Oak Grove Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Oak Grove Union Elementary

Oak Grove Union Elementary is a small Sonoma County district serving kindergarten through eighth grade across two schools: Oak Grove Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary/Willowside Middle. The district enrolls roughly eight hundred students, with a student body that is majority white, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and smaller Asian, multiracial, Black, and Native American groups.

The district's academic performance shows particular strength in early elementary language arts. Third and fourth graders score at roughly the borderline of proficiency in reading and writing, and fifth graders reach solidly proficient levels. Math proficiency is lower across the elementary grades, hovering near the borderline or just below in grades three through five. The middle school years present a steeper challenge. Sixth and seventh grade math proficiency drops noticeably, falling to around forty percent in grade six and declining further in grade seven. Eighth grade math proficiency falls below thirty percent. English language arts remains somewhat steadier in middle grades, holding around fifty percent proficiency through eighth grade, though grade six shows a dip. Science proficiency data is available only for grades five and eight; fifth graders reach roughly fifty-four percent proficiency while eighth graders sit at around thirty-eight percent. Across the tested subjects and grades, the district's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Sonoma County's districts.

A notable strength is the district's low chronic absenteeism rate, which ranks in the top quartile of county districts. Students are attending school at notably higher rates than their peers across the region. Per-pupil spending sits in the upper-middle range compared to other county districts.

The district faces significant challenges that have direct impact on families. Since January 2024, Oak Grove has operated under a fiscal recovery plan driven by declining enrollment and the loss of one-time pandemic funding. The plan eliminated positions that students depend on directly: five classroom aides, a bilingual liaison, and a part-time academic intervention specialist. Teacher hours were reduced. These cuts removed essential support for students who need it most, particularly those requiring extra help or bilingual services. The district is running a substantial structural deficit against its total budget.

In February 2025, labor tensions escalated when teachers authorized a potential strike over wages. The union represents forty-six teachers across the two schools. This signals organizational instability that may concern families weighing enrollment or continuity.

The broader housing context in the district's service area includes communities across Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Graton. Home values are substantial, sitting well above the national benchmark. Rental costs are significant. Mortgage affordability relative to income is tight, requiring roughly one in three months of household income just for rent. The area faces modest annual home value decline.

Oak Grove serves a real, working community rather than an affluent corridor, and its budget crisis is real. A parent considering this district should understand that the recent cuts have shrunk the direct support staff and specialist services available to students, and that the district is navigating both financial and labor uncertainty. The test results show a district where early literacy is a relative strength but mathematics and middle school performance lag, and where the loss of intervention support may affect students already behind. The low absenteeism rate suggests engagement, but the staffing reductions and labor situation add significant context to any family decision.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

819

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 28%

Black 1%

White 61%

Asian 2%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

48%

—

Gr 3

62%

57%

Gr 4

56%

67%

Gr 5

46%

79%

Gr 6

52%

48%

Gr 7

42%

58%

Gr 8

44%

56%

Math

Gr ALL

30%

—

Gr 3

50%

57%

Gr 4

39%

59%

Gr 5

32%

63%

Gr 6

24%

45%

Gr 7

30%

41%

Gr 8

19%

29%

Science

Gr 5

43%

62%

Gr 8

26%

42%

Gr HS

32%

—

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Oak Grove Elementary

Oak Grove Elementary/Willowside Middle

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

55%

Grade 3

54%

Grade 4

51%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

38%

Grade 7

26%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

59%

Grade 3

64%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

49%

Grade 6

53%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

54%

Grade 5

38%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

64%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$910,248

Year-over-year change-2.0%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$656K to $1.1M

vs. state typical1.17x

vs. national typical2.47x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95472	Sebastopol	$1.1M	-1.4%	56.3%
95401	Santa Rosa	$656K	-2.7%	41.7%
95444	Graton	$822K	-2.3%	2.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,600/mo

Year-over-year change+1.1%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$2,339 to $2,793/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95472	Sebastopol	$2,793	+3.9%	56.3%
95401	Santa Rosa	$2,339	-2.8%	41.7%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$4,593/mo

Home price / national median income10.9x

Annual rent / national median income37.3%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,993/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.