Elementary Schools in Petaluma, California: Petaluma schools average 4.8 points above the state — but the range is 54.7 points wide.

Near Average2024–25 data18 schools · avg 48.6/100

Petaluma, California has 18 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 48.6/100 — 4.8 points above the state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Liberty Elementary at 73/100, where 41.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Petaluma schools average 24.3% exceeded standard (state: 21.6%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Of 18 schools, 2 High Ceiling stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.9% (below the state average of 18.1%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score

48.6

State avg: 43.8

SchoolScope composite

Score Range

54.7

18.4 – 73.1

Avg Exceeded %

24.3%

State avg: 21.6%

CDE CAASPP 2025

Chronic Absenteeism

12.9%

State avg: 18.1%

CDE Attendance 2025

Schools Ranked

With Scope Scores

Level	Schools	Avg Score	Exceeded	vs State
Elementary	18	Developing 48.6/100	24.3%	+4.8
High	3	Developing 46.4/100	15.1%	-1.1
Middle	1	Solid 50.9/100	21.9%	+10.5

How Petaluma schools compare

Petaluma has 18 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 48.6/100 — 4.8 points above the state average of 43.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Liberty Elementary with a Scope Score of 73 and 41.6% of students exceeding standard.

Chronic absenteeism in Petaluma averages 12.9% — below the state average of 18.1%.

How we score · Exceeded 40% · Met+Exceeded 22% · Growth 15% · Absenteeism 10% · Suspension 5% · ELPAC 5% · Baseline 3%

School archetypes in Petaluma

5 Culture First3 Strong All-Around2 High Ceiling8 Building Momentum

Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more

For the data nerds

Every school in Petaluma

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

#	School	Exceeded	Score
1	Liberty Elementary Liberty Elementary Strong All-Around	41.6%	Strong 73/100
2	Sonoma Mountain Elementary Old Adobe Union High Ceiling	50.7%	Strong 72/100
3	Meadow Elementary Waugh Elementary High Ceiling	50.4%	Strong 71/100
4	Dunham Charter Dunham Elementary Strong All-Around	36.4%	Solid 61/100
5	Grant Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Strong All-Around	42.9%	Solid 61/100
6	Casa Grande High Petaluma Joint Union High Strong All-Around	22.0%	Solid 59/100
7	Petaluma High Petaluma Joint Union High Building Momentum	23.3%	Solid 59/100
8	Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley Petaluma Joint Union High Building Momentum	25.3%	Solid 57/100
9	Corona Creek Elementary Waugh Elementary Building Momentum	26.6%	Solid 53/100
10	Two Rock Elementary Two Rock Union Culture First	19.9%	Solid 50/100
11	Old Adobe Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union Culture First	24.4%	Developing 49/100
12	Wilson Elementary Wilmar Union Elementary Culture First	22.5%	Developing 48/100
13	Loma Vista Immersion Academy Old Adobe Union Culture First	18.1%	Developing 47/100
14	McNear Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Culture First	24.4%	Developing 45/100
15	La Tercera Elementary Old Adobe Union Building Momentum	16.6%	Developing 42/100
16	McKinley Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Building Momentum	16.9%	Developing 39/100
17	McDowell Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Building Momentum	4.7%	Developing 31/100
18	Miwok Valley Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union Building Momentum	6.4%	Needs Support 30/100
19	Cinnabar Charter Cinnabar Elementary Building Momentum	8.7%	Needs Support 26/100
20	San Antonio High (Continuation) Petaluma Joint Union High Building Momentum	0.0%	Needs Support 22/100
21	Valley Vista Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Building Momentum	1.7%	Needs Support 18/100

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 21 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

Private Schools in Petaluma

Private schools don't participate in California's standardized testing (CAASPP) and cannot be scored or ranked. Showing enrollment, student-teacher ratio, and affiliation where available.

St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School

Roman Catholic · Grades Pre-K-8 · 181 students

18:1Private

St. Vincent de Paul High School

Roman Catholic · Grades 9-12 · 168 students

10:1Private

Harvest Christian School

Presbyterian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 139 students

12:1Private

The Spring Hill School

Nonsectarian · Grades Pre-K-8 · 125 students

3:1Private

Cypress Primary School

Nonsectarian · Grades N · 75 students

8:1Private

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Petaluma

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how school zones and enrollment boundaries affect access. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Are the schools in Petaluma good?

Petaluma's 18 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 48.6/100, which is 4.8 points above the state average. 24.3% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.6%). The Scope Score weights seven dimensions: exceeded standard (40%), met standard (22%), grade-level growth (15%), chronic absenteeism (10%), ELPAC proficiency (5%), suspension rate (5%), and baseline proficiency (3%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

What is the best elementary school in Petaluma?

The highest-scoring elementary school in Petaluma is Liberty Elementary with a Scope Score of 73/100 and 41.6% of students exceeding the state standard. Rankings are based on SchoolScope's 2025 Scope Score, which measures academic performance and school climate using publicly available California data. See full methodology.

How do Petaluma schools compare to the state average?

Petaluma elementary schools average a Scope Score of 48.6/100 — 4.8 points above the state average of 43.8. The exceeded rate averages 24.3% vs. 21.6% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.9% vs. 18.1% statewide.

How many schools are in Petaluma?

Petaluma has 18 ranked elementary schools with Scope Scores. Schools are ranked using a weighted composite of CAASPP test performance, growth trajectory, chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Schools with insufficient testing data are not ranked.

What does the Scope Score measure?

The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade 3–5 growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score separates students who "exceeded" from those who "met" the standard — revealing whether a school pushes students beyond proficiency or paces toward it. Full methodology and weights.

All California Schools Top Schools in Petaluma Liberty Elementary Old Adobe Union Waugh Elementary Dunham Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Petaluma Joint Union High Two Rock Union Wilmar Union Elementary Cinnabar Elementary Zip 94952 Zip 94954

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