Sequoia Union High, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Sequoia Union High

Sequoia Union High School District is a high school district in San Mateo County serving students across a geographic area that includes the towns of Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, San Carlos, and surrounding communities. The district operates five comprehensive high schools—Carlmont, Menlo-Atherton, Redwood, Sequoia, and Woodside—along with Tide Academy, an alternative school.

The district enrolls a substantial student population across grades 9 through 12, with a notably diverse enrollment. About two-fifths of students are Hispanic, roughly a third are white, and about one-seventh are Asian. The remaining students identify across other racial and ethnic backgrounds, including a small share of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students.

In English and language arts, students are meeting proficiency benchmarks at a rate that sits above the midpoint for proficiency in that subject. Math and science proficiency are closer to half of students meeting grade-level standards, which puts the district below where the state hopes to see performance in those disciplines. Only one year of state testing data is available, so trends over time are not visible. A parent may want to look into the district's strategic approach to mathematics instruction, particularly any initiatives aimed at the gap between ELA and math proficiency.

Chronic absenteeism in the district sits below the midpoint among San Mateo County's districts, meaning attendance patterns are relatively stable. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for the county, reflecting the district's resource capacity and investment in school operations.

The communities the district serves represent a high-cost housing market. Median home values across the district's service area are substantially above both state and national benchmarks, with significant variation depending on neighborhood. Rental costs are likewise steep relative to household income. This is not a region where housing is readily affordable; a family relocating to the area or a resident considering home purchase should budget accordingly.

The district recently passed a major facilities bond approved by voters, funding comprehensive upgrades including air conditioning and improved ventilation in all classrooms, along with science and technology lab renovations and athletic facility improvements. This represents a multi-decade tax commitment tied to assessed property value, but it addresses long-standing building systems and modern learning space needs across all schools in the district.

The district has made deliberate curriculum and structural choices that merit awareness. Ethnic Studies became a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2025, replacing the prior World Studies sequence. As of spring 2025, the board voted to modify the curriculum and signaled plans to review whether to retain it as a graduation requirement in the fall, so this remains an active policy question. The district has also moved away from tracked classes, eliminating separate Honors classes and remedial science and math courses in favor of mixed-ability instruction across the board. This reflects a pedagogical commitment to inclusion and equitable access to curriculum, though some families have advocated for the restoration of advanced-level offerings. Course structure and instructional grouping remain under discussion at the board level.

For families considering the district, the strong resource level, diverse peer environment, and commitment to broad curricular inclusion are clear features. The cost of living in the area is high and non-negotiable. Performance in math deserves closer attention and conversation with individual schools. The recent shifts in course offerings and graduation requirements mean families should stay informed about ongoing curriculum and tracking discussions as policies continue to evolve.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

8,553

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 41%

Black 2%

White 37%

Asian 14%

Two+ 4%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

37%

—

Gr 11

37%

—

Math

Gr ALL

15%

—

Gr 11

15%

—

Science

Gr ALL

17%

—

Gr 11

19%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

17%

—

Gr UG_SEC

17%

—

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$3.08M

Year-over-year change+3.5%

Range across 14 ZIP codes$1.0M to $8.3M

vs. state typical3.96x

vs. national typical8.35x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (14 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$2.7M	+1.8%	39.2%
94028	Portola Valley	$4.3M	+9.8%	15.5%
94025	Menlo Park	$2.9M	+5.2%	9.3%
94063	Redwood City	$1.3M	-1.0%	7.2%
94070	San Carlos	$2.5M	+3.1%	6.8%
94002	Belmont	$2.4M	+2.3%	5.6%
94027	Atherton	$8.3M	+9.4%	5.6%
94061	Redwood City	$2.0M	+1.9%	4.3%
94303	East Palo Alto	$2.1M	+0.3%	3.1%
94065	Redwood City	$1.9M	-1.5%	2.5%
94403	San Mateo	$1.8M	+1.6%	0.6%
94020	La Honda	$1.0M	+3.4%	0.3%
94404	Foster City	$1.8M	-0.8%	0.1%
94402	San Mateo	$2.5M	+3.8%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$3,673/mo

Year-over-year change+3.9%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$3,079 to $4,901/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94062	Emerald Lake Hills	$3,382	+2.0%	39.2%
94025	Menlo Park	$4,123	+5.1%	9.3%
94063	Redwood City	$3,923	+5.1%	7.2%
94070	San Carlos	$4,320	+6.5%	6.8%
94002	Belmont	$3,079	+5.3%	5.6%
94061	Redwood City	$3,643	+7.0%	4.3%
94303	East Palo Alto	$4,901	+6.3%	3.1%
94065	Redwood City	$3,991	+6.0%	2.5%
94403	San Mateo	$3,579	+3.8%	0.6%
94404	Foster City	$3,913	+6.8%	0.1%
94402	San Mateo	$3,693	+8.0%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$15,520/mo

Home price / national median income36.7x

Annual rent / national median income52.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$11,847/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.