If you’re searching for a home in Cerritos because you want your children to attend schools within ABC Unified School District (ABCUSD), you’re not alone. It’s a question I hear frequently from homebuyers searching in Cerritos and the surrounding communities.
But here’s something many buyers don’t realize:
You don’t necessarily have to live in Cerritos to live within ABC Unified School District.
ABC Unified School District serves Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens, along with portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Norwalk.
That means expanding your home search beyond Cerritos could give you additional neighborhoods, home styles and price points to consider while still searching within ABCUSD boundaries.
The key is knowing where to look—and verifying the school assignment for every individual property before you buy.
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Because city boundaries and school boundaries don’t always line up, buyers should check every address individually. Here’s how to verify whether a specific home is in ABC Unified School District before you buy.
Cerritos is often one of the first cities buyers consider when they begin searching for a home within ABC Unified School District.
The city offers established residential neighborhoods, parks, shopping, restaurants and convenient access to several major Southern California freeways. Many of the schools commonly associated with ABCUSD are also located in Cerritos.
As a result, buyers sometimes assume that living within ABC Unified means they have to purchase a home in Cerritos.
They don’t.
ABCUSD boundaries extend into several neighboring communities, giving buyers more places to consider.
This can be especially helpful when available Cerritos inventory doesn’t match your budget, preferred home size or other priorities.
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Yes.
ABC Unified School District serves:
For a complete overview of the district’s service area, see our guide to the cities and communities served by ABC Unified School District.
For a homebuyer, the most important thing to understand is that school district boundaries do not necessarily follow city boundaries.
While Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens are communities served by ABCUSD, only portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Norwalk fall within the district.
Therefore, you should never assume a property belongs to ABC Unified School District based solely on its city, ZIP code or proximity to another ABCUSD property.
Always verify the individual address.
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If your original home search included only Cerritos, expanding into neighboring ABC Unified communities could provide additional options.
Located immediately next to Cerritos, Artesia is one of the first communities buyers may want to add to an ABCUSD home search.
The city offers a mix of single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes and provides convenient access to many of the same shopping, dining and transportation options found around Cerritos.
For buyers who like the Cerritos area but haven’t found the right property, Artesia can be an important community to consider.
Hawaiian Gardens is another community served by ABC Unified School District.
Because it is smaller than surrounding cities, buyers sometimes overlook Hawaiian Gardens when searching for homes in the district.
Depending on available inventory and your particular needs, adding Hawaiian Gardens to your search may uncover additional opportunities.
Certain portions of Norwalk fall within ABC Unified School District, but not all Norwalk homes are in ABCUSD.
That distinction is particularly important.
Buyers may find different home styles, neighborhood characteristics and price points in Norwalk, making qualifying areas worth exploring when Cerritos inventory is limited.
However, every address should be verified individually.
Portions of Lakewood are also located within ABC Unified School District.
Lakewood is known for its established residential neighborhoods and wide variety of single-family homes. For buyers searching for particular lot sizes, floor plans or neighborhood characteristics, qualifying Lakewood properties may provide additional choices.
Again, not all of Lakewood is within ABCUSD, so checking the individual address is essential.
Certain Long Beach addresses also fall within ABC Unified School District.
Because Long Beach is a large city served by multiple school districts, buyers need to pay particularly close attention to school boundaries.
A Long Beach mailing address alone does not tell you which school district serves the property.
Verify the home through ABCUSD before relying on its school assignment.
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One of the most common misconceptions among homebuyers is that city limits and school district boundaries are the same.
They aren’t.
School districts have their own geographic boundaries, which can cross city lines.
That means a property in Norwalk, Lakewood or Long Beach could potentially fall within ABC Unified School District even though it doesn’t have a Cerritos address.
It also means two homes relatively close to each other may not necessarily have the same assigned schools.
For buyers who consider ABCUSD a priority, this makes address-by-address research an important part of the home search.
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The best place to start is the official ABC Unified School District School Search tool.
Enter the property’s home address to see the schools associated with that location.
Official ABC Unified School District School Search:
https://www.abcusd.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1185677&type=d&pREC_ID=1444428
ABCUSD’s School Search tool reflects current district attendance information and should be checked for each property you are considering.
Because attendance boundaries can change over time, buyers should confirm a property’s school assignment directly with ABC Unified School District before purchasing a home.
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Real estate websites often display nearby schools or estimated school assignments on property listings.
While that information can be useful when initially researching a home, it should not be your final source for determining which schools a child would attend.
Third-party websites may contain outdated information, and a nearby school isn’t necessarily the school assigned to that property’s address.
If attending ABC Unified School District is important to your homebuying decision, verify the address directly through ABCUSD.
