Valhalla Elementary

Valhalla Elementary School is at 530 Kiki Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, on the city's northern edge near the Martinez border. It covers kindergarten through fifth grade as a non-charter public school in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. With 686 students enrolled, Valhalla is the largest elementary campus in Pleasant Hill. The student-teacher ratio is 28:1, above the district average. Boys account for 53% of the student body and girls 47%. State testing shows 65% of students reached math proficiency and 68% reached reading proficiency — both figures consistently above the district and state averages. Only 14% of students are economically disadvantaged, the lowest concentration of any Pleasant Hill elementary campus. Valhalla is organized around a neighborhood boundary enrollment model, drawing from the residential streets closest to the Kiki Drive campus. Residential properties in this corridor trade near $1.2 million, reflecting the city-wide Pleasant Hill housing market. Ranked #1,098 in California and one of the top three public elementary schools in Pleasant Hill by test scores, Valhalla is a recognized choice among the best elementary schools in California.

Valhalla Elementary heads into 2026 as Pleasant Hill's highest-enrollment elementary school and its top performer by test scores — ranked #1,098 in California out of more than 9,500 elementary schools. Under Principal Theodora Pappas, the school continues to operate with one of the lowest rates of economically disadvantaged students in the district at 14%, and its VPFA remains one of the most active parent organizations on any MDUSD elementary campus.

Q1. Is there a parent-faculty association at Valhalla, and what does it do?

Ans. yes, Valhalla has its own Parent Faculty Association (VPFA), which has a separate website and runs financial and logistical support for the school's programs. It's an unusually active parent organization for an elementary campus, with a dedicated online presence separate from the school's main site.

Q2. Does Valhalla offer before and after school care?

Ans. Yes. Valhalla participates in the MDUSD CARES After School Program and Extended School Year programming. Summer care is also available. For current rates and availability, families should contact the school at (925) 687-1700.

Q3. How does Valhalla perform for different student subgroups?

Ans. Valhalla's overall proficiency rates — 65% math, 68% reading — are strong, but like most schools the performance varies across student groups. With only 14% economically disadvantaged students, the campus serves a relatively affluent population, which is an important factor when comparing test scores to schools like Fair Oaks or Gregory Gardens.

Q4. What STEM or enrichment programs does Valhalla offer?

Ans. The school offers Project Lead The Way curriculum alongside two sports programs. The school's VPFA actively funds additional enrichment activities beyond what the district budget covers, so the program lineup can vary year to year depending on what the parent community supports.

Q5. What is the process for requesting an intradistrict transfer to Valhalla?

Ans. Families living outside Valhalla's attendance zone can apply through MDUSD's intradistrict transfer application, which opens each October. Given Valhalla's high rankings — #1,098 in California — demand for transfers to this school is typically higher than available seats. Applying early in the window and having a backup plan is worth considering.