Sonoma Valley Unified School District
School District · Sonoma, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
3,129
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
8
4 elem, 2 mid, 2 high
Enrollment
3,129
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
How this district compares
California rank
#556 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$24,055
+$6,408 vs California median
District size
3,129 students
Typical than California median
The short answer
Sonoma Valley Unified ranks #556 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Sonoma Valley Unified's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 8 schools. Its top-rated schools are Altimira Middle (6.8/10), EL Verano Elementary (6.5/10), and Sonoma Valley High (6.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.8/10 despite 68% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 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 Sonoma Valley Unified schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +4.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Sonoma Valley Unified schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Sonoma Valley Unified
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "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 | Sonoma Valley High | 6.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Flowery Elementary | 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 |
See all 8 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Sonoma Valley Unified
Sonoma Valley Unified is a Sonoma, California school district serving 8 schools.The district educates 3,129 students with a student-teacher ratio of 19.4:1. District-level spending was $24,055 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Sonoma Valley Unified demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Altimira Middle, which has a composite score of 6.8/10.
In standardized testing, Sonoma Valley Unified students show an average math proficiency of 27.7% and ELA proficiency of 36.9%.
The district includes 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Sonoma Valley Unified, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Sonoma Valley Unified with test data.
Schools in Sonoma Valley Unified
8 schoolsElementary Schools4
Middle Schools2
High Schools2
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Sonoma
- Total Enrollment
- 3,129
- Teachers (FTE)
- 161
- District spending per student
- $24,055NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 8.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Sonoma Valley Unified?
Sonoma Valley Unified has 8 schools in total — 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Sonoma Valley Unified?
The average composite rating for Sonoma Valley Unified is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Sonoma Valley Unified?
Sonoma Valley Unified's district-level spending was $24,055 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sonoma Valley Unified?
The average student-teacher ratio in Sonoma Valley Unified is 19.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Sonoma Valley Unified?
Altimira Middle is the highest-rated school in Sonoma Valley Unified with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What are the test scores in Sonoma Valley Unified?
Across schools in Sonoma Valley Unified with test data, the average math proficiency is 27.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 36.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Sonoma Valley Unified compare to other districts in California?
Sonoma Valley Unified has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 8 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 27.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 36.9%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Sonoma Valley Unified with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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