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Limiting a home search to one city naturally limits the number of properties available to you.
Expanding your search beyond Cerritos while remaining within ABC Unified School District may give you:
This doesn’t mean one community is better than another.
It simply means you have more information—and potentially more choices.
For some buyers, Cerritos will still be the best fit. For others, the right home may be a few minutes away in Artesia or in a qualifying area of Norwalk, Lakewood or Long Beach.
Price is often another reason buyers broaden their search. If you’re comparing Cerritos with surrounding communities, our Cost of Living in Cerritos guide can help put housing expenses and affordability into perspective.
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If living within ABCUSD boundaries is one of your priorities, consider approaching your home search a little differently.
Instead of telling your real estate agent, “I only want Cerritos,” explain that your actual priority is finding a home within ABC Unified School District.
That distinction may significantly expand the properties available to you.
Never assume that a property is within ABCUSD because another home nearby is.
Verify every individual address using the district’s official School Search.
Consider the entire home—not just the city name.
Compare price, location, lot size, floor plan, condition, commute, neighborhood and other factors that matter to your household.
When a particular district or school is an important reason for purchasing a home, confirm the assignment directly with the school district before moving forward.
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Searching for a home within a school district that crosses several city boundaries can be more complicated than simply searching by ZIP code.
A local real estate professional familiar with Cerritos and the surrounding communities can help you broaden your search without losing sight of your priorities.
Your search can take into account factors such as:
A local agent can help identify possibilities, but school assignments should always be confirmed directly with ABC Unified School District.
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No. ABC Unified School District serves Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens, along with portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Norwalk. Buyers should verify every individual property address before purchasing a home based on its school district.
ABC Unified School District serves Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens, as well as portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Norwalk.
Yes. Artesia is one of the communities served by ABC Unified School District.
Yes. Hawaiian Gardens is served by ABC Unified School District.
Some Norwalk addresses are within ABC Unified School District, but not all of Norwalk is served by ABCUSD. Buyers should verify the individual property address.
Some Lakewood addresses are within ABC Unified School District. Because only a portion of Lakewood is served by ABCUSD, each address should be verified individually.
Certain Long Beach addresses fall within ABC Unified School District. Long Beach is served by multiple school districts, so buyers should verify the specific property address.
Use the official ABC Unified School District School Search tool and enter the property’s address:
https://www.abcusd.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1185677&type=d&pREC_ID=1444428
Because attendance boundaries can change, buyers should confirm current school assignments directly with ABCUSD.
Yes. School attendance boundaries and assignments can change over time. Buyers should verify the current school assignment with ABC Unified School District rather than relying only on previous listings or third-party real estate websites.
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Searching within ABC Unified School District doesn’t mean your home search has to begin and end in Cerritos.
Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and qualifying portions of Norwalk, Lakewood and Long Beach can provide additional possibilities for buyers who want to explore homes within ABCUSD boundaries.
Sometimes expanding your search by just a few miles can introduce you to neighborhoods, homes and price points you hadn’t previously considered.
As a local real estate professional familiar with Cerritos and the surrounding southeast Los Angeles County communities, I can help you identify homes that fit your budget, lifestyle, location and home preferences while narrowing your search to properties that appear to be within ABC Unified School District.
We’ll also make sure you know how to verify the property’s current school assignments directly with ABCUSD before making your final decision.
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Cerritos, Artesia, Norwalk, Lakewood, Long Beach, Hawaiian Gardens or another nearby Southern California community, let’s create a home search strategy that helps you explore all of your options with confidence.
Still deciding whether Cerritos itself is the right fit? Take a look at A Local’s Guide to Spending the Perfect Saturday in Cerritos for a more everyday look at the community.
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CHRISTINE ALMARINES
Real Estate Agent | CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
📱 714-476-4637
📧 christine@carealestategroup.com
DRE #01412944
Christine Almarines is a top real estate agent in Buena Park and Cerritos helping homeowners sell in Orange County and Los Angeles County.
If you’re searching for a home in southeast Los Angeles County, you may have come across the ABC Unified School District (ABCUSD). One of the most common questions homebuyers ask is:
What cities are in the ABC Unified School District?
The answer may give you more homebuying options than you expected.
ABC Unified School District serves Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens, along with portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Norwalk. Because school district boundaries do not always follow city boundaries, buyers should verify the assigned schools for each individual property before purchasing a home.
While many people associate ABC Unified primarily with Cerritos, you do not necessarily have to buy a home in Cerritos to live within the district.
Whether you’re relocating, buying your first home, moving closer to family, or simply trying to find the right neighborhood, this guide explains which communities are served by ABCUSD, why school boundaries matter, and how to verify the schools assigned to a particular address.
