Schools cupertino: Home – Cupertino Union School District

Student Assignment – Cupertino Union School District

For questions/inquiries with Student Assignment, please CLICK HERE. A Student Assignment staff member will reach out to you as soon as we get to your question/inquiry in the queue.

Student Assignment is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. All registrations are being processed remotely from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. If you would like to request an in-person registration, please notify the staff member that emails you at the beginning of the registration process. 

• Requirements

• Student Registration

• Open Enrollment

• Change of Address

• Inter-District Transfer

• School Locator

** New students MUST be residing in the District. The student must be ready and available for assessments that may be necessary. **

**Starting August 1, 2022 – all new students must have a valid negative TB test result or assessment (click here for form) at the time of registration. Registration will not be processed or completed without the results or assessment form. If the student is coming from another school within Santa Clara County, an older TB test result or assessment will be accepted and must be presented at the time of registration.**

** Current CUSD students with a change of address MUST be residing in their new attendance area or residence before change of address and/or school will be made. **

Proof of Residence

New residents MUST be residing in their new address/residence within the CUSD boundaries. If families are still between their previous address and new address, registration will not take place until the new address becomes the primary address. CUSD does not register students who are planning to move within the CUSD boundaries.

One (1) original document is required (copy will be made at the time of registration).

• Homeowner:
  • Current Original Property Tax Bill – with parent/guardian’s name, mailing address and property address.  One may obtain a duplicate of their original property tax bill at the Department of Tax and Collections, 70 W. Hedding Street, East Wing, 6th floor, San Jose, 95110
  • Final Buyer Statement (if purchased within last six [6] months) – with parent/guardian’s name and property address
  • CUSD will not accept a Grant Deed as proof of residence.
  • CUSD will not accept a Property Assessment mailed by the Santa Clara County Assessors Office.
• Renter/Lessee:
  • Printed fully executed lease agreement – includes signatures from both parent/guardian and manager/landlord and Manager/Landlord’s contact information
• Affidavit of residence (family living with another resident):
  • An Affidavit of Parent Residence form must be signed by parent and the primary resident. The form can be obtained by emailing Student Assignment ([email protected]).
  • Primary resident must provide Property Tax Bill or fully executed lease agreement and photo identification
  • Parent must provide two additional forms of identification with current address on it (most recent bank statement, car insurance or registration, or paycheck stub) 

Parent Photo Identification

One (1) original document is required (copy will be made at the time of registration).

• State issued Driver’s License or Identification Card
• Passport

Proof of Age

One (1) original document is required (copy will be made at the time of registration).

Immunization Records

Must be provided by a physician and translated into English.

• 2022 – 2023 Student Enrollment

• 2023 – 2024 STUDENT ENROLLMENT

2022-2023 New Transitional Kindergarten through 8th Grade Student Registration

Kindergarten is available for children turning five years old on or before September 1, 2022

TK is available for children turning five years old between September 2, 2022 and February 2, 2023.  TK is  part of a two-year Kindergarten program.

To complete a registration for the 2022-2023 school year, please follow the steps outlined below (NOTE: students must be here and ready to start within 2-3 days. If your child is not here and ready to start school within 2-3 days, do not submit a request for registration. CUSD does not conduct pre-registrations.):

Step 1: Gather all required documents

• Proof of residence – Current property tax bill if you’re a homeowner, final escrow paperwork from your title company if you recently purchased your new home or a fully executed lease agreement if you rent. (CUSD does not accept grant deeds)

• Parent Photo ID – either a state issued ID/Driver’s license or a passport is accepted

• Child’s birth certificate or passport

• Child’s most up to date immunization records – **Starting August 1, 2022 – all new students must have a valid negative TB test result or assessment (click here for form) at the time of registration. Registration will not be processed or completed without the results or assessment form. If the student is coming from another school within Santa Clara County, an older TB test result or assessment will be accepted and must be presented at the time of registration.**

Step 2: CLICK HERE to complete a Google registration request form

• A Student Assignment staff member will reach out to you with instructions on how to submit your required documents and next steps to complete the registration process once we get to your information in the queue.

• Due to the high volume of requests, it may take up to a week to get a response from our staff. We appreciate your patience. 

