El Dorado Union High, CA

Original Research by School Decision on El Dorado Union High

El Dorado Union High School District serves middle and high school students across a wide geography in El Dorado County, California, spanning from foothill communities to the suburban edge. The district operates six schools: four traditional comprehensive high schools (El Dorado High, Ponderosa High, Oak Ridge High, and Union Mine High), a continuation program at Independence Continuation, and Pacific Crest Academy.

The district's enrollment is substantial, with students distributed fairly evenly across grades nine through twelve. The student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic students representing the next-largest share. Asian, multiracial, and other groups make up smaller portions of enrollment. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch rates and English learner populations were not available, so a full picture of economic and linguistic diversity cannot be drawn from the available information.

On state assessments administered in 2024-25, students showed uneven performance across subjects. English language arts proficiency stood in the mid-range, suggesting many students are meeting grade-level standards but a meaningful share are not. Mathematics and science proficiency rates were notably lower, both falling below half of students meeting proficiency benchmarks. Only a single year of testing data was available, so trends over time cannot be assessed. A parent may want to explore the district's approach to mathematics and science instruction directly with schools, as these are areas where performance lags behind English language arts.

Among El Dorado County's districts, El Dorado Union High sits in the middle range on per-pupil spending, leaning toward the lower end of that middle. Chronic absenteeism rates place the district slightly above the county median, suggesting attendance is generally in line with peer districts but not exceptional.

The district faces two material headwinds that affect families' experience. In 2020, voters defeated a local facilities bond (Measure A), leaving the district without dedicated bond revenue to address aging roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, and science labs across its high schools. This ongoing condition directly impacts the physical plant families will encounter. Second, the district is experiencing declining enrollment. Under California's funding model, which ties revenue to student attendance, enrollment losses pressure the budget and staff levels. The 2025-26 adopted budget projects staffing decreases tied to this decline, and federal pandemic relief funds have expired, reducing overall revenue streams available for programs and support.

The district's service area spans communities ranging from rural foothill towns to more established suburban areas. Housing values across the district's reach vary widely, from older foothill communities with more modest valuations to newer suburban areas like El Dorado Hills with considerably higher home prices. Rental housing is available in some areas, particularly around Placerville, though rental inventory within the district's immediate service zone appears limited. This geographic diversity means families may have quite different housing-market experiences depending on which part of the district they live in.

A graduation rate for the district was not available in the data provided. Parents should inquire directly with the district or schools for four-year graduation and college/career outcomes data, as these metrics are essential for evaluating college and workforce readiness pathways.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

6,541

Grades

08–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 19%

Black 1%

White 66%

Asian 7%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

53%

—

Gr 11

53%

—

Math

Gr ALL

27%

—

Gr 11

27%

—

Science

Gr ALL

30%

—

Gr 11

35%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

33%

—

Gr UG_SEC

33%

—

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

El Dorado High

Independence Continuation

Ponderosa High

Oak Ridge High

Union Mine High

Pacific Crest Academy

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$500,096

Year-over-year change-1.9%

Range across 19 ZIP codes$319K to $920K

vs. state typical0.64x

vs. national typical1.36x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (19 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95684	Somerset	$461K	-3.6%	17.7%
95667	Placerville	$534K	-0.7%	17.1%
95726	Pollock Pines	$400K	-1.9%	14.6%
95682	Shingle Springs	$669K	-0.3%	9.9%
95720	Kyburz	$319K	-3.2%	9.8%
95623	El Dorado	$569K	-0.5%	4.9%
95634	Georgetown	$417K	-1.8%	4.9%
95735	Twin Bridges	$323K	-2.5%	4.8%
95762	El Dorado Hills	$920K	-0.6%	4.6%
95709	Camino	$510K	-0.1%	2.6%

Showing top 10 of 19 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,072/mo

Year-over-year change+5.8%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,815 to $3,014/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95667	Placerville	$1,815	+6.5%	17.1%
95762	El Dorado Hills	$3,014	+3.2%	4.6%
96150	South Lake Tahoe	$2,609	+9.6%	0.1%
95630	Folsom	$2,612	+2.5%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,524/mo

Home price / national median income6.0x

Annual rent / national median income29.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$452/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.