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Sun Valley Elementary

Public Grades K-5

503^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 91% of California elementary schools

Summary

Sun Valley Elementary is a high-performing K-5 public school serving 523 students in San Rafael, consistently ranking among the top 10% of all California elementary schools despite being part of the mid-performing San Rafael City Elementary district.

The school's academic results are outstanding, with over 70% of students proficient in English and Math—nearly double the district average—and it maintains an exceptionally low chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.2%. What makes Sun Valley particularly interesting is its success with a moderately economically diverse student population; it achieves elite-level results similar to schools like Wade Thomas Elementary and Ross Elementary, which serve much more affluent communities, while significantly outperforming other schools in its own district such as Venetia Valley K-8 and Laurel Dell Elementary.

Sun Valley's consistent excellence over the past decade appears driven by effective school-specific practices rather than high funding, as it spends less per student than some lower-performing peers. This demonstrates that strong attendance, quality instruction, and a supportive school culture can create remarkable outcomes for a diverse range of students, making it a standout school in an area with extreme disparities between neighboring campuses.

523

Students ?

22.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,021

Per pupil spending ?

30%

Free/discounted lunch ?

75 Happy Ln.
San Rafael, CA 94901-1020

(415) 485-2440

District: San Rafael City Elementary

Students who attend Sun Valley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	James B. Davidson Middle
High:	San Rafael High
	Terra Linda High

Racial breakdown:

White:

55.4%

Hispanic:

27.9%

Two or more races:

11.5%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 95th percentile in 2015 → 91st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the California average (72% vs 41% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 9% of California elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in San Rafael City Elementary

Worth a look

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

!Large classes — about 23 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school72%

District avg35%

California avg41%

503^rd of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 9%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From top 5% (2015) to top 9% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 7Elementary Schools in the San Rafael City Elementary

866^th of 1,543San Rafael City Elementary 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	92.6	503 of 5857	91.4%	★★★★★
2024	92.1	564 of 5869	90.4%	★★★★★
2023	93.0	503 of 5859	91.4%	★★★★★
2022	91.8	609 of 5883	89.6%	★★★★☆
2021	91.1	146 of 1417	89.7%	★★★★☆
2019	91.1	585 of 5789	89.9%	★★★★☆
2018	92.8	455 of 5662	92.0%	★★★★★
2017	94.9	333 of 5692	94.1%	★★★★★
2016	96.3	207 of 5614	96.3%	★★★★★
2015	96.0	267 of 5611	95.2%	★★★★★
2013	89.3	513 of 5530	90.7%	★★★★★
2012	82.0	908 of 5390	83.2%	★★★★☆
2011	85.6	699 of 5377	87.0%	★★★★☆
2010	88.1	573 of 5314	89.2%	★★★★☆
2009	83.4	820 of 5193	84.2%	★★★★☆
2008	93.6	273 of 5113	94.7%	★★★★★
2007	85.0	750 of 5113	85.3%	★★★★☆
2006	91.2	423 of 4818	91.2%	★★★★★
2005	91.9	393 of 4822	91.8%	★★★★★
2004	91.9	407 of 4809	91.5%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	90.5	566 of 5597	89.9%	★★★★☆
2024	91.4	543 of 5612	90.3%	★★★★★
2023	93.6	390 of 5609	93.0%	★★★★★
2022	93.1	438 of 5635	92.2%	★★★★★
2021	95.3	62 of 1267	95.1%	★★★★★
2019	90.7	514 of 5492	90.6%	★★★★★
2018	95.2	208 of 5413	96.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	65.3	1434 of 5107	71.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.2	1136 of 5107	77.8%	★★★★☆
2023	78.7	800 of 5087	84.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	859 of 5084	83.1%	★★★★☆
2019	65.5	1384 of 4963	72.1%	★★★★☆
2018	78.9	730 of 4830	84.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	71.9	1183 of 5460	78.3%	★★★★☆
2024	84.2	660 of 5517	88.0%	★★★★☆
2023	81.6	713 of 5363	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	59.8	1696 of 5264	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	52.1	452 of 1110	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.8	588 of 5173	88.6%	★★★★☆
2018	87.8	371 of 5084	92.7%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	92.5	429 of 5628	92.4%	★★★★★
2024	90.7	565 of 5643	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	90.4	590 of 5638	89.5%	★★★★☆
2022	87.6	745 of 5663	86.8%	★★★★☆
2021	80.6	240 of 1272	81.1%	★★★★☆
2019	89.2	633 of 5510	88.5%	★★★★☆
2018	87.9	689 of 5431	87.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	91.5	47 of 2598	98.2%	★★★★★
2024	90.3	85 of 2651	96.8%	★★★★★
2023	89.4	124 of 2661	95.3%	★★★★★
2022	88.1	173 of 2726	93.7%	★★★★★
2019	80.9	441 of 2834	84.4%	★★★★☆
2018	85.7	230 of 2737	91.6%	★★★★★