Step 3: Document Verification / Registration completion

2022-2023 TK Sites

For questions, please submit a Google Form request and a Student Assignment staff member will reach out to you as soon as they get to your information in the queue. Thank you!

Dates and instructions on how to complete Priority Registration for the 2023-2024 school year will be posted in November/December 2022.

Priority Registration is for NEW Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade students to Cupertino Union School Districts. Students who are currently attending a CUSD school for the 2022-2023 school year do not need to participate in the Priority Registration window. 

Kindergarten is available for children turning five years old on or before September 1, 2023

TK is available for children turning five years old between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024. 

TK is  part of a two-year Kindergarten program.

If you have any additional inquiries, please contact Student Assignment through their inquiry form: CLICK HERE. Due to a high volume of requests being processed at this time, Student Assignment will reach out to you as quickly as possible.  

• 2022 – 2023 Open Enrollment

• 2023 – 2024 OPEN ENROLLMENT

CLICK HERE if you would like to add your child to the current 2022-2023 waitlist for up to two (2) different attendance area school and/or up to two (2) alternative schools/programs. The waitlist will be updated Thursday afternoons with the new submissions each week. 

CLICK HERE for access to the waitlist. (waitlist.cusdk8.org) 

Parents checking living waitlist numbers will need to know their child’s six-digit perm identification number as well as the child’s six-digit birthday (mmddyy).

If your child is on a living waitlist, please know that if a space becomes available for your child, a CUSD staff member will reach out to you by InformedK12 or email.

• Once a family accepts an alternative school placement for their child, the child is removed from all other waitlists and is removed from their current school of attendance.
• If a family accepts a neighborhood attendance area school placement for their child, the child will remain on any alternative school living waitlist the student is on.

If a family declines an offer for their child, their child is removed from that waitlist, but not other living waitlists.

CUSD 2022-2023 Open Enrollment (OE) Waitlist FAQ’s

My child was on the 2021-2022 waitlist.  Did I need to reapply this year?

No. The waitlist is considered a living waitlist and will roll to the next grade level automatically.

Where do I find out my child’s waitlist number?

Visit: https://waitlist.cusdk8.org/

The district updates waitlists weekly on Thursday afternoons.

I applied through an Open Enrollment window, but my child is not on the waitlist. Why not?

There are a variety of reasons your child may not on the waitlist:

• A different attendance area school or alternative school/program was not selected when the OE form was submitted (blank submission)
• The attendance area school selected was the home attendance area school and the submission was removed (this is already your child’s assigned school)
• Incorrect grade level was entered or the school chosen does not offer the grade level selected (for example there are no TK spaces at alternative schools/programs and Faria as well as Murdock-Portal do not have 6th grade classes)
• No tour/parent information meeting (alt school/program only) was attended. If you believe this was an error, please contact the alternative school/program office.
• Your child was already on 2 different attendance area schools and/or 2 alternative schools waitlists and the submission was removed. 

I applied last year and my child is very low on the waitlist.  Can I reapply this year to try for a better lottery number so that my child can move up the waitlist? 

No, you cannot apply again this year.  Duplicate applications will result in your child being removed from the waitlist.

My child is on one or two waitlists for those schools.  May I move my child to the waitlist for another school?

You must contact Student Assignment: [email protected] and request for your child to be removed from the current waitlist they are on. You can then submit an Open Enrollment request again when it re-opens on June 13th.

If my child does not get a spot at the OE school(s) we applied for for the 2022-2023 school year, will my child stay on the waitlist?

Yes, your child will stay on the waitlist until a spot becomes available. You must maintain your primary residence in the District in order to remain on the living waitlist.

My child currently attends a private school.  If we applied to the lottery but were not offered a space for the 2022-2023 school year, can my child continue to attend the private school until a space at the Open Enrollment school becomes available?

Yes, your child will stay on the waitlist until a spot becomes available. You must maintain your primary residence in the District in order to remain on the living waitlist.

Dates and instructions for the 2023-2024 Priority Open Enrollment will be posted in November/December 2022. 

All incoming or matriculating CUSD Transitional Kindergarten* through 8th grade students may apply for up to two alternative schools/programs** and/or up to two attendance area schools other than their home school. Parents will apply via an electronic form on the District website during the Priority Open Enrollment Window.

