Alameda Unified

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Alameda, California - 15 schools

An equity score of 36/100 ranks Alameda Unified #1112 of 1517 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $16,276 per pupil, Alameda Unified ranks #678 of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,830
Total Enrollment
15
Schools
$16,276
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Alameda Unified operates 15 public schools serving 8,830 students, placing it among the smaller districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 elementary, 3 high, 2 middle, 1 combined schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Alameda County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,276 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 1862 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 53.0% local, 39.0% state, and 8.0% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 36/100, ranked #1112 of 1517 in California against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 15 schools offering Advanced Placement (32 AP courses district-wide), a 279.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 16.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 29.2% Asian, 27.1% White, 18.2% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ruby Bridges Elementary, with a diversity index of 79.4/100.

Its largest campus is Alameda High, enrolling 1,868 students (20% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Island High (Continuation), at 76 students, a 25x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Alameda High accounts for 20.2% of all Alameda Unified student enrollment

That concentration means Alameda Unified-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Alameda Unified school enrollment varies 25× across entities

Alameda Unified school enrollment ranges from 76 students (lowest) to 1,868 students (highest), a spread of 1,792 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Alameda Unified student-counselor ratio is 279:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Alameda Unified is typically wider than the Alameda Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Alameda Unified chronic absenteeism rate is 16.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Alameda Unified is typically wider than the Alameda Unified-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.0%
Federal
39.0%
State
53.0%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
1112 / 1517
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 15 schools in Alameda Unified.

White 27.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.2%
African American 6.0%
Asian 29.2%
Multiracial 18.7%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 73.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Alameda Unified's schools, above the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ruby Bridges Elementary 79.4
  2. 2 Encinal Junior/Senior High 78.4
  3. 3 William G. Paden Elementary 77.9
  4. 4 Will C. Wood Middle 77.3
  5. 5 Maya Lin 75.6

Programs & Resources

2 / 15
Schools with AP
32 AP courses total
279.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Alameda Unified

School Enrollment
Alameda High
1,868
Encinal Junior/Senior High
1,280
Lincoln Middle
971
Will C. Wood Middle
613
Amelia Earhart Elementary
573
Frank Otis Elementary
569
Bay Farm
531
Love Elementary
498
Maya Lin
475
Edison Elementary
474
Ruby Bridges Elementary
458
William G. Paden Elementary
372
Franklin Elementary
291
Alameda Science and Technology Institute
211
Island High (Continuation)
76

How Alameda Unified Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lincoln Unified Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Arcadia Unified Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Evergreen Elementary Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Westside Union Elementary Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Alameda Unified's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $21,940/pupil
Compare vs Alameda Unified →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $18,665/pupil
Compare vs Alameda Unified →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $18,783/pupil
Compare vs Alameda Unified →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $16,028/pupil
Compare vs Alameda Unified →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $14,134/pupil
Compare vs Alameda Unified →

Compare Alameda Unified

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Alameda Unified?

Alameda Unified has 15 schools, including 3 high, 1 combined, 2 middle, 9 elementary. Total enrollment is 8,830 students.

How much does Alameda Unified spend per student?

Alameda Unified spends $16,276 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #1112 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Alameda Unified?

Alameda Unified students are 29.2% Asian, 27.1% White, 18.2% Hispanic or Latino, 6.0% African American, averaged across 15 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Alameda Unified?

Alameda Unified has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #1112 out of 1517 districts in California.