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Tuolumne County CourthousePhoto: Karl98007 · CC BY-SA 3.0
B
Schools in Sonora · Sonora Union High School District, Sonora Elementary School District

Sonora’s public schools outscore 62% of California districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Sonora, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 29% of students in Sonora’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

#341of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
49%
▲ 3 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
29%
▼ 4 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
91%
▲ 5 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$18.8K
▼ 11% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Sonora Union High
Students per teacher
21.4
CA 21.6
Schools in town
6
1,523 students on the public path
In brief

Sonora’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 566 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sonora’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 62% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Sonora runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Sonora Elementary (K–8) is Sonora’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Sonora Union High School District: Sonora High. The high school’s own results earn a B+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 29% across both districts in spring 2022, against 47% and 33% statewide; 91% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Sonora Union High spends $18,835 per student and Sonora Elementary $15,232, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

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 Sonora’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 62% of California school districts, #341 of 847 California towns. Graduation is above the California average; test scores are below it.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 62%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (566)Better than 72%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 719 test results and a graduating class of 261 could put Sonora anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Sonora’s students in the tested grades sat them (719 in math, 719 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–8Sonora ElementarySonora Elementary School DistrictB
9–12Sonora HighSonora Union High School DistrictB+

Sonora runs its own schools through grade 8 (Sonora Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Sonora Union High School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Sonora

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

Sonora Union High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 3 schools · 989 students, down 7% since 2021–22 · 22.3 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$18,835CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Sonora Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 1 schools · 643 students, down 8% since 2020–21 · 20.1 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$15,232CA $21,206 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Sonora Union High School District52%
State average 46.7% · 245 students tested
Math · 9–12, Sonora Union High School District21%
State average 33.1% · 245 students tested
Reading · K–8, Sonora Elementary School District48%
State average 46.7% · 474 students tested
Math · K–8, Sonora Elementary School District33%
State average 33.1% · 474 students tested

Sonora vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SonoraBSonora Elementary K–8 · Sonora Union High 9–12

Every school in Sonora

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 Sonoraby address
Sonora Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–8
B
643 students20:1Rate it →
Sonora High
High · Grades 9–12
B+
880 students23:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Dario Cassina High
High · Grades 10–12
D−
Alternative Education
44 students14:1Rate it →
Theodore Bird High
High · Grades 9–12
C−
Alternative Education
65 students22:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Sonorarun by other districts or the state
Tuolumne County Community/ISP
Grades K–12
C−
Alternative Education
27 students8:1Rate it →
Tuolumne County Special Education
Grades K–12
Special Education
42 students7:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Tuolumne County Special Education Preschool).

Questions about Sonora’s schools

Are Sonora’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of California: the public schools Sonora children attend outscore 62% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #341 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sonora in?

Two districts: Sonora Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Sonora Union High School District runs grades 9–12.

Where do Sonora kids go to high school?

Sonora High, with 880 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Sonora’s graduation rate?

91% of the class of 2023 in Sonora Union High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Sonora spend per student?

$18,835 in Sonora Union High School District and $15,232 in Sonora Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Sonora families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sonora → 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.