Oak Grove Middle, Concord CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Oak Grove Middle

Oak Grove Middle is a regular public middle school serving sixth through eighth grades in Concord, a diverse and economically mixed city in central Contra Costa County. The school enrolls about that typical mid-range size for its grade band, with a student population that is predominantly Hispanic, followed by Asian, multi-racial, Black, and white students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the school's place in a working-class and lower-middle-class community.

The academic picture at Oak Grove requires direct attention. State testing data from 2024-25 show proficiency rates that fall well below what the state expects. In math, proficiency across the three grades sits in single digits. In English language arts, proficiency is higher in sixth grade but declines sharply by eighth grade, where it reaches double digits only in grade six. Science proficiency, measured only in grade eight, is similarly low. When positioned against other schools tested in Contra Costa County districts, Oak Grove's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of the county's schools. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what support systems are in place, whether tutoring or intervention programs are available, and how the school is working to move these numbers.

English learner enrollment data were not available in the publicly reported records, nor were special education numbers, so those details cannot be characterized here. The school does offer a course catalog, though full details on the breadth of electives, arts, language, or advanced offerings were not provided in the available information.

Concord itself is the largest commercial and residential hub of central Contra Costa County, with a historic downtown centered on Todos Santos Plaza, a walkable gathering space anchored by a year-round farmers market and summer concerts within a short walk of the Concord BART station. The wider city reflects post-war suburban planning with wide arterials, though recent initiatives aim to improve walkability and bike infrastructure. The housing market in the area is moderate to high: home values are above the state average, and rents are moderately elevated relative to household income. The city is experiencing significant long-term growth tied to the planned redevelopment of the former Naval Weapons Station into a large mixed-use community, though that project remains in early planning phases with construction potentially years away.

Mt. Diablo Unified, the school's parent district, recently underwent curriculum restructuring at its oldest high school, where the long-standing California Partnership Academy model was converted into pathway electives open to all students, a shift families weigh when planning high school transitions. The district has also begun implementing a Strategic Arts Plan and receiving state arts funding under California's Proposition 28, expanding music and arts instruction across schools.

For a family considering Oak Grove, the decision hinges on understanding the school's current academic support systems and trajectory, paired with recognition that the community is stable, transit-accessible, and anchored in a genuine civic downtown rather than a suburban strip.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 69%

School 9% · District 39% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 79%

School 9% · District 37% · ▼ 28 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 88%

School 8% · District 37% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 633%

School 33% · District 50% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 49% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 814%

School 14% · District 48% · ▼ 34 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Science

Grade 89%

School 9% · District 36% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 816%

School 16% · District 54% · ▼ 38 pts below district

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 41 pts below county median

This schoolMt. Diablo Unified, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income31%Higher-income40%9 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income15%10 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income12%Higher-income33%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income9%Higher-income10%1 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income9%Higher-income5%4 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income8%Higher-income13%5 pp gap