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Sonoma City Hall (cropped)Photo: Cullen328 · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Sonoma · Sonoma Valley Unified School District

Sonoma’s public schools score below 52% of California districts on tests and graduation

20% of students in Sonoma’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the public school district serving Sonoma, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#527of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
36%
▼ 11 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
20%
▼ 13 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 7 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.0K
▲ 18% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.3
CA 21.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
6
1,961 students on the public path
In brief

Sonoma’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 581 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sonoma’s, its schools beat 33%, lower than their 48% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 20% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $24,963 per student, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is Adele Harrison Middle, then Sonoma Valley High. Enrollment is down 9% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Francis Solano School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Sonoma’s grade

C Test scoresB+ Graduation

B−: better than 48% of California school districts, #527 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 48%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (581)Better than 33%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,685 test results and a graduating class of 315 could put Sonoma anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Sonoma’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,685 in math, 1,685 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Sonoma, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
6–8Adele Harrison MiddleSonoma Valley Unified School DistrictNo scores
9–12Sonoma Valley HighSonoma Valley Unified School DistrictNo scores

Sonoma’s public schools are run by Sonoma Valley Unified School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Sonoma Valley Unified School DistrictGrades K–12 · 8 schools · 3,015 students, down 9% since 2020–21 · 19.3 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$24,963CA $21,206 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 46.7% · 1685 students tested
Math20%
State average 33.1% · 1685 students tested

Sonoma vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Sonoma’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SonomaB−Sonoma Valley Unified

Every school in Sonoma

6 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Sonomaby address
Sassarini Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
281 students22:1Rate it →
Prestwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
275 students18:1Rate it →
Adele Harrison Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
334 students17:1Rate it →
Sonoma Valley High
High · Grades 9–12
1,071 students19:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Creekside High
High · Grades 9–12
Alternative Education
48 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Francis Solano School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
192 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Sonoma’s schools

Are Sonoma’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Sonoma children attend score below 52% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #527 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 33%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sonoma in?

Sonoma Valley Unified School District, which runs grades K–12 and enrolls 3,015 students in 8 schools (2024–25).

Where do Sonoma kids go to high school?

Sonoma Valley High, with 1,071 students.

What is Sonoma’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Sonoma Valley Unified School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Sonoma spend per student?

$24,963 in Sonoma Valley Unified School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sonoma?

Yes: St. Francis Solano School (Catholic, grades K–8, 192 students).

Parents talk

What Sonoma families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sonoma → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.