San Lucas Union Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on San Lucas Union Elementary

San Lucas Union Elementary is a small district of about 78 students serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Monterey County, California. The enrollment is almost entirely Hispanic; a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch based on available census data, though the district has not reported its official count. Enrollment is heavily weighted toward the earliest grades, with more students in kindergarten than in any upper grade.

The district's most recent state testing results show serious academic strain. In English language arts across all tested grades, proficiency sits well below the state midpoint. In mathematics, the proficiency rate is even lower. At grade 5, where state science testing occurs, proficiency was at zero. Most grade-level results across subjects are suppressed by the state, likely because the small number of tested students in each grade makes disclosure of individual scores a privacy concern. One reported grade 5 proficiency result in English language arts suggests pockets of student achievement, but the overall proficiency index places the district in the bottom quartile among Monterey County's school systems.

Chronic absenteeism runs just below the county median, a notable concern in a school this small where every absent student affects learning continuity. Chronic absence can compound the academic challenges evident in test scores.

The housing market around San Lucas is affordable relative to California's state median. Homes in the two zip codes the district covers range from a lower end around the mid-five-hundred thousands to above eight hundred thousand, with a weighted average near six hundred thousand. This modest pricing reflects the rural character of the area. However, families moving to San Lucas should know that the district carries the highest effective property-tax rate in Monterey County. In May 2023, voters approved a school facilities bond, Measure S, following rejection of an earlier bond attempt in 2022. That bond, payable through property taxes over decades, adds a concrete ongoing cost to homeownership in the district. For any family considering relocation, the property-tax burden tied to the school district is a factor worth examining closely.

Per-pupil spending in the district sits in the upper range among county districts, suggesting resources are being deployed, yet the proficiency outcomes remain low. A parent might want to look into how those resources are being used and what recent or planned changes in instruction or support might address the gap between spending and student learning outcomes.

The district operates a single elementary school, San Lucas Elementary. It is not a charter or magnet school. State testing data and economic conditions suggest this is a rural, under-resourced-in-learning-terms community facing real academic headwinds. For a family with elementary-age children, the pathway here leads to a small, close-knit setting with significant challenges in reading and math proficiency that parents and the district would need to address directly and actively.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 99%

White 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

35%

—

Gr 5

36%

—

Math

Gr ALL

18%

—

Gr 5

—

Science

Gr 5

—

Gr HS

20%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

San Lucas Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

Grade 5

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

36%

Grade 5

Science

1 grade reported

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$605,284

Year-over-year change+0.8%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$524K to $827K

vs. state typical0.78x

vs. national typical1.64x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93930	King City	$524K	+0.3%	33.9%
93932	Lockwood	$827K	+2.2%	12.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,054/mo

Home price / national median income7.2x

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.