San Mateo Union High, CA

Original Research by School Decision on San Mateo Union High

San Mateo Union High School District covers six high schools serving grades nine through twelve across San Mateo County, with a combined enrollment in the mid-thousands. The district spans a geographically and economically diverse collection of communities, from Belmont and Half Moon Bay on the coast to Hillsborough, Emerald Lake Hills, and Foster City in the peninsula interior, along with San Mateo, San Bruno, and Millbrae closer to the bay.

The housing market across the district's service area is expensive. Home values are substantially higher than the state benchmark, with homes in Hillsborough commanding the highest prices and properties in San Mateo and San Bruno at the lower end within the district, though still well above state norms. Rents have risen steeply and continue climbing. Monthly mortgage payments and rent together paint a picture of considerable cost of living, one that shapes which families can afford to live in these communities. The affordability strain is real: renters spend a particularly high share of income on housing, well above what is typically sustainable.

On academics, the district's 2024-25 state assessment results show English language arts proficiency at a solid level, with roughly three-quarters of students meeting grade-level standards. Mathematics proficiency sits at around half, and science trails that further. These results span all students in grades nine through twelve, so they reflect the full range of the district's high school population. The data provided shows only one year, so trends over time are not visible. A parent may want to look into which of the six schools shows stronger or weaker performance in each subject, and what supports the district is putting in place to lift mathematics and science attainment.

The student body is racially and ethnically diverse. Asian students make up roughly a quarter of enrollment, Hispanic students comprise about a third, white students account for roughly a quarter, and the remainder are students of color from other groups, including a small number of multiracial students. Free-or-reduced-price-lunch data and English learner enrollment counts were not provided, leaving a gap in understanding economic need and language support within the district.

On chronic absenteeism, the district performs better than the median across San Mateo County's districts, suggesting stronger attendance engagement overall. Per-pupil current spending sits in the middle-to-upper range among county peers, indicating solid resource allocation.

Two district-wide developments merit noting for any family considering a move here. In 2020, voters approved a general obligation bond to fund capital projects district-wide, including new gymnasiums at two of the schools, an athletic training facility, and solar and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. That bond carries an ongoing property tax cost to homeowners in the district, a commitment that will extend into 2027. Additionally, the district made ethnic studies a required course for ninth graders beginning in 2020, ahead of California's later statewide mandate. The course remains a graduation requirement and has drawn public debate locally; families weighing enrollment here should understand this is part of the curriculum students will encounter.

The six high schools serve different communities within the district. Their individual profiles, including program breadth, test results, and peer demographics, would differ meaningfully, so a student's experience in San Mateo Union High depends significantly on which school they attend. Information on specific programs, course offerings by school, and individual school results would help clarify fit for any particular student and family.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

8,841

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 35%

Black 1%

White 25%

Asian 29%

Two+ 9%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

51%

—

Gr 11

51%

—

Math

Gr ALL

23%

—

Gr 11

23%

—

Science

Gr ALL

27%

—

Gr 12

27%

—

Gr HS

27%

—

Gr UG_SEC

27%

—

Schools in this District

8 schools are officially reported under this district.

Peninsula High (Continuation)

San Mateo High

The Bridge Academy

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$2.44M

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$1.2M to $3.5M

vs. state typical3.15x

vs. national typical6.64x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94010	Hillsborough	$3.5M	+5.9%	28.0%
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$2.7M	+1.8%	15.0%
94066	San Bruno	$1.3M	+0.1%	9.9%
94403	San Mateo	$1.8M	+1.6%	9.6%
94402	San Mateo	$2.5M	+3.8%	9.4%
94404	Foster City	$1.8M	-0.8%	8.0%
94030	Millbrae	$2.1M	+4.9%	6.3%
94401	San Mateo	$1.2M	+0.6%	5.8%
94002	Belmont	$2.4M	+2.3%	1.0%
94019	Half Moon Bay	$1.6M	+1.9%	0.8%
94044	Pacifica	$1.3M	-1.9%	0.1%
94038	Moss Beach	$1.5M	+0.0%	0.1%
94080	South San Francisco	$1.2M	+1.1%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,516/mo

Year-over-year change+4.3%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$3,079 to $3,913/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94010	Hillsborough	$3,505	+3.3%	28.0%
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$3,382	+2.0%	15.0%
94066	San Bruno	$3,234	+5.3%	9.9%
94403	San Mateo	$3,579	+3.8%	9.6%
94402	San Mateo	$3,693	+8.0%	9.4%
94404	Foster City	$3,913	+6.8%	8.0%
94030	Millbrae	$3,782	+3.9%	6.3%
94401	San Mateo	$3,238	+4.9%	5.8%
94002	Belmont	$3,079	+5.3%	1.0%
94044	Pacifica	$3,597	+6.0%	0.1%
94080	South San Francisco	$3,877	+6.0%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$12,329/mo

Home price / national median income29.2x

Annual rent / national median income50.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$8,813/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

Academic Performance
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.