Elementary Schools in Petaluma, California: Petaluma schools average 4.8 points above the state — but the range is 55.5 points wide.

Near Average2024–25 data20 schools · avg 49.6/100

Petaluma, California has 20 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 49.6/100 — 4.8 points above the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Liberty Elementary at 75/100, where 41.6% of students exceed the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment. Petaluma schools average 24.8% exceeded standard (state: 21.3%) — this exceeded-vs-met distinction reveals whether schools push students beyond proficiency or pace toward it. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.4% (below the state average of 17.9%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score

49.6

State avg: 44.8

SchoolScope composite

Score Range

55.5

19.1 – 74.5

Avg Exceeded %

24.8%

State avg: 21.3%

CDE CAASPP 2025

Chronic Absenteeism

12.4%

State avg: 17.9%

CDE Attendance 2025

Schools Ranked

With Scope Scores

Level	Schools	Avg Score	Exceeded	vs State
Elementary	20	Developing 49.6/100	24.8%	+4.8
High	3	Developing 42.0/100	15.1%	-1.7

How Petaluma schools compare

Petaluma has 20 ranked elementary schools with an average Scope Score of 49.6/100 — 4.8 points above the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

The top-ranked school is Liberty Elementary with a Scope Score of 75 and 41.6% of students exceeding standard.

These schools are pushing students past the bar, not just to it. Petaluma schools average 24.8% exceeding standard — well above the statewide average of 21.3%.

Chronic absenteeism in Petaluma averages 12.4% — below the state average of 17.9%.

How we score · Weighted composite of test performance, growth, and school climate · Full weights on the methodology page

School archetypes in Petaluma

6 Strong All-Around6 Culture First1 Solid Base7 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 75/100
2	Sonoma Mountain Elementary Old Adobe Union Strong All-Around	50.7%	Solid 68/100
3	Meadow Elementary Waugh Elementary Strong All-Around	50.4%	Solid 68/100
4	Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley Petaluma Joint Union High Strong All-Around	25.3%	Solid 63/100
5	Dunham Charter Dunham Elementary Strong All-Around	36.4%	Solid 62/100
6	River Montessori Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union Strong All-Around	35.7%	Solid 58/100
7	Grant Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Solid Base	42.9%	Solid 57/100
8	Petaluma High Petaluma Joint Union High Building Momentum	23.3%	Solid 54/100
9	Two Rock Elementary Two Rock Union Culture First	19.9%	Solid 54/100
10	Casa Grande High Petaluma Joint Union High Building Momentum	22.0%	Solid 52/100
11	Heartwood Charter Liberty Elementary Culture First	23.0%	Solid 52/100
12	Loma Vista Immersion Academy Old Adobe Union Culture First	18.1%	Developing 50/100
13	Old Adobe Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union Culture First	24.4%	Developing 50/100
14	Corona Creek Elementary Waugh Elementary Building Momentum	26.6%	Developing 49/100
15	La Tercera Elementary Old Adobe Union Building Momentum	16.6%	Developing 45/100
16	McNear Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Culture First	24.4%	Developing 44/100
17	Wilson Elementary Wilmar Union Elementary Culture First	22.5%	Developing 43/100
18	McDowell Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Building Momentum	4.7%	Developing 40/100
19	McKinley Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Building Momentum	16.9%	Developing 37/100
20	Miwok Valley Elementary Charter Old Adobe Union Building Momentum	6.4%	Developing 33/100
21	Cinnabar Charter Cinnabar Elementary Building Momentum	8.7%	Needs Support 27/100
22	San Antonio High (Continuation) Petaluma Joint Union High Building Momentum	0.0%	Needs Support 20/100
23	Valley Vista Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Building Momentum	1.7%	Needs Support 19/100

Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 23 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 20 ranked elementary schools average a Scope Score of 49.6/100, which is 4.8 points above the state average. 24.8% of students exceed the state standard on average (state average: 21.3%). The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (38%), grade 3-to-5 growth (27%), met or exceeded (proficient) (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). 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 75/100 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 49.6/100 — 4.8 points above the state average of 44.8. The exceeded rate averages 24.8% vs. 21.3% statewide. Chronic absenteeism averages 12.4% vs. 17.9% statewide.

How many schools are in Petaluma?

Petaluma has 20 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 Petaluma Joint Union High Dunham Elementary Petaluma City Elementary Two Rock Union Wilmar Union Elementary Cinnabar Elementary Zip 94952 Zip 94954

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