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ABC Unified School District serves communities in southeast Los Angeles County and offers a variety of educational programs for local students.
The district provides opportunities in areas such as college and career readiness, STEM education, performing arts, athletics and other academic and extracurricular programs.
For many families searching for homes in Cerritos and the surrounding communities, access to ABC Unified schools becomes an important part of the homebuying decision.
However, buyers should remember that simply purchasing a home within a certain city does not automatically mean the property is located within ABCUSD.
The property’s specific address matters.
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ABC Unified School District serves:
This distinction is important because school district boundaries and city boundaries are not always the same.
For example, one home in Norwalk may fall within ABC Unified School District while another Norwalk home may belong to a different school district.
The same can be true in Lakewood and Long Beach.
That is why buyers should never rely solely on the city name, ZIP code, real estate listing or information from a third-party website when determining school assignments.
Always verify the specific property address.
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No.
Although Cerritos is strongly associated with ABC Unified School District, homes in several neighboring communities also fall within ABCUSD boundaries.
This can be especially helpful for buyers who want to expand their home search beyond Cerritos.
Depending on available inventory, budget, home size, neighborhood preferences and current market conditions, buyers may find additional opportunities in Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens or qualifying portions of Norwalk, Lakewood and Long Beach.
If Cerritos isn’t the only community you’re considering, you may also want to read Can You Live Outside Cerritos and Still Attend ABC Unified School District?, where we take a closer look at the additional communities buyers can explore.
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Cerritos continues to attract buyers looking for an established community, convenient location and access to ABC Unified School District.
If you’re specifically considering Cerritos, you can also explore our guide to why buyers consider Cerritos when searching within ABC Unified School District, including local parks, amenities and community resources.
However, your home search does not necessarily need to stop at the Cerritos city limits.
Expanding your search into other ABCUSD communities may provide additional housing choices.
Artesia is located directly adjacent to Cerritos and offers a variety of housing options, including single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes.
Homes in Artesia can be worth considering for buyers who want to remain close to Cerritos while also searching within ABC Unified School District.
As with any property, buyers should verify the assigned schools for the specific address.
Hawaiian Gardens is another community served by ABC Unified School District.
Because it is smaller than many surrounding cities, buyers sometimes overlook it when beginning their home search.
Depending on inventory and your housing needs, Hawaiian Gardens may provide another option for buyers who want to remain within ABCUSD.
Portions of Norwalk fall within ABC Unified School District, but not every Norwalk home is within ABCUSD.
That makes address verification particularly important.
Depending on the neighborhood and current housing market, buyers may find different price points, lot sizes and home styles than they might find in Cerritos.
Portions of Lakewood are also served by ABC Unified School District.
Lakewood offers a wide variety of residential neighborhoods and home styles, making it another community worth considering when expanding an ABCUSD home search.
However, only certain addresses fall within the district, so buyers should confirm the school assignment for each property.
Certain Long Beach addresses are located within ABC Unified School District boundaries.
Because Long Beach is a large city served by multiple school districts, buyers should be especially careful about assuming which school district serves a particular home.
Always verify the address before making a purchase decision based on school attendance.
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One of the biggest mistakes homebuyers can make is assuming that every property within a city belongs to the same school district.
The best place to start is the official ABC Unified School District School Search tool.
Enter the property’s address to view the schools associated with that location:
ABC Unified School District School Search:
https://www.abcusd.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1185677&type=d&pREC_ID=1444428
Because attendance boundaries can change, buyers should verify school information directly with the school district before purchasing a home.
It is also a good idea to confirm school assignments again during your homebuying process rather than relying only on information shown in a real estate listing.
Once you’ve identified a community, the next step is checking the individual property. Our guide to how to verify if a home is in ABC Unified School District before you buy walks through that process step by step.
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For many homebuyers, schools are one of several important factors when deciding where to live.
A buyer may love a particular house, neighborhood or city but later discover that the property is not assigned to the school or school district they expected.
That is why school boundaries should be researched before submitting an offer, especially when a particular school or district is a priority.
School boundaries can also affect the way buyers compare homes in neighboring communities.
For example, a buyer initially searching exclusively in Cerritos may discover that an Artesia property or a qualifying home in Norwalk, Lakewood or Long Beach better matches their desired home size, location or budget while remaining within ABC Unified School District.
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Many real estate websites display nearby schools or estimated school assignments alongside property listings.
These tools can be useful for initial research, but they should not be treated as the final authority.
A website may show schools that are geographically close to a property without confirming that the property is actually assigned to those schools.
School information may also become outdated when attendance boundaries change.
When ABC Unified School District is an important part of your home search, verify the property’s address directly through ABCUSD.
