Best Schools in Sonora, California
14 schools · 5 Elementary · 4 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Sonora?
Use this page to compare every school in Sonora 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.
Gold Rush Home Study Charter
Other · Gold Rush Home Study Charter District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Sonora High
High · Sonora Union High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Belleview Elementary
Elementary · Belleview Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Sonora for 2026 are Gold Rush Home Study Charter (7.8/10), Sonora High (6.0/10), and Belleview Elementary (5.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
14
10 public · 4 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$416,200
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
14
10 public · 4 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$416,200
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 7.8/10 despite 48% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Sonora schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +27.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Sonora schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Sonora
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Rush Home Study Charter | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Sonora High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Belleview Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Dario Cassina High | 5.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Theodore Bird High | 5.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Mother Lode Adventist JR Academy | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Safari Learning Academy | 5.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Sonora Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Curtis Creek Elementary | 4.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Tuolumne County Special Education | 4.3 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $72,433
- Median home value
- $416,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 30 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
10% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Sonora compares
California rank
#462 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$72k
73% of California median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Sonora, California
Sonora, California is home to 14 schools, including 10 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 5 elementary schools, , and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.6 out of 10, schools in Sonora show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Sonora is Gold Rush Home Study Charter with a composite score of 7.8/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Sonora is served by 6 school districts. These districts collectively serve 2,885 students.
Sonora's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $72,433. The poverty rate in the area is 12.2%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 166 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.8 | ||
| 2 | 693 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.2 | ||
| 3 | 422 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.7 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Safari Learning Academy
Private
30 students · Pre-K–2nd | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | Safari Learning Academy
Private
19 students · Kindergarten–1st | — | ||
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 960 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 35 students · 10th–12th | 5.7 | ||
| 3 | 90 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 96 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 451 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 32 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.3 | ||
| 3 | 18 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 4 | 10 students · 1st–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Mother Lode Adventist JR Academy
Private
103 students · Kindergarten–10th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Sonora
Sonora, California · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$72,433
Median Home Value
$416,200
Median Rent
$1,313/mo
Population
28,373
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
30 min
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Community Profile
Sonora has a median household income of $72,433. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $416,200, with a median rent of $1,313/month. The area has a poverty rate of 12.2%. The average commute for residents is 30 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 5
- High
- 4
- Other
- 5
Resources
School Districts (6)
Gold Rush Home Study Charter District
1 school · 451 students
Belleview Elementary
2 schools · 167 students
Curtis Creek Elementary
1 school · 422 students
Sonora Elementary
2 schools · 693 students
Sonora Union High
3 schools · 1,092 students
Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools
4 schools · 60 students
Nearby Cities
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 Sonora, California
How many schools are in Sonora, California?
Sonora has 14 schools, including 10 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Sonora, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Sonora is 5.6 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 Sonora, California?
The top-ranked school in Sonora on MySchoolScout is Gold Rush Home Study Charter with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Sonora, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Sonora on MySchoolScout is Belleview Elementary with a composite score of 5.8/10.
What is the best high school in Sonora, California?
The top-ranked high school in Sonora on MySchoolScout is Sonora High with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Sonora, California?
Sonora is served by 6 school districts: Gold Rush Home Study Charter District, Belleview Elementary, Curtis Creek Elementary, Sonora Elementary, Sonora Union High, Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools.
What is the education level in Sonora, California?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Sonora have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Sonora, California?
The median household income in Sonora is approximately $72,433 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Sonora, California?
Yes, Sonora has 4 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Mother Lode Adventist JR Academy with a score of 5.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sonora, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Sonora is 15.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Sonora, 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 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
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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.