Best Schools in Santa Rosa, California
89 schools · 51 Elementary · 7 Middle · 20 High · 11 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.7/10
- Median household income
- $99,545
- Median home value
- $717,917
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 36%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
14% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Santa Rosa compares
California rank
#460 of 596
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.6
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$100k
100% of California median
Schools in this city
73
About Schools in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa's public school system spans 62 ranked schools, giving parents a wide field to evaluate. The citywide average sits at 5.7 out of 10, which tracks close to California's broader middle-of-the-road baseline. That average, however, masks real variation across the city — from schools scoring in the low 4s to standouts pushing well above 8.
The upper tier is selective but meaningful. Nine schools, roughly 15% of Santa Rosa's ranked public schools, score 7 or higher. Mark West Elementary leads the city at 8.7 out of 10, followed closely by Kid Street Charter at 8.6 and Spring Lake Charter at 8.5. These three elementary schools sit well above the city average and represent Santa Rosa's strongest academic performers. Roseland Elementary (7.9) and Bellevue Elementary (7.8) round out the top five, both clearing the 7-point threshold that signals consistently strong outcomes. All five of the city's highest performers are elementary schools, so parents of younger children have the most concentrated set of high-quality options to pursue.
Santa Rosa's charter schools play a notable role at the top. Kid Street Charter and Spring Lake Charter both rank among the city's three best schools, making charter enrollment a practical consideration for families who prioritize performance. Availability and lottery timelines vary, so parents should contact those schools early in the enrollment cycle.
For families moving to Santa Rosa or reassessing their current school, the 5.7 average is a useful anchor. Most neighborhood schools cluster in the 4–6 range, which means location alone won't reliably land a child in a high-performing school. The gap between the city average and the top tier is more than three full points — large enough to matter in practice. Parents should cross-reference school scores with their specific address boundaries, check charter waitlist policies, and compare individual school data rather than relying on neighborhood assumptions. With 62 ranked schools spread across a mid-sized city, Santa Rosa rewards parents who do the legwork.
Elementary Schools
51 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 424 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 116 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 337 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.5 |
| 4 | 441 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 |
| 5 | 407 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 |
| 6 | 404 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 |
| 7 | 714 students · 1st–8th | 7.2 |
| 8 | 357 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 |
| 9 | 442 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 |
| 10 | 479 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 6.9 |
| 11 | 560 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 6.9 |
| 12 | 113 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.8 |
| 13 | 468 students · Kindergarten–7th | 6.7 |
| 14 | 424 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 15 | 404 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 16 | 463 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.2 |
| 17 | 258 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.1 |
| 18 | 811 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 |
| 19 | 457 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.7 |
| 20 | 381 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.6 |
| 21 | 320 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.4 |
| 22 | 234 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.4 |
| 23 | 356 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.4 |
| 24 | 395 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.3 |
| 25 | 456 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.3 |
Show 26 more elementary schools
| 26 | 326 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.2 | ||
| 27 | 281 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.1 | ||
| 28 | 107 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 29 | 281 students · Kindergarten–6th | 5.0 | ||
| 30 | 336 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.9 | ||
| 31 | 383 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.8 | ||
| 32 | 292 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.7 | ||
| 33 | 375 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.7 | ||
| 34 | 572 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.7 | ||
| 35 | 414 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 36 | 393 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.4 | ||
| 37 | 108 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.4 | ||
| 38 | 461 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.4 | ||
| 39 | 422 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.3 | ||
| 40 | 321 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.2 | ||
| 41 | 317 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.0 | ||
| 42 | 336 students · Kindergarten–6th | 4.0 | ||
| 43 | 413 students · Kindergarten–6th | 3.8 | ||
| Private Schools 8 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | SONOMA COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Private
281 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | REDWOOD ADVENTIST ACADEMY
Private
86 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | ST EUGENE'S CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
Private
202 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | ST ROSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Private
268 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Sonoma Country Day School
Private
266 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | St. Eugene Cathedral School
Private
102 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | Redwood Adventist Academy
Private
89 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | COLLEGE OAK MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Private
6 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 129 students · 5th–6th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 442 students · 7th–8th | 6.0 |
| 3 | 378 students · 4th–6th | 5.5 |
| 4 | 458 students · 7th–8th | 4.4 |