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Searching for a home within a specific school district can become complicated when district boundaries cross multiple cities.
A knowledgeable local real estate professional can help you narrow your search based on:
Your real estate agent can also help identify homes in neighboring communities that you may not have considered when beginning your search.
However, buyers should always make the final school-assignment verification directly with ABC Unified School District.
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ABC Unified School District serves Artesia, Cerritos and Hawaiian Gardens, as well as portions of Lakewood, Long Beach and Norwalk.
No. Homes located in several neighboring communities are also served by ABC Unified School District.
Yes. Artesia is one of the communities served by ABC Unified School District.
Yes. Hawaiian Gardens is served by ABC Unified School District.
No. Only certain portions of Norwalk are located within ABC Unified School District. Buyers should verify each property’s address individually.
No. Only portions of Lakewood fall within ABC Unified School District boundaries.
No. Only certain Long Beach addresses fall within ABC Unified School District. Long Beach is served by multiple school districts, so individual addresses should always be verified.
Use the official ABC Unified School District School Search tool and enter the property’s address:
https://www.abcusd.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1185677&type=d&pREC_ID=1444428
Because attendance boundaries can change, confirm school assignments directly with ABCUSD before purchasing a home.
Yes. School attendance boundaries and assignments can change over time. That is another reason buyers should verify the current information directly with the school district rather than relying exclusively on older listings or third-party websites.
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If you’re searching for homes within ABC Unified School District, don’t automatically limit your home search to Cerritos.
Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and qualifying portions of Norwalk, Lakewood and Long Beach may provide additional opportunities while keeping your home search within ABCUSD boundaries.
Expanding your search can sometimes uncover different home styles, lot sizes, neighborhoods and price points that may better fit what you’re looking for.
As a local real estate professional familiar with Cerritos and the surrounding southeast Los Angeles County communities, I can help you identify homes that match your budget, lifestyle and location preferences while helping you narrow your search to properties that appear to fall within ABC Unified School District.
Before moving forward with a property based on its schools, we can also make sure you know where to verify the home’s current school assignments directly with ABCUSD.
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Cerritos, Artesia, Norwalk, Lakewood, Long Beach, Hawaiian Gardens or another nearby Southern California community, let’s create a home search strategy that gives you the information you need to move forward with confidence.
Ready to explore actual properties? Our Cerritos homes and neighborhood guide can help you compare available homes, locations and neighborhoods throughout the city.
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CHRISTINE ALMARINES
Real Estate Agent | CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
📱 714-476-4637
📧 christine@carealestategroup.com
DRE #01412944
Christine Almarines is a top real estate agent in Buena Park and Cerritos helping homeowners sell in Orange County and Los Angeles County.
Your water heater works every day behind the scenes, providing hot showers, clean dishes, and warm water for laundry. Like any hardworking appliance, it performs best with regular maintenance.
One of the most important—and often overlooked—maintenance tasks is draining your water heater once a year. Flushing the tank removes built-up sediment and minerals that can reduce efficiency, shorten the unit’s lifespan, and increase your energy bills.
Over time, minerals naturally settle at the bottom of your water heater tank. This sediment creates a barrier between the burner or heating element and the water, forcing the system to work harder.
Routine flushing helps:
If you’re comfortable tackling a basic home maintenance project, here’s the general process:
Turn the cold-water supply back on briefly until the water flowing from the hose runs clear. This helps flush out remaining sediment.
Close the valves, disconnect the hose, allow the tank to refill completely, and then restore power or relight the gas according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If your water heater is older, showing signs of corrosion, leaking, or you’re uncomfortable working with plumbing or gas appliances, hiring a licensed plumber is a smart investment.
Professional water heater flushing typically costs between $75 and $150, making it an affordable way to improve efficiency and potentially extend the life of your system.
A yearly water heater flush is one of the easiest ways to keep your plumbing system running efficiently. Spending a little time—or hiring a professional—can help reduce energy costs, improve performance, and prevent expensive repairs down the road.
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Most homeowners should flush their water heater once a year to remove sediment buildup and maintain efficiency.
Minerals naturally found in water settle to the bottom of the tank over time, especially in areas with hard water.
Yes. Removing sediment allows the water heater to operate more efficiently, which can reduce energy consumption and utility costs.
If you’re unfamiliar with plumbing systems or have a gas water heater, hiring a licensed professional is often the safest option.
Christine Almarines is a top real estate agent in Buena Park and Cerritos helping homeowners sell in Orange County and Los Angeles County.
If you’re thinking about selling and want to know how your home should be positioned in today’s market, I’d be happy to help.
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Christine Almarines
📱 714-476-4637 | DRE #01412944
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