Escalon Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Escalon Unified

Escalon Unified, a mid-sized district in San Joaquin County, spans kindergarten through grade twelve across a small rural community and the surrounding towns of Farmington, Linden, and Oakdale. The district operates four elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, a continuation high school, and one specialized academy, serving a student body that is largely Hispanic and white, with smaller Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander populations.

Academic performance across the district is well below state proficiency benchmarks. In English language arts, students across tested grades show proficiency rates ranging from the low thirties to mid-forties, with a district average in the lower two-fifths. Math proficiency is weaker still, falling into the low to mid-thirties overall, though performance varies considerably by grade; sixth graders show the lowest results, while third graders fare somewhat better. Science proficiency is among the most challenged areas, with less than one-quarter of students meeting standards in the tested grades. These results place the district above the midpoint among San Joaquin County districts on a composite proficiency measure, but the absolute performance levels indicate that most students are not meeting grade-level standards in core subjects.

The district's chronic absenteeism rate is notably strong by county standards, placing it in the top quartile, suggesting that attendance patterns and student engagement at that level are not driving the academic gaps. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle to lower-middle range for the county, a factor a parent might want to explore with the district to understand how resources are being directed and whether additional support exists in particular areas.

Escalon Unified recently introduced a Spanish-English Dual Language Immersion program at Collegeville Elementary, restructuring the school so that dual-language students remain at Collegeville for fifth grade rather than transitioning to the middle school like their peers. This creates a distinct bilingual pathway for families seeking immersion education and represents a curriculum expansion within the district. The dual-language option is now one of four elementary school choices in the district.

In November 2024, voters rejected a school facilities bond that would have funded construction and modernization of district buildings. The district has publicly indicated it may place another bond measure on the ballot in November 2026, which families should track if facility condition and modernization matter to their decision.

The housing market in Escalon and surrounding areas is moderately priced compared to state and national benchmarks. Home values center in the mid-range, with rental costs running roughly one-third of typical household income, making the area relatively affordable for families considering long-term residence.

A parent considering Escalon Unified should weigh several factors. The district offers the full kindergarten-through-twelve pathway and a dual-language immersion option, serving families looking for Spanish language education. Academic performance is substantially below state standards, however, and a parent may want to inquire directly with the district about literacy and numeracy support strategies, intervention programs, and how the district is addressing the performance gaps evident in the state testing data. The strong attendance picture is a positive sign but does not fully account for learning outcomes. A parent relocating to the area or evaluating school choices should also consider the district's capacity and plans in light of the failed bond measure and any potential financial or facility constraints that could affect operations or program expansion.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,724

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 53%

Black 1%

White 42%

Asian 2%

Two+ 2%

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

32%

—

Gr 3

32%

51%

Gr 4

26%

48%

Gr 5

32%

55%

Gr 6

16%

36%

Gr 7

38%

49%

Gr 8

26%

38%

Gr 11

51%

—

Math

Gr ALL

21%

—

Gr 3

35%

65%

Gr 4

22%

40%

Gr 5

20%

47%

Gr 6

30%

Gr 7

21%

32%

Gr 8

26%

51%

Gr 11

12%

—

Science

Gr ALL

—

Gr 5

20%

33%

Gr 8

15%

31%

Gr 10

20%

—

Gr HS

18%

—

Gr UG_SEC

19%

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Dent Elementary

El Portal Middle

Escalon High

Farmington Elementary

Van Allen Elementary

Vista High (Continuation)

Collegeville Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

48%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

26%

Grade 7

36%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

40%

Grade 3

35%

Grade 4

42%

Grade 5

25%

Grade 6

43%

Grade 7

31%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

26%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

48%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$587,900

Year-over-year change+0.7%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$441K to $711K

vs. state typical0.76x

vs. national typical1.60x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95320	Escalon	$602K	+0.9%	47.9%
95215		$441K	-0.8%	23.9%
95230	Farmington	$711K	+2.0%	18.5%
95236	Linden	$673K	+2.0%	7.3%
95361	Oakdale	$560K	+0.8%	1.4%
95336	Manteca	$529K	-4.8%	0.7%
95366	Ripon	$689K	-1.7%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,065/mo

Year-over-year change+0.5%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,874 to $2,368/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95361	Oakdale	$1,874	—	1.4%
95336	Manteca	$2,368	+0.5%	0.7%
95366	Ripon	$2,197	—	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,967/mo

Home price / national median income7.0x

Annual rent / national median income29.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$901/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.