Walnut Creek Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Walnut Creek Elementary

Walnut Creek Elementary School District serves kindergarten through eighth grade across a series of elementary and middle schools in the Walnut Creek area of Contra Costa County. The district enrolls a substantial student population spread fairly evenly across its grade bands. The enrollment is notably diverse: roughly half the students are white, with substantial populations of Asian, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Asian students make up a significant share, and the district serves students of many backgrounds, though data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available.

In math proficiency, the district shows moderate performance. Grades three through five perform similarly, hovering around the lower portion of that range. Sixth and eighth grade proficiency dips somewhat lower. Seventh grade rebounds to near the level of the earlier grades. Across all math grades, proficiency sits in the mid-range. In English language arts, results are somewhat stronger and less consistent across grades. Third grade sits at a lower level, but fourth through eighth grade proficiencies climb and then hold steady, with fifth and sixth grade performing noticeably better than the others. Overall ELA proficiency across the district exceeds math by a modest margin.

Science proficiency, measured only for grades five and eight, shows weakness. Fifth grade sits below typical levels, and eighth grade falls further still, at about half the students meeting proficiency. This is a soft spot worth noting if science instruction is a family priority. Social studies data from an earlier assessment period showed strong results, though that measure is now outdated and cannot be compared to current work.

The district sits above the midpoint among Contra Costa County's districts in overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. Chronic absenteeism in the district is well above the county median, meaning attendance is notably stronger than the typical district in the county. Per-pupil spending falls in the lower range compared to other county districts, a constraint that surfaces in district communications about funding pressures.

Walnut Creek sits in an affluent area. Home values are quite high, and the housing market has softened modestly year over year. Rents are also substantial, though rents remain lower relative to typical household income than mortgage payments do. The area represents a significant mortgage commitment relative to income, but the economic context is stable: the local unemployment rate sits modestly above four percent, and median household income is well above the national average.

The district has undertaken a visible capital improvement initiative. Voters approved a school facilities bond in 2022, and construction is modernizing all elementary campuses through 2027, upgrading classrooms, security, dining, and learning spaces. In mid-2026, the district placed another measure on the ballot to raise per-parcel property taxes for academic programs and teacher retention, citing per-pupil funding below the county average. That measure fell short of the required supermajority in early returns, signaling community hesitation about additional tax increases and flagging potential budget constraint ahead.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

3,547

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 16%

Black 3%

White 48%

Asian 18%

Two+ 15%

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

48%

—

Gr 3

37%

69%

Gr 4

51%

74%

Gr 5

61%

79%

Gr 6

49%

80%

Gr 7

51%

74%

Gr 8

41%

77%

Math

Gr ALL

45%

—

Gr 3

47%

78%

Gr 4

48%

76%

Gr 5

49%

75%

Gr 6

41%

68%

Gr 7

56%

74%

Gr 8

25%

72%

Science

Gr 5

37%

62%

Gr 8

20%

57%

Gr HS

29%

—

Schools in this District

7 schools are officially reported under this district.

Buena Vista Elementary

Indian Valley Elementary

Murwood Elementary

Walnut Creek Intermediate

Walnut Heights Elementary

Parkmead Elementary

Tice Creek

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

72%

Grade 3

71%

Grade 4

70%

Grade 5

64%

Grade 6

71%

Grade 7

64%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

63%

Grade 3

70%

Grade 4

76%

Grade 5

75%

Grade 6

70%

Grade 7

71%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

58%

Grade 5

51%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

79%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$1.03M

Year-over-year change-1.6%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$698K to $2.6M

vs. state typical1.33x

vs. national typical2.80x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
94596	Walnut Creek	$1.1M	-0.5%	39.9%
94595	Walnut Creek	$698K	-3.2%	34.6%
94597	Walnut Creek	$1.0M	-1.5%	16.0%
94598	Walnut Creek	$1.4M	-1.4%	5.1%
94507	Alamo	$2.6M	+0.4%	4.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,776/mo

Year-over-year change+3.9%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$2,649 to $3,415/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
94596	Walnut Creek	$2,799	+3.7%	39.9%
94595	Walnut Creek	$2,649	—	34.6%
94597	Walnut Creek	$2,791	+4.1%	16.0%
94598	Walnut Creek	$3,415	+4.8%	5.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$5,195/mo

Home price / national median income12.3x

Annual rent / national median income39.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$2,419/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.