The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 75% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Los Perales Elementary
Los Perales Elementary sits in Moraga, a quiet, affluent suburban community in the Lamorinda area of Contra Costa County, where tree-lined hills and open space shape daily life. The town is almost entirely residential, with families traveling to neighboring centers for extensive shopping. This is a school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in a community where homes are predominantly single-family properties on spacious lots and where Saint Mary's College anchors the local economy alongside the public school district.
The school enrolls a small student body for its grade band, drawn from a neighborhood that is economically well-resourced. Fewer than one student in thirty qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, far below state and county averages. The student population is racially and ethnically mixed, with a white plurality, followed by substantial Asian and multiracial enrollment, smaller Hispanic representation, and minimal Black enrollment. State assessment data does not report counts or rates for students with disabilities or English learners, making it difficult to gauge those needs from the available record.
Academically, Los Perales demonstrates solid proficiency across tested grades and subjects. In math, students in grade four show particularly strong performance, while grade three shows the most room for growth. English language arts proficiency is steady across the upper grades, with fifth graders performing at the top of the tested band. Science proficiency in grade five, the only grade tested in California's science assessment, is in the mid-range. When proficiency results are averaged across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the county's districts, a position that reflects consistent performance across the elementary span. Trend data covers only the current school year, so whether these results represent stability or change cannot be determined from the available information.
The Moraga School District, the parent entity, has undergone two significant funding votes in recent years. In March 2024, voters approved a facilities bond that will fund school improvements and infrastructure repairs across the district. Then in June 2026, voters approved an ongoing parcel tax to support staffing, counselors, and academic programs, bringing the total parcel tax obligation to a meaningful level. A parent considering this school would encounter these as a long-term local commitment, reflecting a community willing to fund schools above the state per-pupil baseline. The district ranks toward the lower end in state per-pupil funding even with these local measures, so families are supplementing state resources to maintain services and prevent deeper cuts.
The school's location places families in a car-dependent but stable residential setting with good parks, including Moraga Commons with its splash pad, playgrounds, and access to an extensive trail network. Saint Mary's College, the weekly farmers' market downtown, and two small shopping districts anchor civic life. County Connection bus service links the area to BART and neighboring communities, though most daily errands require a car. Housing in the zip code is among the most expensive in the Bay Area; rental costs are correspondingly high. The town has modest ongoing housing development, primarily in designated sites within the town center and at the eastern edge, keeping the overall feel suburban and low-density.
For a family in a high-income household seeking a small elementary school in a quiet, residential, well-resourced community where the school performs solidly and neighbors have invested heavily in school infrastructure, Los Perales fits that profile clearly. The proficiency results and the top-quartile positioning against county peers reflect an academically stable environment. Parents should understand the local property tax commitment that sustains the district and the car-dependent nature of daily life in Moraga. Neither enrollment trends nor special-population data are available, so a parent interested in understanding the school's growth trajectory, waitlists, or support services for students with disabilities or language learners would benefit from contacting the school or district directly.
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