Best Schools in Sonoma, California
15 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Sonoma?
Use this page to compare every school in Sonoma by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Altimira Middle
Middle · Sonoma Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
EL Verano Elementary
Elementary · Sonoma Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Flowery Elementary
Elementary · Sonoma Valley Unified. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Sonoma for 2026 are Altimira Middle (6.8/10), EL Verano Elementary (6.5/10), and Flowery Elementary (6.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
15
9 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$882,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
15
9 public · 6 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$882,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.2/10 despite 50% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Sonoma schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Sonoma schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Sonoma
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 15 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altimira Middle | 6.8 / 10 |
| 2 | EL Verano Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Flowery Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Sonoma Valley High | 6.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Adele Harrison Middle | 5.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Sassarini Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Prestwood Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Creekside High | 4.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Sonoma Charter | 3.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $108,322
- Median home value
- $882,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Sonoma compares
California rank
#522 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.8
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$108k
109% of California median
Schools in this city
11
Sonoma Valley Unified runs 89% of Sonoma's public schools
Sonoma touches 2 districts, but Sonoma Valley Unified is the one most addresses actually attend.
Sonoma Valley Unified accounts for 8 of 9 public schools (89%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.2 to 6.8 — the spread is inside Sonoma, not a citywide average.
- Sonoma Valley Unified8 public · 89%
- Sonoma Charter District1 public · 11%
About Schools in Sonoma, California
Sonoma's public school landscape is compact and relatively strong. The city has 9 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.3 out of 10 — and 4 of those schools, or 44%, score 7 or higher. That above-average concentration of high performers is the defining feature for parents comparing Sonoma to other small California cities.
Elementary options lead the city's standings. Sassarini Elementary scores 8.2 out of 10, the highest mark among all ranked schools here. Sonoma Charter and El Verano Elementary both follow closely, each scoring 7.8 and 7.7 respectively. Three strong elementary programs in close proximity gives families genuine choice at the foundational grade levels, with scores clustering in a range that signals consistent academic delivery across the primary years.
The middle school years show a step down. Adele Harrison Middle scores 6.1, sitting just below the city average. Parents moving from Sonoma's top elementary tier should factor that transition into their planning. The jump from 7.7 at El Verano or 8.2 at Sassarini to 6.1 at Adele Harrison is meaningful, and the middle school years represent the only notable performance gap in the city's public K-12 pipeline. On the high school side, Sonoma Valley High scores 7.8 — matching Sonoma Charter at the elementary level and suggesting the pipeline recovers well heading into graduation.
For families comparing Sonoma to peer cities, the overall picture is practical and encouraging. The 44% rate of schools scoring 7 or above reflects a system where strong performance is the norm, not the exception. The biggest decision variable is the middle school transition. Parents whose children are approaching those years may want to weigh Adele Harrison's performance relative to private or charter alternatives in the broader Sonoma Valley. Families entering at elementary level have several high-scoring options to choose from, with Sassarini standing out as the city's clear top performer. The compact size of the district also means geographic access is less of a factor than school-by-school fit.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 340 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | 350 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 3 | 284 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 4 | 260 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 5 | 226 students · Kindergarten–8th | 3.2 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Presentation SchoolPrivate 158 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | St Francis Solano SchoolPrivate 192 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 351 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 330 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,125 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 | ||
| 2 | 51 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Hanna AcademyPrivate 21 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 12 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Soloquest High ScoolPrivate 48 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Song SchoolPrivate 16 students · 1st–11th | Not Rated |
Schools in Sonoma
Sonoma, California · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$108,322
Median Home Value
$882,300
Median Rent
$2,127/mo
Population
35,139
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Community Profile
Sonoma has a median household income of $108,322. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $882,300, with a median rent of $2,127/month. The local poverty rate of 8.1% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
- Other
- 1
Resources
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Sonoma, California
How many schools are in Sonoma, California?
Sonoma has 15 schools, including 9 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Sonoma, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Sonoma is 5.5 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Sonoma, California?
The top-ranked school in Sonoma on MySchoolScout is Altimira Middle with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Sonoma, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Sonoma on MySchoolScout is EL Verano Elementary with a composite score of 6.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Sonoma, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Sonoma on MySchoolScout is Altimira Middle with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Sonoma, California?
The top-ranked high school in Sonoma on MySchoolScout is Sonoma Valley High with a composite score of 6.2/10.
How many school districts serve Sonoma, California?
Sonoma is served by 2 school districts: Sonoma Charter District, Sonoma Valley Unified.
What is the education level in Sonoma, California?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Sonoma have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Sonoma, California?
The median household income in Sonoma is approximately $108,322 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Sonoma, California?
Yes, Sonoma has 6 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Presentation School with a score of 6.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sonoma, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Sonoma is 15.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Sonoma, 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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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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.