Orinda: School Boundaries & Grade Progression

Orinda’s public school structure uses two districts. Orinda Union School District (OUSD) operates four elementary schools and Orinda Intermediate School for transitional kindergarten through grade 8, while Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) provides grades 9 through 12 education, including Miramonte High School in Orinda. Elementary and high school information should be checked using the specific property address because the two districts maintain separate enrollment and attendance resources.

📝 Introduction

Orinda Union School District currently operates Del Rey, Glorietta, Sleepy Hollow, and Wagner Ranch elementary schools along with Orinda Intermediate School. High school education is administered separately by AUHSD. OUSD states that a neighborhood elementary school is based on street address, although students may be redirected to another district elementary campus when class size limits require it. AUHSD also determines the designated high school by street address through its Schoolsite Locator.

🏫 Miramonte High School

• Achievements: Miramonte is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and has received National Blue Ribbon and California Distinguished School recognition. Its curriculum includes college preparatory courses, Advanced Placement classes, Honors coursework, visual and performing arts, athletics, and additional electives.
• Fun Fact: Miramonte uses a modified block schedule, with all classes meeting on Monday and longer block periods scheduled Tuesday through Friday.
• Brief History: Miramonte High School was founded in 1955 by Acalanes Union High School District as a comprehensive public high school serving grades 9 through 12.
• 📍 Address: 750 Moraga Way, Orinda, CA 94563
• 📞 Phone: 925-280-3930
• 🌐 Website: mhs.acalanes.k12.ca.us
• Real Estate Insight: Miramonte is located in Orinda, but AUHSD determines the designated high school using the individual street address. Property proximity should therefore be considered separately from confirmed attendance assignment.

🏫 Orinda Intermediate School

• Achievements: Orinda Intermediate School was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2013, a California Gold Ribbon School in 2015, and a National Blue Ribbon School in 2022.
• Fun Fact: OIS offers a broad elective program that includes makerspace, woodworking, computer graphics, computer programming, video production, debate, drama, music, world languages, and leadership opportunities.
• Brief History: Orinda Intermediate is OUSD’s sole intermediate school and serves the middle grade portion of the district’s transitional kindergarten through grade 8 structure. Recent district facility improvements include a new Student Services Building with counseling and administrative offices, a Wellness Center, and accessibility improvements.
• 📍 Address: 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda, CA 94563
• 📞 Phone: 925-258-3090
• 🌐 Website: ois.orindaschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Orinda Intermediate occupies a different role from the city’s elementary campuses because it serves the district’s intermediate grade levels. Buyers researching grade progression should still confirm current OUSD enrollment requirements and then separately verify the AUHSD high school connected with the property.

🏫 Del Rey Elementary School

• Achievements: Del Rey received National Blue Ribbon School recognition in 2016 and has also received California Gold Ribbon and California Distinguished School recognition.
• Fun Fact: Del Rey’s before and after school program is called the Dolphin Club and includes activities such as arts and crafts, STEM projects, games, and other structured programs.
• Brief History: Del Rey’s campus was built in 1953 and has retained its original general footprint while receiving later classroom additions and facility improvements.
• 📍 Address: 25 El Camino Moraga, Orinda, CA 94563
• 📞 Phone: 925-258-3099
• 🌐 Website: dr.orindaschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Del Rey is one of four OUSD elementary schools. The district’s School Finder should be used to confirm whether a property falls within its neighborhood attendance area, and district placement can still be affected by class size limits.

🏫 Glorietta Elementary School

• Achievements: Glorietta has received California Distinguished School recognition. Its instructional program includes core academics along with art, music, physical education, technology, library instruction, and other learning opportunities by grade level.
• Fun Fact: Glorietta’s transitional kindergarten program incorporates guided play, art, movement, music, literature, and teacher led learning throughout the school day.
• Brief History: California Department of Education records list Glorietta as an active traditional public elementary school serving kindergarten through grade 5 within Orinda Union School District.
• 📍 Address: 15 Martha Road, Orinda, CA 94563
• 📞 Phone: 925-254-8770
• 🌐 Website: gl.orindaschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Glorietta’s location may be useful when researching nearby properties, but the property address should be entered into the OUSD School Finder before the school is identified as the neighborhood elementary campus.

