in spring 2027, with implementation as early as 2028-29. For families considering the district, this uncertainty matters: a school your child might enter could be consolidated within a few years, and your neighborhood school assignment may shift. The district held extensive community meetings in spring 2025 to discuss the options.

On the revenue side, the district secured stability in March 2024 when voters approved Measure N, a parcel tax that renews the district's long-standing property tax and makes it permanent rather than requiring renewal every few years. This eliminates the cycle of threatened cuts and teacher layoffs that previously occurred before each ballot cycle. The parcel tax generates substantial annual revenue that supports academics, teacher retention, and smaller class sizes, with exemptions for seniors and persons with disabilities.

The district operates schools across a range of settings and student populations. It includes traditional elementary, middle, and high schools; a continuation high school serving students with nontraditional paths; an independent study program; and a charter school. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with large shares of white, Hispanic, and Asian students, along with smaller populations of Black students and others. Free-and-reduced-price lunch data were not available to show economic need in the district. The district's proficiency index is strong relative to its county peers, and attendance discipline is a bright spot. Yet the enrollment crisis and uncertainty about school boundaries and closures make this a district in significant transition. A parent or prospective resident should treat the consolidation timeline as a concrete factor in choosing where to live and which school zone to expect for their children, and should verify current boundary plans and reopening timelines directly with the district as they approach enrollment decisions.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

8,361

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 24%

Black 3%

White 45%

Asian 17%

Two+ 11%

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

43%

—

Gr 3

37%

76%

Gr 4

41%

79%

Gr 5

42%

78%

Gr 6

38%

81%

Gr 7

42%

83%

Gr 8

40%

76%

Gr 11

65%

—

Math

Gr ALL

35%

—

Gr 3

37%

78%

Gr 4

38%

78%

Gr 5

29%

68%

Gr 6

31%

76%

Gr 7

34%

77%

Gr 8

34%

73%

Gr 11

41%

—

Science

Gr ALL

34%

—

Gr 5

34%

70%

Gr 8

30%

68%

Gr 11

47%

—

Gr HS

37%

—

Gr UG_SEC

47%

—

Schools in this District

17 schools are officially reported under this district.

Birch Lane Elementary

Davis Senior High

Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High

Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High

King (Martin Luther) High (Continuation)

North Davis Elementary

Pioneer Elementary

Cesar Chavez Elementary

Robert E. Willett Elementary

Patwin Elementary

Fairfield Elementary

Davis School for Independent Study

Marguerite Montgomery Elementary

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Junior High

Fred T. Korematsu Elementary at Mace Ranch

Da Vinci Charter Academy

Davis Special Education Pre-School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

65%

Grade 3

64%

Grade 4

56%

Grade 5

62%

Grade 6

65%

Grade 7

62%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

66%

Grade 4

67%

Grade 5

67%

Grade 6

72%

Grade 7

66%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

59%

Grade 5

58%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

78%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$727,159

Year-over-year change-1.7%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$521K to $857K

vs. state typical0.94x

vs. national typical1.97x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95620	Dixon	$610K	-1.7%	47.0%
95616	Davis	$857K	-1.9%	24.9%
95618	Davis	$843K	-1.7%	24.8%
95695	Woodland	$521K	-0.9%	2.4%
95776	Woodland	$603K	-1.1%	0.7%
95612	Clarksburg	$806K	+3.8%	0.2%
95691	West Sacramento	$564K	-3.0%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,514/mo

Year-over-year change-0.2%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$2,035 to $3,002/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95616	Davis	$2,562	+0.5%	24.9%
95618	Davis	$2,498	-1.4%	24.8%
95695	Woodland	$2,035	+3.8%	2.4%
95776	Woodland	$3,002	+3.5%	0.7%
95691	West Sacramento	$2,321	+1.7%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,669/mo

Home price / national median income8.7x

Annual rent / national median income36.0%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,155/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.