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Charter elementary school · River Montessori Elementary Charter District · Petaluma, California

River Montessori Elementary Charter

River Montessori Elementary Charter rates 6.7, right at the middle of River Montessori Elementary Charter District's elementary schools, whose rated median is 6.7.

Elementary schools, 1 to 10This campus against public elementary schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
6.7this school

6.7 on a one-to-ten scale; the River Montessori Elementary Charter District median is 6.7.

#4,009 of 9,557 schools in California · River Montessori Elementary Charter District: 1 elementary schools rated, median 6.7

The brief

A charter elementary school in Petaluma, CA serving grades Kindergarten – 6th.

Students at River Montessori Elementary Charter score 59% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

It ranks 4,009 of 9,557 schools in California and 1 of 1 in River Montessori Elementary Charter District.

Math57%16 points above the California average of 41%2025 CAASPP
Reading59%12 points above the California average of 47%2025 CAASPP
Proficiency has improved 26 points since 2019, reaching 58% in 2025, across a 8-year record (2018–2025).2025 CAASPP; 22 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
7.2
50% of the rating
Academics
7.6
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
4.1
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 6 sources, 2019–2025

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, an estimate, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named here.

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2018-2025) · reading/ELA 60% (multi-year average, 2018-2025).

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 94954; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2018-2025; directory SY 2023–24

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
River Montessori Elementary Charter and the 20 nearest elementary schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

Median income
$107,564
Median home value
$790,100
Median rent
$2,405/mo
College educated
36.9%
Homeownership
66.7%
Poverty rate
5.9%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94954; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
35
Car-Dependent
Transit Score
21
Minimal Transit
Bike Score
45
Somewhat Bikeable
City reported crime
1,430/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 residents, from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for Petaluma. This is a city-level reported-crime measure, not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · city context (Petaluma), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2025. Freshness not available.

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
25.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. 8.1Compare →
  2. 7.2Compare →
  3. River Montessori Elementary Charterthis school
    6.7
  4. 5.8Compare →
  5. Live Oak Charter2.6 mi · charter
    5.6Compare →
  6. 5.5Compare →
  7. 5.3Compare →
  8. 3.7Compare →
  9. 3.6Compare →
Eight grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and two rate higher than River Montessori Elementary Charter.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

The public record

What's said publicly about River Montessori Elementary Charter

Sources:School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.Reviewed for accuracy.

River Montessori Elementary Charter School is located in a business park in Petaluma, California, surrounded by wetlands and protected open space 1. The school adjoins the entrance to Ellis Creek and the Shollenberger Park Extension, providing access to nature 1. The institution follows the Montessori method, featuring mixed-age groupings where students of different ages learn together 1. The curriculum emphasizes uninterrupted work periods, allowing students to develop concentration and complete tasks thoroughly 1. Learning is driven by intrinsic motivation and student-directed choices from a prepared environment, rather than external rewards or uniform schedules 1. Students have freedom of movement within the classroom and engage in practical life activities such as food preparation and plant care to develop motor skills and responsibility 1. Teachers act as guides who observe students and introduce materials based on readiness 1. The school has no admissions criteria and is free for all eligible students 1.
Sources (1)
  1. www.rivermontessoricharter.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source.Report inaccuracy

Questions families ask

What grades does River Montessori Elementary Charter serve?

River Montessori Elementary Charter serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend River Montessori Elementary Charter?

River Montessori Elementary Charter has an enrollment of approximately 133 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at River Montessori Elementary Charter?

The student-teacher ratio at River Montessori Elementary Charter is 22.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does River Montessori Elementary Charter rank in CA?

River Montessori Elementary Charter ranks #4,009 of 9,557 schools in CA.

What is River Montessori Elementary Charter's MySchoolScout rating?

River Montessori Elementary Charter has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at River Montessori Elementary Charter?

Based on loaded state assessment records, River Montessori Elementary Charter has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2018-2025).

Is River Montessori Elementary Charter a charter school?

Yes, River Montessori Elementary Charter is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is River Montessori Elementary Charter a Title I school?

No, River Montessori Elementary Charter is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for River Montessori Elementary Charter?

25.6% of students at River Montessori Elementary Charter qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School facts

Grades
Kindergarten – 6th
Enrollment
133
Student-teacher ratio
22.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Small City
County
Sonoma County
Rank in district
#1 of 1
Schools in district
1
District spending per student
$16,467
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
Not available
The source release did not match this district identifier.
Area population (ZIP 94954)
38,000
Area average commute
31 min
Area median age
44.8

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

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.