Oakley Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Oakley Union Elementary

Oakley Union Elementary School District serves kindergarten through eighth grade across the Oakley area of Contra Costa County. The district has about five thousand students spread across nine schools, with a student body that is nearly half Hispanic, roughly a quarter white, and with a growing Asian population. The district's demographics reflect the region's changing composition.

On state assessments, the district shows weak proficiency across tested subjects. In mathematics, district-wide proficiency sits well below half of students at the elementary and middle grades. The decline is sharp by grade level: third and fourth graders reach the low-to-mid range, but by sixth and seventh grade, proficiency drops to roughly one in six students. English language arts performs somewhat better at the elementary level, with fourth and fifth graders posting results that reach closer to or slightly above two in five students, but middle grades settle back into the low-to-mid-thirties. Science proficiency in both fifth and eighth grade is similarly low. These patterns suggest either cumulative challenges in mathematics instruction, or difficulty with transition to abstract problem-solving in the middle grades, or both. Among Contra Costa County's districts, Oakley's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint.

The district faces real structural strain. In early 2026, it moved toward eliminating roughly forty positions to balance an ongoing budget deficit. Though about two-thirds of those positions were already vacant, staffing reductions of that scale can affect class sizes and continuity in instruction. In June 2026, voters approved Measure K, a facilities bond to repair aging infrastructure including roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, and hazardous-materials removal across schools, some of which date back several decades. However, the companion Measure J for school security and safety upgrades failed at the ballot, leaving safety improvements unfunded for now. The schools themselves are aging and show deferred maintenance that likely affects the learning environment.

Housing values in the district's service areas range widely depending on location. Properties near Oakley command higher values, while areas elsewhere in the district sit lower. Rents remain elevated for the region. The affordability picture is strained: monthly mortgage costs and rent-to-income ratios both suggest housing absorbs a substantial share of household budgets, consistent with broader Bay Area pressure.

Chronic absenteeism sits slightly above the county median, which may reflect economic challenges or barriers to attendance that affect academic progress. The district's per-pupil spending sits in the lower range among its county peers, a fact that compounds the budget pressure.

Parents considering Oakley Union Elementary should factor in that the district faces real capacity and financial headwinds. The low proficiency on state tests, especially in middle grades, warrants direct conversation with the school about support systems, intervention programs, and approaches to instruction. The aging facilities and recent staff reductions are material facts that affect operations. For families prioritizing classroom stability and strong baseline academic performance, those factors matter. For families already invested in the area or seeking a district close to home, understanding where support gaps lie and whether the school can address them is essential.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,098

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 47%

Black 10%

White 26%

Asian 11%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

26%

—

Gr 3

21%

38%

Gr 4

33%

46%

Gr 5

28%

55%

Gr 6

27%

45%

Gr 7

22%

41%

Gr 8

23%

40%

Math

Gr ALL

16%

—

Gr 3

25%

44%

Gr 4

29%

43%

Gr 5

17%

32%

Gr 6

25%

Gr 7

25%

Gr 8

21%

Science

Gr 5

16%

31%

Gr 8

12%

27%

Gr HS

14%

—

Schools in this District

9 schools are officially reported under this district.

Laurel Elementary

Vintage Parkway Elementary

Iron House Elementary

Almond Grove Elementary

Summer Lake Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

36%

Grade 3

36%

Grade 4

26%

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

16%

Grade 7

16%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

31%

Grade 3

40%

Grade 4

43%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 6

32%

Grade 7

33%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

24%

Grade 5

20%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

47%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$608,559

Year-over-year change-3.5%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$557K to $802K

vs. state typical0.78x

vs. national typical1.65x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95219		$557K	-3.4%	49.9%
94561	Oakley	$666K	-3.4%	35.8%
94511	Bethel Island	$637K	-4.2%	13.7%
94513	Brentwood	$802K	-3.4%	0.6%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,564/mo

Year-over-year change+3.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$2,023 to $3,305/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95219		$2,023	+2.9%	49.9%
94561	Oakley	$3,305	+3.8%	35.8%
94513	Brentwood	$3,231	+6.8%	0.6%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,071/mo

Home price / national median income7.3x

Annual rent / national median income36.7%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$507/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.