Cupertino is famous for the quality of its schools, particularly its computer education, as it is the headquarters for Apple, Ducati, NteManage, Packeteer, Symantec, and administrative heaquarters for Borland. The city has about 60 high tech firms, including Hewlett Packard and IBM. Cupertino is jammed with high tech parents and the local newspaper reports that the city is famous in the Far East, particulary Taiwan, for the excellence of its schools. The school districts have introduced language classes for the kids, employed translators to prepare materials for parents; and more information on Asian cultures worked into the curriculum.
Nationally Recognized School District
The Cupertino Union School District, with state and national recognition for the excellence of its schools, serves 16,055 students representing 45 different portions of five other cities in California's Silicon Valley. Our children attend twenty elementary schools and four middle schools. The Fremont Union High School District serves over 9,000 students in a 42 square mile area covering all of Cupertino, most of Sunnyvale and portions of San Jose, Los Altos, Saratoga, and Santa Clara. The five high schools of the District: Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista, have garnered many awards and recognition based on both the acheivement of students and the programs designed to support student acheivement.
Cupertino Union School District runs three "alternate" schools, each with a different approach to education: loose structure, traditional structure, mandatory parent. In the last school, parents agree to work in schools and take a seven week prep course. Of the remaining schools, some accept children from any address in the district, some restrict to the immediate neighborhood. There are also classes for teen parents' and special education students' needs.
Local Colleges
A local community-business foundation raises $500,000 annually for schools. The city is also host to De Anza Community College. The college was founded in 1967 and is 112 acres, including 61 buildings with approx. 116 classrooms, lecture halls, and 43 labs. It is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. De Anza College has approx. 24,000 students and 300 and 635 full-time and part-time staff. De Anza College began construction on a New Student and Community Services Building and parking lot structure in Decemeber of 2003. The Student and Community Services Center will provide an efficient, comfortable, first-contact environment for new and continuing students, community members, and business representatives who want access to De Anza's programs and Services.
Short Commute
Being almost in the heart of Silicon Valley, many Cupertino residents have a short commute. The City is served by Highway 85, Interstate 280 and Lawrence Expressway with a shuttle bus to CalTrain, which travels up the Peninsula to San Francisco. Buses run from Valley Transit Authority.
A farm village for most if its life, Cupertino started in 1950 with fewer than 500 homes and then was swept up in the great suburban boom. About three of every four homes and apartments were built between 1950 and 1980, census data shows. The last census noted that three-bedroom homes were the most popular style, followed closely by four bedroom homes. In the 1980s Cupertino constructed 2,134 residential units, a sharp drop from previous decades and, typical for upper income cities running out of space, found itself becoming more concerned over what should be built on the remaining land. For the older homes, drive through the neighborhoods east of De Anza Boulevard. For the newer, cruise Phar Lap Drive and other neighborhoods west of De Anza. Cupertino rises from flatlands to hills. Hill homes command higher prices. With well-kept lawns and many trees, it is a pleasant looking city in a suburban way.
Shopping and Government
The City has Vallco Fashion Park, which is anchored by Macy's, Sears, and JC Penny. Cupertino Civic Center and City Library are located on Torre Avenue between Rodriguez and McClellan. The new Civic Center Complex is a 6,000 square foot Community Hall, Civic Plaza with a fountain, trees, seating areas, and grass adjacent to a 54,000 square foot two-story library on the site just south of City Hall. The Community Hall will house the Council chambers, as well as accommodate formal dinner meetings, lectures, small performances, and other public and private events. A covered walkway or Arcade connects City Hall with the Community Hall and the Library.
Social Life
Crime rate is low to average for suburban cities. Zero homicides in 1997, 1998, and 1999. One homicide in 2000 and 2001. Zero homicides in 2002. Cupertino offers baseball, gymnastics, and girls softball and over 200 activities, from painting to karate. Soccer draws over 1,000 kids. After-school music program. Shakespeare for the Kids. Thirteen parks, a nature preserve, a winery, a racquet club. Loads of classes and events are offered at De Anza College, which has an art gallery. There are two golf courses, a newly built senior center, community center, sports center, bowling alley, ice skating rink, YMCA, and a city museum. A newly renovated Sports Center opened in January 2004 and includes a new Teen Center.
CUPERTINO FACTS & FIGURES
VOTER REGISTRATION AS OF SEPTEMBER 2004
SANTA CLARA COUNTY EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY
TAXABLE SALES BY CITY & COUNTY
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LABOR FORCE