| 5 | 690 students · 7th–8th | 4.0 |
| 6 | 216 students · 7th–8th | 3.9 |
| 7 | 780 students · 7th–8th | 3.9 |
High Schools
20 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,585 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 274 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 3 | 1,384 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 4 | 980 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 5 | 1,636 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 1,433 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| Private Schools 14 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | NORTH VALLEY SCHOOL
Private
35 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | CARDINAL NEWMAN HIGH SCHOOL
Private
512 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Stony Point Christian Academy
Private
30 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | 224 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | Tyndale Preparatory Academy
Private
9 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 6 | 126 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 7 | Quest Forward High School
Private
36 students · 7th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 8 | Cardinal Newman High School
Private
567 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 9 | North Valley School-Santa Rosa
Private
28 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 10 | Lattice Educational Services
Private
46 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 11 | New Directions-NPS
Private
17 students · 5th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 12 | New Song School
Private
16 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 13 | PAIDEIA EDUCATIONAL HERITAGE
Private
1 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 14 | 15 students · 8th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,250 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | 153 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 68 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 212 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 5 | 36 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 | ||
| 6 | 423 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.2 | ||
| Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 256 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 88 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | LATTICE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
Private
65 students · UG–UG | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
151 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 5 | GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
163 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, California · 89 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 6 ZIP codes
Median Income
$99,545
Median Home Value
$717,917
Median Rent
$2,094/mo
Population
210,635
College Educated
36%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Community Profile
Santa Rosa has a median household income of $99,545. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $717,917, with a median rent of $2,094/month. The local poverty rate of 9.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- California
- Total Schools
- 89
- Elementary
- 51
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 20
- Districts
- 20
- Avg Rating
- 5.7/10
Resources
School Districts (20)
Windsor Unified
7 schools · 4,565 students
Piner-Olivet Charter District
1 school · 216 students
Morrice Schaefer Charter District
1 school · 292 students
Kid Street Charter District
1 school · 116 students
Olivet Elementary Charter District
1 school · 320 students
Northwest Prep Charter District
1 school · 153 students
Village Charter District
1 school · 113 students
Pivot Charter School - North Bay District
1 school · 423 students
Roseland Charter District
1 school · 1,250 students
Bellevue Union
4 schools · 1,609 students
Bennett Valley Union Elementary
2 schools · 938 students
Mark West Union Elementary
4 schools · 1,342 students
Oak Grove Union Elementary
2 schools · 819 students
Piner-Olivet Union Elementary
1 school · 266 students
Rincon Valley Union Elementary
9 schools · 3,112 students
Roseland
3 schools · 1,480 students
Santa Rosa Elementary
13 schools · 4,741 students
Santa Rosa High
12 schools · 9,941 students
Wright Elementary
3 schools · 1,263 students
Sonoma County Office of Education
3 schools · 327 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Santa Rosa, California
How many schools are in Santa Rosa, California?
Santa Rosa has 89 schools, including 62 public and 27 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Santa Rosa, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Santa Rosa is 5.7 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Santa Rosa, California?
The top-ranked school in Santa Rosa on MySchoolScout is Mark West Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Santa Rosa, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Santa Rosa on MySchoolScout is Mark West Elementary with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Santa Rosa, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Santa Rosa on MySchoolScout is Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Santa Rosa, California?
The top-ranked high school in Santa Rosa on MySchoolScout is Maria Carrillo High with a composite score of 6.5/10.
How many school districts serve Santa Rosa, California?
Santa Rosa is served by 20 school districts: Windsor Unified, Piner-olivet Charter District, Morrice Schaefer Charter District, Kid Street Charter District, Olivet Elementary Charter District, Northwest Prep Charter District, Village Charter District, Pivot Charter School - North Bay District, Roseland Charter District, Bellevue Union, Bennett Valley Union Elementary, Mark West Union Elementary, Oak Grove Union Elementary, Piner-olivet Union Elementary, Rincon Valley Union Elementary, Roseland, Santa Rosa Elementary, Santa Rosa High, Wright Elementary, Sonoma County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Santa Rosa, California?
According to Census data, 36% of adults in Santa Rosa have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Santa Rosa, California?
The median household income in Santa Rosa is approximately $99,545 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Santa Rosa, California?
Yes, Santa Rosa has 27 private schools alongside 62 public schools. The top-rated private school is Sonoma Country Day School with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Santa Rosa, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Santa Rosa is 17.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Santa Rosa, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.