Lamorinda Schools Guide

Schools are the #1 reason families move to Lamorinda. And for good reason — the districts serving Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda consistently rank among California’s best, with test scores, graduation rates, and college placement that rival elite private schools.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Lamorinda’s school districts, individual schools, boundaries, and what makes each community’s educational approach unique.

The Four Districts

Lamorinda is served by four public school districts that work together to provide a seamless K-12 experience:

Elementary & Middle School Districts (K-8)

High School District (9-12)

Grades from Niche.com, 2025

District Comparison at a Glance

Here is a quick side-by-side of the four districts that serve Lamorinda — what they teach, who they serve, and how they compare on the metrics families care about:

Figures are typical recent-year ranges; check individual district pages for current numbers.

Why Lamorinda Schools Excel

By the Numbers

• 97% average graduation rate across all high schools
• 78% of students proficient or above in reading
• 65% of students proficient or above in math
• 87% of Orinda students meeting or exceeding standards
• Top 5% ranking among California school districts

What Makes the Difference

Exceptional Parent Involvement — Lamorinda parents don’t just drop kids off. They volunteer in classrooms, serve on school boards, and fund enrichment programs through organizations like LPIE (Lafayette Partners in Education), MEF (Moraga Education Foundation), and EFO (Educational Foundation of Orinda).

Local Funding — Each community has passed parcel taxes and bonds to maintain small class sizes, competitive teacher salaries, and programs that state funding doesn’t cover. This local investment shows in every classroom.

Feeder System — Students move smoothly from elementary to middle to high school with peers they’ve grown up with. By the time they reach Campolindo, Miramonte, or Acalanes, they’ve built relationships and academic foundations over years.

Teacher Quality — Average teacher salaries exceed $111,000, attracting and retaining experienced educators. Teacher turnover is low, and many staff members have been with their schools for decades.

Stable Cohorts — Class size is moderate, school mobility is low, and most students attend the same district from kindergarten through 8th grade and then the same high school for four years. The longitudinal stability of these cohorts is unusual in California and is a major contributor to outcomes.

Curricular Depth — Especially at the high-school level, the Acalanes Union HSD offers a deep menu of AP and honors courses across humanities, math, science, and arts — alongside genuinely competitive athletic and music programs. A typical Campolindo or Miramonte senior class has students placed at UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford, the Ivies, and the top liberal arts colleges.

Understanding School Boundaries

Each elementary/middle school district serves a specific town:

• Lafayette residents → Lafayette School District → Acalanes High or Las Lomas High
• Moraga residents → Moraga School District → Campolindo High
• Orinda residents → Orinda Union School District → Miramonte High

Why Boundaries Matter for Home Buyers

Your home address determines your school assignment. There are no exceptions. If you want your children at Campolindo High School, you must live in Moraga. Period.

This makes school boundaries a critical factor in real estate decisions. A street can be the difference between one district and another, affecting both your children’s education and your property value.

Inter-district transfers exist but are uncommon. The Acalanes Union HSD does accept a small number of out-of-district students each year (most often siblings of current students, children of district employees, or those transferring under special circumstances) — but the program is heavily oversubscribed. Plan on living in the district whose schools you want.

Even within a town, boundary lines matter at the elementary level. For example, a Lafayette family near the Reliez Valley line might be assigned to Springhill Elementary rather than Burton Valley, and the difference in commute and community can be meaningful. Use the district’s address lookup tool — or ask your real-estate agent — to verify the assigned school for any specific address before you commit.

Choosing Your Town by School

Choose Lafayette If…

• You want the most walkable downtown with BART access
• You value a larger district with more program options
• Stanley Middle School’s size and offerings appeal to you
• You’re comfortable with kids attending either Acalanes or Las Lomas High

Choose Moraga If…

• Campolindo High School is your target (consistently #1 ranked locally)
• You prefer a smaller, tighter-knit school community
• The Saint Mary’s College neighborhood appeals to you
• You want slightly larger lots and a more rural feel
• You don’t need daily BART access

Choose Orinda If…

• Miramonte High School’s strong arts/athletics programs are a priority
• You value BART access (like Lafayette, with the shortest commute to SF)
• The Orinda Theatre Square downtown vibe appeals to you
• You want the prestigious Orinda address
• You’re drawn to classic California hillside living

Private School Alternatives

While most Lamorinda families choose public schools (they’re that good), excellent private options exist:

Private school often makes sense for specific situations — a particular learning need, a religious tradition, smaller class sizes, or schedule flexibility (Bentley, for example, runs an unusual K-12 model with a distinct college-prep approach). For typical academic outcomes, the public option in Lamorinda is genuinely competitive with most independent schools in the region.

After-School and Enrichment

Lamorinda’s enrichment ecosystem is unusually deep for a suburb its size:

• Arts — Studios and programs across all three towns (visual art, ceramics, theater, dance); the Lafayette School of Music; Orinda Arts Council programs.
• Music — Private lesson networks built up around generations of teachers; school district programs that compete at state and national levels.
• Sports — LMYA (Lamorinda Moraga Youth Association), Lamorinda Soccer Club, Moraga Baseball Association, swim clubs in each town.
• Academics — Tutoring networks, test-prep, robotics teams, and academic decathlon presences at each high school.
• Outdoors — Scouting, hiking groups, youth equestrian, mountain biking clubs.

For most Lamorinda kids, the after-school schedule is more demanding than the school day itself.

School District Contact Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Lamorinda schools so highly rated? A combination of exceptional parent involvement, locally-funded enrichment, competitive teacher pay, and a stable feeder system that moves cohorts together from elementary through high school. Top-5% statewide performance is the result.

Which Lamorinda high school is the best? Acalanes, Campolindo, and Miramonte all rank in the top 5% of California public high schools. Campolindo often edges the others on raw test scores; Miramonte is known for arts and athletics; Acalanes is the largest with the broadest program range.

How do school boundaries work? Your home address determines your district. Lafayette → Lafayette SD → Acalanes/Las Lomas; Moraga → Moraga SD → Campolindo; Orinda → Orinda Union SD → Miramonte.

Can my child attend without living there? Inter-district transfers are extremely limited at K-8. AUHSD takes a small number of out-of-district transfers but is oversubscribed. The reliable path is residency.

Are there good private schools in Lamorinda? Yes — Bentley, Orinda Academy, Saklan Valley, and several parochial options. But the public system is strong enough that most families don’t need them.

Explore Each District

Ready to dive deeper? Click through to our detailed guides for each district:

• Acalanes Union High School District — Campolindo, Miramonte, Acalanes, and Las Lomas High Schools
• Lafayette School District — Burton Valley, Happy Valley, Lafayette, Springhill Elementary & Stanley Middle
• Moraga School District — Camino Pablo, Donald Rheem, Los Perales Elementary & Joaquin Moraga Intermediate
• Orinda Union School District — Del Rey, Glorietta, Sleepy Hollow, Wagner Ranch Elementary & Orinda Intermediate

Last updated: May 2026