Fallbrook Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Fallbrook Union Elementary

Fallbrook Union Elementary is a mid-sized K-8 district serving a diverse, predominantly Hispanic student population spread across several small communities in San Diego County, including Fallbrook itself, Bonsall, parts of Oceanside, and neighboring areas. The district operates a portfolio of schools ranging from traditional elementary campuses to specialized options like a STEM academy and virtual learning pathways, giving families meaningful choices within the public system.

The housing market in the district's area sits at the upper end of what regional data shows. Home values are substantially above both the California and national benchmarks, and rental costs consume a significant share of household income. For families buying, the monthly mortgage load runs well ahead of rent, which suggests the area draws homeowners more than renters and may reflect a stable, longer-term residential base. The unemployment rate sits slightly above recent national averages, and median household income aligns with broader U.S. figures.

Academically, the district's profile shows mixed performance with a notable trend: reading and language arts results run stronger than mathematics across all grade levels. In English language arts, roughly half to two-thirds of students test proficient, with a district-wide average around mid-to-upper range. In mathematics, proficiency is lower, averaging in the low-to-mid range overall, and declines notably in the middle grades, particularly in grades seven and eight, where proficiency drops below one-third. Science proficiency at the tested grades (five and eight) sits in the low-to-mid range. These patterns suggest the district has particular work to do in building math foundations and sustaining momentum through the upper elementary and middle grades, especially in the transition years. A parent may want to look into what specific mathematics interventions or supports the district offers, particularly if their child is entering grades six through eight.

The district's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among San Diego County's other districts, which means it is holding its ground relative to peers in the region even as it contends with these grade-level challenges. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for the county, indicating the district is investing at higher levels than most nearby systems.

One notable soft spot is chronic absenteeism, which runs somewhat above the county median. Regular attendance is foundational to learning gains, and a parent might ask the district directly about attendance support programs or barriers families face to getting students to school consistently.

A defining shift in the district in recent years has been the adoption of The Leader in Me, a social-emotional learning and student-leadership framework based on the 7 Habits, implemented across every school. The district now holds recognition as a National Lighthouse School District, the first in the country where every campus has earned that designation. This represents a deep, ongoing change in school culture and daily instruction that goes beyond typical SEL programming; it shapes how classrooms operate and how students see themselves as leaders. This is a lasting pedagogical choice that shapes the environment and approach at every school in the system.

Alongside that cultural initiative, the district has created three alternative instructional pathways: a dual-language option, Fallbrook STEM Academy for students interested in science and technology focus, and virtual/homeschool alternatives including Fallbrook Virtual Academy. These offerings give families real choice in how their children learn, rather than a one-size approach, which can be valuable for families whose children learn in different ways or who want a particular program emphasis.

Free and reduced lunch data and special education or English learner counts were not available from the sources reviewed, so a parent seeking to understand the full range of support services or the composition of students needing language support would want to ask the district directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,124

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 64%

Black 2%

White 27%

Asian 1%

Two+ 5%

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

51%

—

Gr 3

54%

75%

Gr 4

45%

70%

Gr 5

51%

77%

Gr 6

62%

80%

Gr 7

46%

78%

Gr 8

47%

70%

Math

Gr ALL

38%

—

Gr 3

54%

76%

Gr 4

46%

70%

Gr 5

34%

61%

Gr 6

43%

69%

Gr 7

27%

61%

Gr 8

27%

50%

Science

Gr 5

33%

62%

Gr 8

33%

62%

Gr HS

33%

—

Schools in this District

11 schools are officially reported under this district.

Fallbrook STEM Academy

James E. Potter Intermediate

La Paloma Elementary

Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary

San Onofre Elementary

Fallbrook Virtual Academy

William H. Frazier Elementary

Live Oak Elementary

Santa Margarita Academy

Maie Ellis Elementary

Mike Choate Early Childhood Education Center

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

60%

Grade 3

53%

Grade 4

40%

Grade 5

49%

Grade 6

34%

Grade 7

32%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

60%

Grade 3

52%

Grade 4

58%

Grade 5

66%

Grade 6

53%

Grade 7

52%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

40%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

54%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.00M

Year-over-year change-0.3%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$690K to $1.7M

vs. state typical1.29x

vs. national typical2.72x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
92028	Fallbrook	$891K	-0.3%	31.2%
92672	San Clemente	$1.7M	+2.0%	10.6%
92562	Murrieta	$690K	-1.4%	8.0%
92058	Oceanside	$783K	-2.4%	7.8%
92003	Bonsall	$1.0M	-0.4%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,991/mo

Year-over-year change+3.2%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$2,402 to $3,279/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
92028	Fallbrook	$3,101	+4.3%	31.2%
92672	San Clemente	$3,279	+3.2%	10.6%
92562	Murrieta	$2,402	-0.9%	8.0%
92058	Oceanside	$2,766	+2.7%	7.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$5,055/mo

Home price / national median income12.0x

Annual rent / national median income42.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$2,064/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.