🏫 Sleepy Hollow Elementary School

• Achievements: Sleepy Hollow has received California Distinguished School recognition and currently offers programs in art, music, physical education, library, STEAM, garden learning, student wellness, and additional support services.
• Fun Fact: Sleepy Hollow’s STEAM program combines science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands on design, building, coding, and problem solving activities.
• Brief History: Sleepy Hollow remains an active OUSD elementary campus serving kindergarten through grade 5. The district has also completed a new multipurpose building at the campus as part of its facility modernization work.
• 📍 Address: 20 Washington Lane, Orinda, CA 94563
• 📞 Phone: 925-254-8711
• 🌐 Website: sh.orindaschools.org
• Real Estate Insight: Sleepy Hollow is part of OUSD’s elementary structure based on property address. Buyers and sellers should confirm current neighborhood school information rather than relying on proximity or older property descriptions.

📊 School–Real Estate Connection

Orinda’s school structure is divided by grade level between two public districts. OUSD manages elementary and intermediate education, while AUHSD manages high school education. This means property research may require using two separate district resources rather than assuming that one district controls the full progression from transitional kindergarten through grade 12.

Elementary school information is especially specific to the individual property. OUSD states that the neighborhood elementary school is based on street address and also notes that students can be redirected to another OUSD elementary campus to maintain class size limits. AUHSD separately uses street addresses to determine the designated high school.

School information can be considered alongside property condition, square footage, lot characteristics, recent comparable sales, housing inventory, transportation access, and other property factors. School assignment or proximity should not be presented as a guarantee of buyer demand, resale performance, or future property value.

✅ What Can You Do?

For Buyers

• Use the OUSD School Finder with the exact Orinda property address to identify the neighborhood elementary school.
• Keep in mind that OUSD states elementary placement may be redirected to another district campus when class size limits require it.
• Review Orinda Intermediate separately from the elementary assignment because it serves the district’s intermediate grade levels.
• Use AUHSD’s Schoolsite Locator to verify the designated high school rather than assuming the property assignment from the city name alone.
• Check both district resources again before completing a purchase because attendance information, capacity, and enrollment procedures can change.

For Sellers

• Verify the property’s neighborhood elementary school through OUSD before adding the school name to marketing materials.
• Avoid representing an elementary campus as guaranteed placement when OUSD notes that class size limits can affect where students are placed.
• Confirm the designated high school through AUHSD’s locator using the property address before identifying Miramonte in property advertising.
• Separate elementary and intermediate information from high school information because the grade levels are administered by different districts.
• Replace school information copied from older Orinda listings with current district boundaries, enrollment information, campus programs, and official school links.

❓ FAQ

Q: Does one school district serve Orinda from elementary school through high school?

A: No. Orinda Union School District serves transitional kindergarten through grade 8 through four elementary schools and Orinda Intermediate, while Acalanes Union High School District administers grades 9 through 12.

Q: Does an Orinda property’s neighborhood elementary school guarantee placement at that campus?

A: Not necessarily. OUSD identifies the neighborhood elementary school by street address but states that students may be redirected to another district elementary site when needed to maintain class size limits.

Q: How should a buyer verify the high school connected with an Orinda property?

A: AUHSD provides a Schoolsite Locator that identifies the designated high school using the street address and displays district attendance boundary information.

🔚 Conclusion

Orinda’s public school structure involves separate systems for elementary and intermediate education and high school education. OUSD manages the city’s elementary schools and Orinda Intermediate, while AUHSD manages high school enrollment. Because elementary placement and high school attendance are based on the property address and governed by different districts, buyers and sellers should use current district resources for the individual property rather than relying on proximity, older listings, or general assumptions about school progression.

This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, investment, or professional advice. Always consult with qualified professionals before making any decisions based on this content. School information including addresses, phone numbers, and emails was accurate as of the blog’s published date but may change without notice. Please verify directly with the school or institution. This content is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind. If you are currently under an exclusive agreement with another real estate broker, this blog is not intended as a solicitation.