*TK students cannot apply for any alternative school/program

**Participation in the alternative school/program lottery requires attending a tour/meeting—visit each alternative school’s website to sign up for a tour/meeting! These dates will also be posted in November/December 2022.

The Student Assignment Office can be reached Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at (408) 252-3000 x.61-110. Please note, walk-ins are not taken at this time.  

If your family is currently attending a CUSD school and needs to update an address due to a move, please CLICK HERE to submit your information via the Google form.

Your family must be fully residing within your new residence – we do not update addresses prior to the move.

A Student Assignment staff member will reach out to you once we get to your information in the queue. While you await an email, please prepare your Property Tax Bill or Final Buyers Statement (if purchased within the last six [6] months) if you own your home or your lease agreement if you rent along with a parent photo ID. You will be requested to send that information via PDF once contacted.

What is an Inter-district Transfer?

An inter-district transfer is used when families wish to enroll their student(s) in a school district other than the one assigned to their home address. This applies to students trying to transfer into and out of the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD). All Inter-District requests must be initiated in the District of residence. Inter-District transfers are valid for one year only and must be renewed annually. 

Students Living Within CUSD Boundaries Transferring to Another District

Families who live within the Cupertino Union School District boundaries may request for their student to attend a school outside of the Cupertino Union School District.

Families living with the CUSD boundaries requesting to attend another district must complete THIS FORM. Please note, if the student has an IEP, that must be attached to the Inter District Transfer request form for review.

Students Living Outside of the CUSD Boundaries Transferring into CUSD

Students who live outside of the Cupertino Union School District boundaries have the opportunity to request attendance to an attendance area school within the Cupertino Union School District from their new district of residence.

Families living outside of the CUSD boundaries must follow the process below:

Requirements

If your primary residence is not within the district (and you have no intention of moving within the district), you may submit a copy of your home district’s approved IDT Request form. 

• Provide CUSD with an approved IDT form from your district of residence. The approved IDT is not due prior to applying and is only needed if/when space is offered within CUSD
• The “school requested” question on your approved IDT form may be left blank.
• IDT does not apply to the CUSD Alternative School Programs. 
• Students approved through the IDT process will be required to provide an approved IDT from their district of residence on a yearly basis–before July 1 of the subsequent school year. Failure to meet this timeline will result in a denial of the request.

✓IDT Lottery will be held the first week of June each calendar year.

✓IDT Lottery results will be sent through InformedK12 during the third week of June each calendar year through the email provided on the Google form. We are not be able to provide status of a pending application. 

✓Families may be placed on an active waitlist until adequate space becomes available at a CUSD school site.

✓As adequate space becomes available, CUSD Staff will contact families to offer a space.

• If offered a space or multiple spaces and the family chooses not to accept any spaces offered, and is interested in another school, the family must reapply through the IDT process for specific school choices.

If an Inter-District transfer is denied, the parent/guardian may appeal the district’s denial of a transfer application to the Superintendent by filing a written request of appeal with the Superintendent or designee within 10 working days of the receipt of the written notification of denial. The Superintendent shall notify the parent/guardian of his/her decision on the appeal within 10 working days of receiving the appeal. Parents/guardians may appeal the decision of the Superintendent to the County Board of Education within 30 days of receiving notice of the Superintendent’s decision pursuant to Education Code section 46601. (Education Code 46601)

The Cupertino Union School District reserves the right to deny transfer requests or release students for the following reasons: lack of facilities either district-wide or in a requested school, attendance area or program, scholarship, citizenship, attendance, or behavior.

An approved  IDT may be revoked or rescinded at a later date by CUSD if: 

• there is insufficient classroom space in the requested school and/or grade level;
• there is excessive truancy, tardiness or late pick-ups;
• Students do not have satisfactory attendance, citizenship and/or scholarship; 
• parent/guardian(s) provide false information in making a transfer request.

No student currently residing within a school’s attendance area shall be displaced by another student transferring from outside the attendance area or by a student requesting an IDT.

Board Policy and Regulation 5117 related to the District’s Inter-District Transfer process are found on Board Docs at https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/cusdk8/Board.nsf/vpublic?open.

