Walnut Creek is a city in Contra Costa County , California , United States, located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, approximately 16 miles (26 km) east of the city of Oakland. With an estimated total population of 70,166, Walnut Creek serves as a hub for its neighboring cities due to its location at the junction of the highways Sacramento and San Jose (I-680) and San Francisco / Oakland (SR-24) and its BART accessibility. Its active downtown neighborhood features 100-year-old buildings and extensive high-end retail establishments, restaurants and entertainment venues.

 

Walnut Creek Elementary School District is a TK-8 elementary school district located in the central Bay Area. The Walnut Creek community is a unique combination of urban, suburban and open space areas. The district is responsible for meeting the educational needs of approximately 3,600 students in six elementary schools and one middle school. The sixth elementary school, the K-8 school, was opened in 2015. In grades TK-5 students learn mainly in self-contained classrooms, while in grades 6-8 students are enrolled in both core and elective classes.

 

The Walnut Creek School District is committed to creating learning experiences that engage, inspire and empower all learners. In partnership with our community, WCSD focuses on creating excellent educational experiences that value students ' diverse academic , social and emotional needs, while at the same time providing an environment that fosters collaboration, courage, curiosity, creativity , innovation, perseverance and passion for learning. WCSD recognizes that the creation of a learning environment for the 21st century includes the following aspects:

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• Facilities that offer accessibility, flexibility, and versatility.

• Educational Technology practices that are infused with academic, social, and emotional goals.

• Relevant curriculum that empowers students with choice and voice.

• Pedagogical practices that nurture and support a diverse population of students.

• Lunchtime experiences that nurture nutritional needs and social connections.

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Their mission to positively engage with the world through discovery, innovation, creativity, leadership and character will continue to lead us in becoming a model of educational excellence.  

 

Walnut Creek School District:

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• Buena Vista Elementary

• Indian Valley Elementary

• Murwood Elementary

• Parkmead Elementary

• Walnut Heights Elementary

• Walnut Creek Intermediate

• Tice Creek School

 

Walnut Creek is home to several private schools including:
 

• Berean Christian High School (Grades: 9–12)

• Contra Costa Christian Schools (Grades: PK–12)[24]

• Garden Gate Montessori School (Grades: PK–K)

• North Creek Academy & Preschool (Grades: PK–8)

• Palmer School (Grades: K–8)

• St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception School (Grades: PK–8)

• The Seven Hills School (Grades: PK–8)

• Springfield Montessori School (Grades: PK–K)

• Walnut Creek Christian Academy (Grades: K–8)

 

The Walnut Creek Library and the Ygnacio Valley Library of the Contra Costa County Library are located at Walnut Creek. The Ygnacio Valley Branch, opened in 1975, is also known as the Thurman G. Casey Memorial Library. Fundraising and other support shall be provided by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation.

On February 26, 2008, the town demolished the Walnut Creek Library, which was built in 1961 at the southern end of Civic Park. Mayor Gwen Regalia hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new library on the same site on 19 May 2008. The new library, designed by Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc., has a surface area of 42,000 square feet (3,900 m2) and an underground garage. The construction was completed in 2010 and the library was officially opened on July 17, 2010.