Galt Joint Union High, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Galt Joint Union High

Galt Joint Union High School District serves a mid-sized enrollment across three high schools in Sacramento County, with the main campus in Galt and a continuation school for students needing alternative pathways. The district encompasses several smaller towns and unincorporated areas south and east of Sacramento, where housing values have stayed relatively stable but remain moderately above the national median, and unemployment sits near the national average.

The district's most recent proficiency results show uneven performance across subjects. English language arts proficiency sits in the middle range, while mathematics proficiency is substantially lower, less than half the English rate. Science proficiency falls between the two. Only one year of data was available, so trends cannot be assessed. A parent may want to look into further detail with the district about what support structures exist for students struggling in math and science, and whether intervention or tutoring programs are in place. The district's chronic absenteeism rate is better than the median among Sacramento County's districts, a concrete indicator that schools are engaging students and families in attendance.

The district's per-pupil spending falls in the upper-middle range among county districts, suggesting reasonable resource allocation, though that context matters less than where those dollars are deployed and how effectively.

The student body is majority Hispanic, with white students forming a substantial minority and smaller numbers of Asian, multiracial, and other groups. The enrollment is relatively balanced across grades. Specific data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learner numbers, or students with individualized education plans were not available from state reporting, so a parent should ask the district directly about poverty concentration and the scale of language support and special education services.

On the curricular side, the district has recently developed an ethnic studies course with input from local teachers rather than adopting an off-the-shelf curriculum. It rolls out as an elective in 2025-26 and becomes a graduation requirement for incoming freshmen in 2026-27. This reflects deliberate local choice in what students study.

The district faces budget pressure. Enrollment has been declining, and officials approved cost reductions in early 2026 centered on central office reorganization and department budget cuts. No layoffs were required under the plan at that time, but the district has begun processes to assess potential staffing reductions due to lack of work or funds, a signal that budget stress is real and ongoing. That matters to families weighing program stability and continuity.

Notably, the district declined to place a school bond on the ballot in 2024, despite polling showing voter support above typical passage thresholds. The separate Galt elementary district passed a bond that year, but the high schools chose not to pursue additional local property tax funding, a decision that shapes how capital needs will be met going forward.

The district offers three schools with distinct purposes: the main Galt High, Liberty Ranch High (likely a newer or suburban-serving campus), and Estrellita Continuation High for students on non-traditional pathways. Program details beyond the new ethnic studies course were not available in the data provided, so a parent should contact the district to understand what career pathways, advanced placement offerings, dual-credit opportunities, and electives each school provides.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,978

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 62%

Black 1%

White 28%

Asian 3%

Two+ 7%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

60%

—

Gr 11

60%

—

Math

Gr ALL

23%

—

Gr 11

23%

—

Science

Gr ALL

26%

—

Gr 11

34%

—

Gr HS

33%

—

Gr UG_SEC

33%

—

Schools in this District

3 schools are officially reported under this district.

Estrellita Continuation High

Galt High

Liberty Ranch High

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$673,581

Year-over-year change-0.4%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$466K to $962K

vs. state typical0.87x

vs. national typical1.83x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95632	Galt	$536K	-2.0%	41.6%
95638	Herald	$807K	+1.7%	28.4%
95686	Thornton	$564K	-0.7%	12.3%
95220	Acampo	$802K	+0.4%	9.2%
95693	Wilton	$962K	+0.9%	5.8%
95227	Lockeford	$962K	+0.9%	1.5%
95757	Elk Grove	$701K	-3.9%	1.0%
95242	Lodi	$576K	-2.8%	0.2%
95640	Ione	$466K	-1.0%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,816/mo

Year-over-year change+5.1%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$2,292 to $2,905/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95757	Elk Grove	$2,905	+5.3%	1.0%
95242	Lodi	$2,292	+3.5%	0.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,399/mo

Home price / national median income8.0x

Annual rent / national median income40.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$583/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.