Top 10 Best Cupertino, CA Public Schools (2022-23)

For the 2022-23 school year, there are 14 public schools serving 13,806 students in Cupertino, CA (there are 6 private schools, serving 586 private students). 96% of all K-12 students in Cupertino, CA are educated in public schools compared to the CA state average of 90%. Cupertino has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in California.

The top ranked public schools in Cupertino, CA are William Faria Elementary School, John F. Kennedy Middle School and L. P. Collins Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school’s combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.

Cupertino, CA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 85% (versus the California public school average of 40%), and reading proficiency score of 85% (versus the 51% statewide average). Schools in Cupertino have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 1% of California public schools.

Minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the California public school average of 78% (majority Hispanic).

Best Cupertino, CA Public Schools (2022-23)

School (Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Grades

Students

Rank: #11.

William Faria Elementary School

Math: 97% | Reading: 95%
Rank:

Top 1%

Add to Compare

10155 Barbara Ln.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-0706

Grades: K-5

| 692 students

Rank: #22.

John F. Kennedy Middle School

Math: 90% | Reading: 89%
Rank:

Top 1%

Add to Compare

821 Bubb Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 253-1525

Grades: 6-8

| 1,050 students

Rank: #33.

L. P. Collins Elementary School

Math: 87% | Reading: 90%
Rank:

Top 1%

Add to Compare

10300 Blaney Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-6002

Grades: K-5

| 593 students

Rank: #44.

William Regnart Elementary School

Math: 88% | Reading: 87%
Rank:

Top 1%

Add to Compare

1170 Yorkshire Dr.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 253-5250

Grades: K-5

| 357 students

Rank: #55.

Monta Vista High School

Math: 89% | Reading: 86%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

21840 Mcclellan Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 366-7600

Grades: 9-12

| 2,032 students

Rank: #6 – 76. – 7.

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School

Math: 88% | Reading: 85%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

21710 Mcclellan Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-4798

Grades: K-5

| 548 students

Rank: #6 – 76. – 7.

Stevens Creek Elementary School

Math: 88% | Reading: 85%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

10300 Ainsworth Dr.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 245-3312

Grades: K-5

| 443 students

Rank: #88.

Sam H. Lawson Middle School

Math: 87% | Reading: 85%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

10401 Vista Dr.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 255-7500

Grades: 6-8

| 1,100 students

Rank: #99.

Garden Gate Elementary School

Math: 90% | Reading: 84%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

10500 Ann Arbor Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-5414

Grades: K-5

| 538 students

Rank: #1010.

C. B. Eaton Elementary School

Math: 88% | Reading: 79%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

20220 Suisun Dr.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 255-2848

Grades: K-5

| 451 students

Rank: #1111.

Cupertino High School

Math: 84% | Reading: 80%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

10100 Finch Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 366-7300

Grades: 9-12

| 2,198 students

Rank: #1212.

Warren E. Hyde Middle School

Math: 77% | Reading: 82%
Rank:

Top 5%

Add to Compare

19325 Bollinger Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-6290

Grades: 6-8

| 906 students

Rank: #1313.

D. J. Sedgwick Elementary School

Math: 78% | Reading: 78%
Rank:

Top 10%

Add to Compare

19200 Phil Ln.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 252-3103

Grades: K-5

| 519 students

Rank: #1414.

Homestead High School

Math: 74% | Reading: 79%
Rank:

Top 10%

Add to Compare

21370 Homestead Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 522-2500

Grades: 9-12

| 2,379 students

[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Cupertino, California

Cupertino, California Public Schools (Closed)

School

Location

Grades

Students

Montebello Elementary School (Closed 2010)

15101 Montebello Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 867-3618

Grades: K-5

| 21 students

October 14, 2022

Prevent Suicide

988 is the suicide and crisis lifeline. Parents, teachers, and students can help prevent suicide once they know the warning signs.

October 13, 2022

Georgia Schools: Atlanta Schools Cheating Scandal

We report on the indictments of 35 Atlanta educators that were found guilty of their participation in the largest public school cheating scandal in U.S. history.

October 13, 2022

Alabama Schools: New Active Shooter Policies

Alabama schools, including those in the large district of Mobile County, will institute new “active shooter” policies in partnership with the Alabama Department of Homeland Security.

California Top Ranked Public Schools

Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?

