Mountain View Whisman, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Mountain View Whisman

Mountain View Whisman School District serves kindergarten through eighth grade across a small cluster of schools in the Mountain View area of Santa Clara County. The district enrolls a student body that is roughly evenly split between Hispanic and Asian students, with a smaller White enrollment and a notable multiethnic population. Most students across the district live in a high-cost housing market where home values sit substantially above both state and national medians, and rental costs climb steadily year over year.

On state assessments from the most recent year, the district's performance shows a moderate profile. In English language arts, students score in the low to mid range, with proficiency rates holding relatively steady across grades three through eight. Mathematics proficiency sits somewhat lower, dipping below the district's ELA performance in most grade levels. Science results, available only for fifth and eighth grades, track similarly. Across all tested grades and subjects, the district's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint when compared against other districts in Santa Clara County, though it does not approach the upper tier. The district has no published graduation rate because it serves only through eighth grade. Free and reduced price lunch data and English learner counts were not available in the records reviewed.

The district is navigating significant financial headwinds. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the board approved major budget cuts, trimmed a substantial number of full-time positions including district office staff, halved nightly custodial services, froze administrator salaries, and reduced computer access for younger students. The root cause is stagnating local property tax revenue, which funds most of the district's budget. Assessed property values in the area grew modestly in recent years and flat-lined most recently, starving the district of the revenue growth it has relied on. A voter-approved bond measure from 2020 adds a property tax obligation that will fund campus security upgrades, classroom expansion, teacher housing, and solar improvements, but bond proceeds do not offset operating shortfalls.

On the instructional side, the district adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum in 2024 aligned with the science of reading and launched a multi-year review of mathematics instruction. Elementary schools are piloting new math materials with plans for full rollout by the 2027-28 school year. These curriculum changes affect how reading and math are taught across all classrooms.

The district's chronic absenteeism rate sits above the midpoint among county peers, meaning attendance is a softer spot. A parent considering this district should weigh the modest academic proficiency numbers, the ongoing budget pressures that will shape available services and staffing, and the cost of living in the area against whatever school assignment options may be available. The early elementary grades form the foundation here, and for families staying through eighth grade, clear visibility into how the math and literacy overhauls affect student progress in coming years would be worth tracking.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,591

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 39%

Black 1%

White 23%

Asian 24%

Two+ 13%

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

28%

—

Gr 3

25%

78%

Gr 4

18%

81%

Gr 5

33%

81%

Gr 6

30%

78%

Gr 7

32%

79%

Gr 8

31%

76%

Math

Gr ALL

21%

—

Gr 3

25%

82%

Gr 4

13%

78%

Gr 5

24%

78%

Gr 6

20%

70%

Gr 7

21%

72%

Gr 8

21%

75%

Science

Gr 5

21%

76%

Gr 8

18%

70%

Gr HS

20%

—

Schools in this District

12 schools are officially reported under this district.

Benjamin Bubb Elementary

Mariano Castro Elementary

Isaac Newton Graham Middle

Edith Landels Elementary

Crittenden Middle

Monta Loma Elementary

Theuerkauf Elementary

Amy Imai Elementary

Stevenson Elementary

Gabriela Mistral Elementary

MVWSD Preschool

Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

57%

Grade 4

61%

Grade 5

54%

Grade 6

56%

Grade 7

59%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

61%

Grade 3

61%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

63%

Grade 6

64%

Grade 7

63%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

59%

Grade 5

54%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

58%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.96M

Year-over-year change-0.8%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1.5M to $3.5M

vs. state typical2.52x

vs. national typical5.31x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94043	Mountain View	$1.6M	-2.9%	62.9%
94040	Mountain View	$2.9M	+3.0%	19.1%
94041	Mountain View	$2.3M	+3.6%	11.9%
94303	East Palo Alto	$2.1M	+0.3%	4.4%
94089	Sunnyvale	$1.5M	-2.2%	1.3%
94085	Sunnyvale	$1.6M	-0.6%	0.4%
94306	Palo Alto	$3.5M	+2.3%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$4,207/mo

Year-over-year change+5.0%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$3,497 to $4,901/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94043	Mountain View	$4,249	+4.7%	62.9%
94040	Mountain View	$3,945	+7.3%	19.1%
94041	Mountain View	$4,247	+3.0%	11.9%
94303	East Palo Alto	$4,901	+6.3%	4.4%
94089	Sunnyvale	$3,497	+3.6%	1.3%
94085	Sunnyvale	$3,782	+6.4%	0.4%
94306	Palo Alto	$3,644	+8.0%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$9,867/mo

Home price / national median income23.4x

Annual rent / national median income60.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$5,660/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.