Hayward Unified

The Hayward Unified School District in California serves 28 schools, including 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools. The district's student population is diverse, with a predominantly Hispanic student body, as well as significant Asian and African American populations.

Among the standout schools in the district are Southgate Elementary, which ranks in the top 31% of California elementary schools and has the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics, and Stonebrae Elementary, which also performs exceptionally well and ranks in the top 30% of California elementary schools. At the middle school level, Anthony W. Ochoa Middle stands out with the lowest student-teacher ratio in the district, which may contribute to its relatively strong performance.

However, the district also faces significant challenges, with wide disparities in academic performance between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools. Chronic absenteeism is a widespread issue, with several schools exceeding 40% of students being chronically absent. Additionally, the high rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which are often correlated with lower academic achievement, suggest that the district may need to focus on addressing the needs of its economically disadvantaged student population.