Petaluma Joint Union High

The Petaluma Joint Union High district encompasses 11 public schools serving grades K-12 in Petaluma, California, with an overall performance that ranks above state averages.

Standout schools include Petaluma Accelerated Charter, a middle school consistently ranked in the state's top 1% with exceptional test scores, and Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley, a strong K-8 school. The two comprehensive high schools, Casa Grande High and Petaluma High, both perform well with graduation rates above 92%. In contrast, continuation high schools like San Antonio High (Continuation) face significant challenges with lower graduation and higher absenteeism rates, despite receiving the highest per-student funding in the district.

Key takeaways show charter schools in the district often achieve better academic results with similar or lower spending. There is also a wide performance gap among middle schools, and a notable drop in 12th-grade science proficiency at the comprehensive high schools. The district's average graduation rate of 92% exceeds the state average, indicating overall success, though internal disparities highlight the varying experiences students may have depending on which school they attend.