Class Size: State Regulation of Class Size

How Diet and Nutrition Impact a Child's Learning Ability

What are the Benefits of Public School Over Homeschooling?

More Articles

About Public Schools
Opinion
Evaluating Public Schools
Public School Policies
Parenting and Learning Issues

About school in Cupertino: kirulya — LiveJournal

About school in Cupertino: kirulya — LiveJournal

?

Category:

• Education
• Cancel

Yesterday my son told me about the schools in Silicon Valley. For example, one private school in Cupertino has no classes. And there are no transitions from class to class. And there is no homework. What is there? Children are at school until six in the evening, they have time to do everything at school. When they come home, their parents spend time with them not checking classes, but because they want to play together.

There is no division into ages either. Therefore, if I had read “Tom Sawyer” in this school at the age of six, as I read in the first grade in 1967, then I would have sat in the same literary circle with twelve-year-olds. And that was okay.

Children are given tasks that include information from different sciences. The use of YouTube is encouraged: how to find materials and upload your projects.

I asked if these are licensed schools, if there are no subjects and grades, and what about university admission? The son replied that agreements had been reached with universities, according to which students of such schools are considered to have completed the entire school course. After all, the world has changed, and the school as it was at 19th century, and remained so.

Last but not least, this school is run by Coursera, a company that has already revolutionized academic learning.

Tags: children in America

Subscribe

• An eye for an eye

  Please allow for the fact that I am nervous and do not sleep for more than an hour and a half. I write under lock and key. I have a neurosis, I listen to anyone…

• Fire does not burn

  I just watched the video, I was shaking. Yesterday there was a terrible tragedy due to the fact that a crowd of people gathered together. I just saw…

• Holy books

  One day God got angry with people and sent a global epidemic on them. The Israelites, however, had a local line to communicate with heaven, and the chief rabbi…

Photo

• 23 comments

• An eye for an eye

  Please allow for the fact that I am nervous and have not slept for more than an hour and a half. I write under lock and key. I have a neurosis, I listen to anyone…

• Fire does not burn

  I just watched the video, I was shaking. Yesterday there was a terrible tragedy due to the fact that a crowd of people gathered together. I just saw…

• Holy Books

  One day God got angry with people and sent a global epidemic on them. The Israelites, however, had a local line to communicate with heaven, and the chief rabbi…

Cupertino Air Quality Index (AQI) and US Air Pollution

*Translated using machine translation

How polluted is the air in Cupertino?

Air quality in Cupertino, California is generally rated as good by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI). Cupertino occasionally experiences poor air quality due to increased emissions of pollutants (for example, from agricultural activities in the Central Valley) as well as weather events such as temperature inversions. ¹ The most severe cases of air pollution in Cupertino are often associated with smoke from forest fires, causing severe but temporary spikes in pollution levels.

In general, air quality is affected by emissions, weather and geographic location. In Cupertino, these three factors are closely interrelated. Located at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay in the Santa Clara Valley, a region commonly known as Silicon Valley, close to Cupertino San Jose to the east and partly extends into the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west.

Air pollution in the wider Gulf region comes from ports, traffic and industry. These emissions increase air pollution levels throughout the Bay Area, whose overall air quality trends are highly dependent on the geographic basin that characterizes the region. Seasonal fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains can also drift through the valley and cause high levels of PM2.5 in Cupertino and neighboring cities.

Weather in Cupertino can degrade air quality by causing pollutants to accumulate in the atmosphere. When cool sea breezes blowing off the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean meet warmer air blowing over the Santa Cruz Mountains, a temperature inversion can occur. Temperature inversions are an air pollution trapping effect in which colder ground air is trapped under a warmer air layer above, disrupting the normal vertical propagation of air pollution from the lower atmosphere (troposphere) to the higher atmosphere (stratosphere).

The Santa Clara Valley has a Mediterranean climate. The weather in Cupertino is usually warmer than in the northern parts of the valley towards San Francisco and Oakland, especially in late summer. and fall as high-pressure systems in the American Southwest reduce the concentration of fog that normally cools California’s coastline year-round. ² This effect can cause Cupertino to experience more ozone events than other Bay Area cities because heat (especially above 84°F) is needed to form ozone, and higher temperatures accelerate ozone formation.

