Rowland Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Rowland Unified

Rowland Unified is a mid-sized district serving kindergarten through grade 12 across a cluster of communities in Los Angeles County: Rowland Heights, Walnut, Diamond Bar, La Puente, and parts of surrounding areas. The district enrolls a student population that is predominantly Hispanic and Asian, with Asian students forming a substantial share and Hispanic students the majority. The district operates roughly two dozen schools, including elementary schools, two intermediate schools, two traditional high schools, a continuation school, several specialized academies focused on science and arts, and programs serving younger learners.

In mathematics, the district's proficiency rates sit below what California considers proficient across all tested grades. Elementary grades third and fourth hover around the low-to-mid range, while grades five through eight drop further, with fifth grade showing particularly low proficiency. English language arts performance is measurably stronger. Third grade proficiency in ELA aligns with math, but ELA proficiency in grades six through eight reaches closer to the midpoint across California's districts. Science proficiency appears limited; testing at grades five and eight shows results in the low-to-mid range. Trend data was available only for the current school year, so movement over time cannot be assessed. A parent may want to look into how the district is addressing math proficiency gaps, especially in the middle grades, where the performance dip is most pronounced.

The district sits below the midpoint in overall proficiency when measured across all tested subjects and grades, among Los Angeles County's districts. However, chronic absenteeism is above the midpoint, meaning it is lower than the median rate across the county. Per-pupil spending falls in the middle-to-upper range within the county.

The housing market across the district's communities varies. Rowland Heights anchors the area with a median home value in the mid-range, while Walnut and parts of Diamond Bar run higher. Rental costs have been climbing year-over-year. Home prices are substantially above the California state average and well above the national median, positioning the district in a relatively affluent suburban corridor with ongoing appreciation pressure.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten has recently become a priority in the district, with free full-day Transitional Kindergarten now available at all elementary and TK-8 campuses. This removes a cost barrier for families with younger learners and extends the entry point into the district by a year.

Capital improvement continues through voter-approved Measure R bonds, which have funded modernization projects across schools. A new Fine Arts and Aquatics Center at Nogales High School, with a 14-lane pool and dedicated performance and rehearsal spaces, broke ground in the summer of 2024 and is scheduled to open in spring 2026. These bond measures carry a property-tax rate that families should factor into their cost-of-living assessment when considering relocation.

The district's strength lies in the breadth of programs, ranging from general education pathways through specialized academies in science, mathematics, and arts, plus alternative options for students who need different settings. ELA performance, while below state median, is noticeably stronger than math, and the district's attention to early childhood expansion and facilities modernization suggest systematic effort. The gap in math proficiency, especially in middle grades, and the overall below-midpoint proficiency ranking signal that academic preparation may require engagement with teachers and supplemental support depending on a student's starting point and learning needs.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

11,623

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 65%

Black 1%

White 2%

Asian 28%

Two+ 3%

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

43%

—

Gr 3

38%

75%

Gr 4

39%

78%

Gr 5

40%

70%

Gr 6

43%

73%

Gr 7

43%

78%

Gr 8

43%

70%

Gr 11

56%

—

Math

Gr ALL

31%

—

Gr 3

39%

68%

Gr 4

37%

68%

Gr 5

27%

54%

Gr 6

31%

55%

Gr 7

31%

56%

Gr 8

31%

55%

Gr 11

23%

—

Science

Gr ALL

25%

—

Gr 5

23%

48%

Gr 8

29%

50%

Gr 10

21%

—

Gr 11

30%

—

Gr 12

41%

—

Gr HS

27%

—

Gr UG_SEC

31%

—

Schools in this District

23 schools are officially reported under this district.

Alvarado Intermediate

Blandford Elementary

Giano Intermediate

Hollingworth Elementary

Santana High (Continuation)

Shelyn Elementary

Villacorta Elementary

Ybarra Academy for the Arts and Technology

Yorbita Elementary

Rowland Unified Community Day

Stanley G. Oswalt Academy

Rowland Assistive Technology Academy

Telesis Academy of Science & Math

Farjardo - La Seda Preschool

Rowland Virtual Learning Academy

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

42%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 6

35%

Grade 7

36%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

44%

Grade 3

45%

Grade 4

45%

Grade 5

48%

Grade 6

49%

Grade 7

48%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

27%

Grade 5

33%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

62%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$960,614

Year-over-year change+0.0%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$744K to $1.2M

vs. state typical1.24x

vs. national typical2.61x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
91748	Rowland Heights	$968K	+0.0%	56.0%
91789	Walnut	$1.2M	+0.3%	17.4%
91792	West Covina	$820K	-0.3%	13.9%
91744	La Puente	$744K	-0.3%	9.4%
91765	Diamond Bar	$1.0M	+0.9%	2.7%
91791	West Covina	$926K	+1.5%	0.2%
90631	La Habra	$942K	-0.0%	0.2%
92821	Brea	$1.1M	-0.3%	0.1%
91745	Hacienda Heights	$966K	+1.4%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,855/mo

Year-over-year change+6.3%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$2,333 to $3,699/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
91748	Rowland Heights	$2,761	+8.6%	56.0%
91789	Walnut	$3,699	-0.4%	17.4%
91792	West Covina	$2,457	+4.2%	13.9%
91744	La Puente	$2,333	+9.9%	9.4%
91765	Diamond Bar	$3,265	+1.5%	2.7%
91791	West Covina	$2,695	+6.0%	0.2%
90631	La Habra	$2,646	+3.4%	0.2%
92821	Brea	$2,797	+1.1%	0.1%
91745	Hacienda Heights	$3,283	+1.1%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$4,847/mo

Home price / national median income11.5x

Annual rent / national median income40.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,992/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.