Morgan Hill Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Morgan Hill Unified

Morgan Hill Unified serves a school district stretching across the southern San Francisco Bay Area, from Morgan Hill through San Martin and into surrounding areas of Santa Clara County. The district enrolls students across the full K-12 span, with a mid-sized student population distributed across elementary, middle, and high schools.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Asian population and a significant White enrollment. The district serves a diverse community both ethnically and economically, though specific data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available.

Academic performance across the district shows proficiency rates below the state midpoint. In English language arts, performance varies by grade, with proficiency strongest in seventh grade and sixth through eighth grade generally performing near or above the early elementary grades. Mathematics proficiency is lower overall, declining notably from third grade through sixth grade before stabilizing slightly higher in middle school. Science results show proficiency in the low range at both tested grades. The district's overall proficiency index places it below the midpoint among Santa Clara County's districts.

Chronic absenteeism sits slightly above the county median, suggesting attendance challenges that merit attention. Per-pupil current spending is in the lower range compared to other county districts, which may reflect both the district's resource constraints and its ongoing budget pressures.

The district operates a range of school options, including several STEAM and academy-themed schools: Jackson Academy of Music and Math, Paradise Valley Engineering Academy, San Martin Gwinn Environmental Science Academy, P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy, and El Toro Health Science Academy. It also maintains a continuation high school for students needing an alternative pathway.

Housing in the district's primary service area around Morgan Hill commands substantial values, with median home prices well above the state benchmark. Rental costs have risen in recent years. The affordability gap is acute: the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home exceeds most households' capacity by a wide margin, and rent-to-income ratios suggest rental housing absorbs a very large share of household income.

The district faces significant fiscal headwinds. It has depleted one-time COVID relief funds and entered a structural deficit, leading to layoff notices and budget cuts affecting teaching positions and support staff before the 2024-25 school year. Publicly reported, the district is projecting additional reductions ahead. A facilities bond to fund repairs and renovations across all schools was defeated in a 2020 election. The board declined to place another bond on the 2025 ballot but is preparing a bond measure and parcel tax for voters in November 2026, which would represent a future property-tax increase if approved.

A parent considering this district should understand that academic performance is currently below county averages, budget constraints are actively shaping staffing and programming, and facility conditions remain a concern pending voter approval of a bonds-and-tax measure. The district's academy schools offer thematic pathways for families seeking specialized options. The community is diverse and economically mixed, though housing costs are steep for the region.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,963

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 55%

Black 1%

White 24%

Asian 11%

Two+ 9%

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

30%

—

Gr 3

23%

49%

Gr 4

25%

58%

Gr 5

28%

63%

Gr 6

23%

54%

Gr 7

34%

62%

Gr 8

29%

61%

Gr 11

44%

—

Math

Gr ALL

19%

—

Gr 3

23%

55%

Gr 4

20%

59%

Gr 5

15%

46%

Gr 6

16%

43%

Gr 7

20%

51%

Gr 8

21%

47%

Gr 11

19%

—

Science

Gr ALL

20%

—

Gr 5

19%

43%

Gr 8

17%

47%

Gr 11

31%

—

Gr HS

22%

—

Gr UG_SEC

31%

—

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

Lewis H. Britton Middle

Central High (Continuation)

Jackson Academy of Music and Math (JAMM)

Live Oak High

Los Paseos Elementary

Martin Murphy Middle

Nordstrom Elementary

Paradise Valley Engineering Academy

San Martin Gwinn Environmental Science Academy

P. A. Walsh STEAM Academy

El Toro Health Science Academy

Barrett Elementary

Ann Sobrato High

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

41%

Grade 3

43%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

30%

Grade 6

37%

Grade 7

36%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

37%

Grade 3

44%

Grade 4

47%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

50%

Grade 7

47%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

32%

Grade 5

34%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

60%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.61M

Year-over-year change+0.1%

Range across 12 ZIP codes$762K to $2.3M

vs. state typical2.07x

vs. national typical4.36x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (12 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95037	Morgan Hill	$1.4M	+0.4%	41.4%
95135	San Jose	$1.8M	-0.2%	40.3%
95046	San Martin	$1.6M	+2.7%	6.2%
95138		$1.8M	-1.3%	4.0%
95140		$1.9M	-2.1%	3.4%
95120	San Jose	$2.3M	+2.2%	2.2%
94550	Livermore	$1.3M	-5.6%	0.8%
95139	San Jose	$1.4M	-2.3%	0.4%
95020	Gilroy	$1.1M	-2.3%	0.3%
95076	Watsonville	$842K	+0.1%	0.2%
95119	San Jose	$1.4M	-4.2%	0.2%
95023	Hollister	$762K	-1.0%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,959/mo

Year-over-year change+5.4%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$2,696 to $5,209/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95037	Morgan Hill	$3,560	+5.5%	41.4%
95135	San Jose	$4,325	—	40.3%
95138		$4,093	—	4.0%
95120	San Jose	$5,209	—	2.2%
94550	Livermore	$2,865	+1.8%	0.8%
95020	Gilroy	$2,696	+4.3%	0.3%
95076	Watsonville	$3,080	+4.6%	0.2%
95023	Hollister	$2,950	+4.5%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$8,102/mo

Home price / national median income19.2x

Annual rent / national median income56.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$4,143/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.