In 2020, Cupertino had an average annual concentration of PM2.5 of 9.4 µg/m ^³ , meeting the US federal target of < 12 µg/m ³ , as well as the more stringent World Health Organization (WHO) target < 10 µg/m ³ . However, the city exceeded the US and WHO annual PM2.5 target in August, September and October 2020 when PM2.5 reached “moderate” levels with concentrations of 20.9 µg/m ^³ , 27 µg/m ^³ and 15.7 µg/m ^³ (respectively) mainly as a result of the record-breaking Northern California wildfires.

In the global rankings, Cupertino was ranked the 2880th most polluted city in the world and the 382nd most polluted city in California in 2020.

While Cupertino’s average annual air quality is “good”, spikes in short-term air pollution can sometimes cause the major city of San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland to reach unhealthy levels. ³ According to the American Lung Association’s 2020 State of the Air Report, this municipal area was ranked 8th in the United States for ozone pollution and 3rd for short-term (24-hour) particulate matter pollution.

Check the real-time pollution levels in Cupertino at the top of this page. When pollution levels are shown in green (“good”), air quality is generally considered healthy to breathe. When air quality levels exceed this standard, follow recommended health tips to reduce the risk of environmental pollution.

Has air quality improved in Cupertino?

Over the past two decades, measures of ground-level ozone and annual PM2.5 in Cupertino have steadily improved, while short-term PM2.5 pollution has worsened.

Ozone

Ground-level ozone (O ₃ ) is a highly corrosive gas pollutant common during the summer months. Precursor pollutants (NO ₂ and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs), mainly produced by motor vehicles, must be present in the air for ozone to form, and their temperature must exceed 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Since warmer temperatures accelerate ozone formation, ozone peaks are often reached on the hottest summer days. Inhaling ozone can cause chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, and permanently damage the lungs.

Over the past two decades, the frequency of ozone events in Santa Clara County has dropped dramatically. Santa Clara County had 44 fewer high ozone days in 2020 than it did in 1996.

PM2.5

PM2.5, or fine particulate matter, is one of the most dangerous air pollutants measured. PM2.5 particles are almost microscopic and, when inhaled, can penetrate deep into the lungs, sometimes penetrating through lung tissue into the bloodstream. Inhaling PM2.5 can also lead to heart and respiratory health problems, as well as an increased risk of premature death.

PM2.5 pollution is often assessed on a short term (24 hour) and long term (annual) basis. While Cupertino has seen an improvement in annual PM2.5 concentrations, which have declined by 3.5 µg/m ³ since 2000, there were 5.9 more days of elevated 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations in 2020 than in 2000 year.

The increase in unhealthy PM2.5 pollution days in Cupertino since 2000 is mainly due to more frequent and intense wildfires in California, which cause temporary spikes in wildfire smoke. This trend is associated with human activities and climate warming.

Where does Cupertino air pollution come from?

Air pollution in Cupertino is largely anthropogenic, that is, caused by human activities. Sources of air pollutant emissions caused by human activities include: ⁵

• foundries
• factory
• refineries
• gas stations
• vehicles
• trains
• sea vessels
• agricultural and construction machinery

Cupertino residents often express concern about air pollutants emitted by a cement plant outside the city’s jurisdiction and city limits. ^6.7 The cement plant is located in the hills west of Cupertino. is located near residential areas near Foothill Boulevard and Stevens Creek Canyon Road and is a source of significant air pollution from industrial processes and heavy vehicle traffic, endangering the health of local residents and vulnerable people, such as children, in neighboring homes.

One of the largest sources of air pollution in Santa Clara County is vehicle emissions. 50 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Santa Clara Valley come from motor vehicles. ⁸ Significant pollutants emitted by vehicles include nitrogen oxides (NO ₂ ), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ). Nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds can combine through chemical reactions to form ground-level ozone or smog during periods of high temperatures.

A 2020 study in Applied Geography found that 14% of schools in Santa Clara County may be exposed to roadside air pollution, higher than the national average. ⁹

Vehicle use and related emissions have increased due to the dramatic population growth in Silicon Valley and the Santa Clara Valley since the late 1970s. Several large US technology companies headquartered in major Silicon Valley cities, including Menlo Park (Facebook), Mountain View (Alphabet/Google), and Cupertino (Apple), are partly responsible for this increase in vehicle traffic and emissions. ¹⁰

Have the fires affected the air quality in Cupertino?

