Elementary Schools in Petaluma, California: Petaluma schools average 4.7 points above the state — but the range is 51.4 points wide.
Petaluma, California has 20 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 43.6/100 — 4.7 points above the state average of 38.9. The highest-scoring school is Sonoma Mountain Elementary at 66/100, where 50.7% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Petaluma schools average 24.8% exceeded standard (state: 21.4%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. Of 20 schools, 1 Growth Engine stand out for their performance profiles. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.4% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
Start with your child’s school level
The overview describes elementary schools. The lists below separate elementary, middle and high schools, so each school’s standing stays within its own comparison group. Open a profile to see the underlying results, student support and questions to ask on a visit.
Every school in Petaluma
ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP · levels never mixed
Elementary Schools (20)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonoma Mountain Elementary Old Adobe Union | 50.7% | 91st percentile · StrongScope Score 66/100 |
| 2 | Liberty Elementary Liberty Elementary | 41.6% | 91st percentile · StrongScope Score 66/100 |
| 3 | Meadow Elementary Waugh Elementary | 50.4% | 91st percentile · StrongScope Score 65/100 |
| 4 | Dunham Charter Dunham Elementary | 36.4% | 85th percentile · StrongScope Score 58/100 |
| 5 | River Montessori Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union | 35.7% | 83rd percentile · StrongScope Score 55/100 |
| 6 | Grant Elementary Petaluma City Elementary | 42.9% | 82nd percentile · StrongScope Score 55/100 |
| 7 | Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley Petaluma Joint Union High | 25.3% | 80th percentile · StrongScope Score 53/100 |
| 8 | Heartwood Charter Liberty Elementary | 23.0% | 69th percentile · SolidScope Score 45/100 |
| 9 | Corona Creek Elementary Waugh Elementary | 26.6% | 69th percentile · SolidScope Score 45/100 |
| 10 | Old Adobe Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union | 24.4% | 67th percentile · SolidScope Score 44/100 |
| 11 | Loma Vista Immersion Academy Old Adobe Union | 18.1% | 63rd percentile · SolidScope Score 42/100 |
| 12 | Wilson Elementary Wilmar Union Elementary | 22.5% | 61st percentile · SolidScope Score 41/100 |
| 13 | McNear Elementary Petaluma City Elementary | 24.4% | 61st percentile · SolidScope Score 40/100 |
| 14 | Two Rock Elementary Two Rock Union | 19.9% | 58th percentile · SolidScope Score 39/100 |
| 15 | La Tercera Elementary Old Adobe Union | 16.6% | 56th percentile · SolidScope Score 38/100 |
| 16 | McKinley Elementary Petaluma City Elementary | 16.9% | 40th percentile · DevelopingScope Score 32/100 |
| 17 | McDowell Elementary Petaluma City Elementary | 4.7% | 24th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 26/100 |
| 18 | Miwok Valley Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union | 6.4% | 21st percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 25/100 |
| 19 | Cinnabar Charter Cinnabar Elementary | 8.7% | 16th percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 23/100 |
| 20 | Valley Vista Elementary Petaluma City Elementary | 1.7% | 3rd percentile · Needs SupportScope Score 15/100 |
High Schools (3)
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petaluma High Petaluma Joint Union High | 23.3% | 68th percentile · SolidScope Score 59/100 |
| 2 | Casa Grande High Petaluma Joint Union High | 22.0% | 64th percentile · SolidScope Score 57/100 |
| 3 | San Antonio High (Continuation) Petaluma Joint Union High continuation high school | 0.0% | 36th percentile · DevelopingWithin its own school classScope Score 22/100 |
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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.
Elementary school archetypes in Petaluma
Hidden gems: 3 schools in Petaluma are classified as On the Rise (2) or Growth Engine — showing positive growth trajectories that raw proficiency scores alone don't capture. These are schools where students leave with more than they arrived with.
Archetypes are data-driven labels based on Scope Score dimensions. Learn more
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.
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