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Cupertino Union School District
Address
1309 South Mary Avenue Sunnyvale , California , 94087 United States
District information
Grades	K–8 [1]
Superintendent	Stacy Yao
Schools	17 elementary (K-5) schools, 5 middle (6-8) schools, and 1 K-8 school [2]
Budget	~$259,000,000 annually [3]
NCES District ID	0610290 [1]
Students and staff
Students	13,587 (2024–2025) [1]
Teachers	616.61 (FTE) [1]
Staff	704.97 (FTE) [1]
Student–teacher ratio	22.03:1 [1]
Other information
Website	www.cusdk8.org

The Cupertino Union School District (abbreviated as CUSD) is a school district in Santa Clara County, California. CUSD's jurisdiction covers the communities of Cupertino, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Los Altos. CUSD operates seventeen elementary schools (K-5) and five middle schools (6-8), and one (K-8) school. It is a feeder for the Fremont Union High School District. ^[2]

Contents

• History
• Governance
• Awards and Recognitions
• Notable Events
• Schools
• Elementary schools (K-5)
• Middle schools (6-8)
• Alternative program schools
• Closed schools
• Transportation
• See also
• References
• External links

History

The Cupertino Union School District traces its roots back to 1917, when the four original one-room school districts in Cupertino—San Antonio, Lincoln, Doyle, and Collins—consolidated to form a unified district. ^[4] The earliest school building associated with the area, however, dates to 1867, reflecting the community’s long-standing commitment to education. ^[5]

During the first half of the 20th century, CUSD grew steadily alongside Cupertino’s transition from a rural orchard region to a suburban community. The post-World War II housing boom and the incorporation of Cupertino in 1955 spurred significant population growth, leading to the rapid expansion of elementary schools and the eventual addition of middle schools to serve the increasing number of families in the area. ^[6]

Over time, the district expanded its jurisdiction beyond Cupertino to include portions of Sunnyvale, San Jose, Saratoga, Los Altos, and Santa Clara. By the early 21st century, CUSD had become one of the largest elementary school districts in California, reflecting both the area’s demographic shifts and its reputation for academic excellence. ^[7]

Governance

The Cupertino Union School District is governed by a five-member elected Board of Education, which sets policy, approves the budget, and hires and evaluates the superintendent. Trustees are elected at-large to four-year, staggered terms in general elections. ^[8]

The Board members include:

• Jerry Liu – Board President
• Satheesh Madhathil – Board Vice President
• Sylvia Leong – Board Clerk
• Ava Chiao – Board Member
• Long Jiao – Board Member ^[9]

The Board annually elects its officers - president, vice president, and clerk - who preside over meetings and drive governance. Meetings occur twice monthly and are open to the public in adherence with California’s Brown Act. Members of the public may participate during designated public comment periods. ^[10]

The superintendent, as the district’s chief executive, implements Board policy and oversees daily operations, supported by a cabinet including leadership in educational services, business services, human resources, and other operational areas. ^[11]

CUSD also includes advisory bodies such as the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education and the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), offering targeted input on programs for specific student populations. ^[12]

Awards and Recognitions

• In 2023, fourteen Cupertino Union School District elementary schools were recognized as California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education. ^{[13] [14]}

• In 2024, Joaquin Miller Middle School was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education; it was one of three schools in Santa Clara County to earn the award that year. ^{[15] [16]}

• Also in 2024, Kennedy Middle School won the Science Olympiad National Tournament (Division B) for the second consecutive year (“back-to-back” champions). ^{[17] [18]}

Notable Events

Superintendent’s Award

The Superintendent’s Award is a recognition program created by CUSD in 2022 to honor students and staff who exemplify the district’s “Portrait of a Learner” competencies. Students may be recognized as Effective Communicators (clear expression, active listening, audience awareness) or Inclusive Collaborators (empathy, respect, teamwork). Staff honorees are acknowledged for passion, loyalty, commitment, and ownership of their work. ^[19]

State of the District

Beginning in the 2021–22 school year, CUSD has hosted an annual State of the District event to update the community on district priorities, finances, student achievement, and strategic goals. ^{[20] [21] [22] [23]}

Key highlights from these reports include:

2021–22: Launched “Portrait of a Learner” as a districtwide framework; outlined early post-pandemic recovery and social–emotional learning supports.

2022–23: Presented balanced budget projections and student achievement data; emphasized expanding dual-language and STEM programs.

2023–24: Reported progress on literacy and math interventions, facility upgrades, and professional development for teachers.

2024–25: Focused on fiscal sustainability, enrollment trends, and implementation of updated instructional materials.

Schools

Colloquial names of schools are in bold.

Transportation

CUSD currently operates a bus fleet with some Blue Bird All American RE Diesels (2006 A3 and 2013 D3) along with loads of Ford minibuses. Historically, they used to have some Gillig Transit Coach school buses.

See also

• Williams v. Vidmar

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cupertino Union School District .

• Official website
• OnPass referencing CUSD closures planning 1970-1980