Wildfires, although a temporary source of emissions, often affect air quality in Cupertino and the Bay Area. Later in the summer and fall of 2020, a historic wildfire season raised Cupertino’s air pollution levels to “unhealthy” and worse, which similarly affected much of northern California – during that year, Northern California cities often ranked among the ten most polluted cities in the world. . ¹¹

The most significant wildfires that season were associated with thunderstorms that started large wildfires east and west of the coastal mountains near Cupertino, forcing them to evacuate.

During the fire season, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) frequently issues “Spare the Air” warnings. During “Get Air” warnings, burning wood and fuel is prohibited, both indoors and outdoors. In 2020, Santa Clara County had a Spare the Air alert for most of August as fires raged and air quality in Cupertino remained poor for most of the month (and the next month). ¹²

What is Cupertino doing to improve air quality?

The City of Cupertino contributes to improving the region’s air quality and also preserves the environment through the combined efforts of legislators and the community, including: can breathe cleaner air and reduce regional air pollution.

The City is considering adopting a more comprehensive policy to reduce secondhand smoke as a source of indoor air pollution. Secondhand smoke can contain over 7,000 chemicals, including ammonia and carbon monoxide. Rules currently pending include no smoking in apartment buildings, entryways, public events, service areas, and open work areas. ¹⁴

Cupertino recently adopted a climate change action plan that includes emission reduction targets for 2035 and 2050, implementation plans and performance monitoring. ¹⁵ Reduction targets will be based on wide-ranging community-wide measures and reductions in emissions from utilities. In addition, a chapter of the plan is dedicated to helping businesses, households and organizations in the community work together to meet emission reduction targets.

Apple Inc., the city’s largest employer, has built a new campus that can run entirely on green energy, namely solar panels. ¹⁷ The ring building is designed to maintain healthy indoor air quality. at low energy costs by creating a ventilation system that naturally ventilates the incoming and outgoing air flows throughout the building to avoid the use of air conditioning.

Santa Clara County is also a member of the County Climate Coalition, a group of 32 counties in California that uses strategies to:

• expand its renewable energy portfolio
• promote alternative energy suppliers
• divert waste
• encourage the introduction of environmentally friendly vehicles.

Santa Clara County has an Office of Sustainability and a Sustainability Master Plan that prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, many of which act as local air pollutants (methane, nitrogen oxides, and ozone). The District’s manufacturing facilities, facilities, vehicles, and equipment are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below 2010 levels by reducing 13.5% every five years from 2020 to 2050. ¹⁸

+ Article Resources

[1] Schena S. (2015, February 2) Wood burning illegal in Cupertino on Tuesday. Patch.
[2] Pacific Energy Center. (2006). The Pacific Energy Center’s Guide to California climate zones.
[3] American Lung Association. (2020). State of the Air.
[4] Fuskek M. (2017, June 21). ‘Unhealthy’ air quality forecast in Cupertino, Santa Clara Valley. Patch.
[5] Bay Area Air Quality Management District. (2018). Air pollution and community health.
[6] Bay Area Air Quality Management District. (2015). Cupertino.
[7] Supervisor Joe Simitian District 5. (2021) Lehigh Cement and Permanente Quarry information.
[8] City of Cupertino. (2020). transport alternatives.
[9] Stewart I. (2020). Disparate air quality impacts from roadway emissions on schools in Santa Clara County (CA). Applied Geography. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2020.102354 Applied Geography.
[10] Downey R. (2020, July 10). Largest Silicon Valley employers. Silicon Valley Business Journal.
[11] Cupertino Today. (2020, August 19). Fires erupt in coast mountains leading to poor air quality in West Valley.
[12] Cupertino Today. (2021, March 5). Major fires to east, west, and north threaten thousands.
[13] City of Cupertino. (2020). Green for residents.
[14] City of Cupertino. (2020). smoking policies.
[15] City of Cupertino. (2015). climate action plan.
[16] Bay Area Air Quality Management District. (2014). Bay Area Air Quality Management District summary and analysis of Cupertino air monitoring results.