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Valley Oaks High (Alternative)

Public Grades 7-12

Summary

Valley Oaks High (Alternative) is a public high school in Petaluma, California, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 39 students. As an alternative school, it faces some unique challenges compared to nearby traditional high schools like Casa Grande High and Petaluma High.

Valley Oaks High (Alternative) has seen fluctuating statewide rankings, ranging from 374 out of 2,354 California high schools in 2011-2012 to 1,637 out of 2,309 in 2024-2025. Its four-year graduation rate has ranged from 60% to 89.9% in recent years, generally lower than the nearby high schools. The school has also faced higher dropout rates, ranging from 1.8% to 13.3%, and significantly higher chronic absenteeism, from 17.8% to 88.9%. Academically, Valley Oaks High (Alternative) has performed lower than the Petaluma Joint Union High School District and the state of California on standardized tests.

However, the school's alternative setting, small size of 39 students, and higher spending per student, ranging from $15,226 to $25,092, suggest potential for targeted interventions and improvements to better serve its student population. Comparing Valley Oaks High (Alternative) to other alternative high schools in the region could provide valuable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by this type of educational setting.

Students ?

8.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$25,092

Per pupil spending ?

44.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

540 Vallejo St.
Petaluma, CA 94952-3364

(707) 778-4794

District: Petaluma Joint Union High

Racial breakdown:

White:

65.1%

Hispanic:

18.6%

Two or more races:

7.0%

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Compare Valley Oaks High (Alternative) to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 46th percentile in 2023 → 64th in 2024

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 64th (2024) from a 46th-percentile low (2023)

✓Small classes — about 8 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (23% vs 43% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (93% vs 19% California)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school23%

District avg48%

California avg43%

Not ranked this year

Valley Oaks High (Alternative) did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

428^th of 1,543Petaluma Joint Union High among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2012	58.0	876 of 2259	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2005	45.4	889 of 1777	50.0%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	59.3	785 of 2159	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	42.2	1167 of 2170	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	67.0	662 of 2017	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	54.0	932 of 2021	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.5	531 of 2039	74.0%	★★★★☆
2015	70.8	530 of 1994	73.4%	★★★★☆
2013	66.2	387 of 2426	84.0%	★★★★☆
2012	66.8	374 of 2354	84.1%	★★★★☆
2011	57.2	612 of 2367	74.1%	★★★★☆
2010	58.9	541 of 2281	76.3%	★★★★☆
2009	45.6	866 of 2238	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.9	396 of 2117	81.3%	★★★★☆
2007	67.0	314 of 2063	84.8%	★★★★☆
2006	72.4	237 of 1968	88.0%	★★★★☆
2005	15.5	1555 of 1901	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	93.3	7 of 1653	99.6%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	39.2	1139 of 1915	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	59.1	737 of 1760	58.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	54.1	541 of 1173	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.9	543 of 1173	53.7%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

High school

White (2024)54th percentile-10 vs school

Female (2024)41st percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy36%-12 vs state

Mathematics9%-28 vs state

★

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Schools Near Valley Oaks High (Alternative)

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Valley Oaks High (Alternative)	Public	7-12	540 Vallejo St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4794	43	5	8.0	44.2%	28 (65.1%)	1 (2.3%)	8 (18.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (7.0%)								(n/a)					36.4		9.1	$25,092	$602	$24,490
San Antonio High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	500 Vallejo St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4758	65	8	8.5	84.6%	17 (26.2%)	2 (3.1%)	41 (63.1%)	1 (1.5%)	1 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.1%)	12	1914^th of 2162 public high schools	11.5%		11	2007^th of 2159 public high schools	7.0%	93	6.3		6.3	19.2	19.2	0.0	0.0	$28,848	$4,414	$24,434
Petaluma High	Public	9-12	201 Fair St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4651	1,193	57	20.9	40.9%	712 (59.7%)	15 (1.3%)	371 (31.1%)	22 (1.8%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	55 (4.6%)	67.5	647^th of 2162 public high schools	70.1%		67.3	608^th of 2159 public high schools	71.8%	39	37.9	15.4	36.9	53.2	53.2	36.9	36.9	$16,495	$788	$15,707
Carpe Diem High (Continuation)	Public	9-12	199 Fair St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4796	19	2	9.5	42.1%	14 (73.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)								$27,201	$1,222	$25,979
Sonoma Mountain High (Necessary Small School)	Public	9-12	299 Casa Grande Rd.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4738	21	2	10.6	71.4%	16 (76.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (19.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.8%)								(n/a)								$24,518	$619	$23,899
Casa Grande High	Public	9-12	333 Casa Grande Rd.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4677	1,653	77	21.5	48.6%	687 (41.6%)	27 (1.6%)	770 (46.6%)	60 (3.6%)	5 (0.3%)	5 (0.3%)	91 (5.5%)	77.6	453^rd of 2162 public high schools	79.0%		69.2	575^th of 2159 public high schools	73.4%	122	45.9	26.1	44.8	66.7	66.7	35.5	35.5	$16,044	$715	$15,329
Credo High	Public, Charter	9-12	1300 Valley House Dr. Ste. 100	Rohnert Park	94928	Sonoma County	Credo High District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 664-0600	441	32	13.6	28.3%	270 (61.2%)	4 (0.9%)	88 (20.0%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (13.4%)	92	166^th of 2162 public high schools	92.3%		93.9	136^th of 2159 public high schools	93.7%	30		60.0	60.0	77.2	77.2	49.6	49.6	$16,679	$469	$16,210
Technology High	Public	9-12	550 Bonnie Ave.	Rohnert Park	94928	Sonoma County	Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 792-4825	343	16	21.9	20.7%	195 (56.9%)	10 (2.9%)	64 (18.7%)	48 (14.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.4%)	98.4	27^th of 2162 public high schools	98.8%		99.1	16^th of 2159 public high schools	99.3%	11	82.6		82.8	92.1	92.1	69.1	69.1	$17,082	$757	$16,325
El Camino High	Public	9-12	5450 Snyder Ln.	Rohnert Park	94928	Sonoma County	Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 792-4750	48	2	21.8	66.7%	10 (20.8%)	2 (4.2%)	29 (60.4%)	1 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (12.5%)	25.2	1592^nd of 2162 public high schools	26.4%					(n/a)		15.8	15.8	0.0	0.0			$17,268	$1,574	$15,694
Rancho Cotate High	Public	9-12	5450 Snyder Ln.	Rohnert Park	94928	Sonoma County	Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 792-4750	1,755	76	23.0	47.1%	563 (32.1%)	41 (2.3%)	915 (52.1%)	55 (3.1%)	11 (0.6%)	20 (1.1%)	144 (8.2%)	43.7	1176^th of 2162 public high schools	45.6%		39.3	1257^th of 2159 public high schools	41.8%	81	0.0	18.0	17.5	51.8	51.8	12.4	12.4	$16,759	$771	$15,988

Frequently Asked Questions about Valley Oaks High (Alternative)

What is the racial makeup of Valley Oaks High (Alternative)?

Students at Valley Oaks High (Alternative) are 65% White, 19% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 5% Not Specified, 2% African American, 2% American Indian.

What district is Valley Oaks High (Alternative) in?

Petaluma Joint Union High

How many students attend Valley Oaks High (Alternative)?

In the 2024-25 school year, 43 students attended Valley Oaks High (Alternative).

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.