Summary:
The 94954 zip code area of Petaluma, California is home to 12 schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school grades across 4 different school districts. While the schools exhibit a wide range of academic performance, several standout institutions demonstrate exceptional results, including Meadow Elementary (top 10% in California), Sonoma Mountain Elementary (top 15%), and River Montessori Elementary Charter (top 25%). These high-performing schools boast exceptional English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency rates, often exceeding 60-80% of students meeting or exceeding standards.
In contrast, other schools in the area, such as McDowell Elementary and Miwok Valley Elementary Charter, struggle with proficiency rates well below the state average. This performance gap appears to correlate with socioeconomic factors, as the schools with the highest free/reduced lunch rates tend to have the lowest academic achievement. The charter schools in the area, however, generally outperform their traditional public school counterparts, suggesting the benefits of the charter school model in this region.
Graduation rates and dropout rates also vary significantly, with Casa Grande High boasting a 92.7% 4-year graduation rate and Sonoma Mountain High (Continuation) achieving a 100% graduation rate. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern at several schools, particularly the continuation high school, which could be impacting student learning and achievement.
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