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)

White (2025)98th percentile+7 vs school

Male (2025)92nd percentile~ school

Female (2025)90th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)78th percentile-13 vs school

Hispanic (2025)72nd percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy74%+25 vs state

Mathematics73%+36 vs state

Science62%+29 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a principal
Friday, March 17, 2017

Sun Valley is an amazing community that ensures that every learner gets what they need. We were fortunate enough to be awarded the National Blue Ribbon this year! Close Quote

Schools Near Sun Valley Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations 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)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	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 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Sun Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	75 Happy Ln.	San Rafael	94901	Marin County	San Rafael City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 485-2440	523	23	22.7	30.0%	290 (55.4%)	5 (1.0%)	146 (27.9%)	21 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (11.5%)	92.6	503^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	91.4%		92.1	564^th of 5869 public elementary schools	90.4%	61	61.6		61.6	68.7	76.1	76.4				74.0	74.6	79.6	63.0				72.8				$18,021	$1,162	$16,859
Wade Thomas Elementary	Public	K-5	150 Ross Ave.	San Anselmo	94960	Marin County	Ross Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 454-4603	292	13	22.4	7.2%	216 (74.0%)	2 (0.7%)	33 (11.3%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (10.3%)	97.8	86^th of 5857 public elementary schools	98.5%		93.9	438^th of 5869 public elementary schools	92.5%	352	68.8		68.8	91.8	85.4	89.8				89.0	91.8	81.3	77.6				83.6	95.1	95.1		$16,587	$526	$16,061
Brookside Elementary	Public	K-5	116 Butterfield Rd.	San Anselmo	94960	Marin County	Ross Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 453-2948	278	14	19.5	10.4%	203 (73.0%)	2 (0.7%)	40 (14.4%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (10.1%)	90.3	638^th of 5857 public elementary schools	89.1%		91.1	629^th of 5869 public elementary schools	89.3%	9	59.6		59.6	64.0	76.9	76.9				72.3	70.0	87.2	57.7				70.2				$16,922	$593	$16,329
Vallecito Elementary	Public	K-5	50 Nova Albion Way	San Rafael	94903	Marin County	Miller Creek Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 492-3750	408	16	25.5	19.6%	205 (50.2%)	3 (0.7%)	121 (29.7%)	18 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (15.0%)	84.2	948^th of 5857 public elementary schools	83.8%		86.4	890^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.8%	58	63.3		63.3	54.8	60.6	75.6				64.6	60.3	65.2	58.2				61.1				$30,303	$507	$29,796
Short Elementary	Public	K	35 Marin St.	San Rafael	94901	Marin County	San Rafael City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 485-3793	91	5	20.2	83.5%	5 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (90.1%)	3 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.1%)								(n/a)
Ross Elementary	Public	K-8	9 Lagunitas Rd.	Ross	94957	Marin County	Ross Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 457-2705	339	28	12.2	0.9%	264 (77.9%)	2 (0.6%)	24 (7.1%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (12.7%)	98.8	20^th of 5857 public elementary schools	99.7%		97.2	144^th of 5869 public elementary schools	97.5%	124	75.8	69.7	72.7	93.6	86.4	84.9	91.8	88.2	87.9	88.8	100.0	93.2	87.9	89.6	82.4	87.9	90.1				$30,322	$717	$29,605
Coleman Elementary	Public	K-5	800 Belle Ave.	San Rafael	94901	Marin County	San Rafael City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 485-2420	378	17	22.2	60.8%	125 (33.1%)	6 (1.6%)	208 (55.0%)	15 (4.0%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	61.4	1994^th of 5857 public elementary schools	66.0%		51.4	2482^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	57.7%	488	42.6		42.6	46.7	48.9	48.3				47.9	58.1	42.6	42.9				48.3	92.3		96.2	$18,835	$1,503	$17,332
Venetia Valley K-8	Public	K-8	177 North San Pedro Rd.	San Rafael	94903	Marin County	San Rafael City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 492-3150	748	36	21.0	87.7%	60 (8.0%)	1 (0.1%)	651 (87.0%)	17 (2.3%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.1%)	25	4405^th of 5857 public elementary schools	24.8%		19.9	4874^th of 5869 public elementary schools	17.0%	469	26.0	14.7	20.4	18.1	24.3	37.3	20.8	20.3	26.7	24.6	20.0	30.0	33.8	22.1	17.7	32.4	25.9	96.8			$18,849	$1,648	$17,201
Hidden Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	46 Green Valley Ct.	San Anselmo	94960	Marin County	Ross Valley Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 454-7683	274	12	22.8	8.4%	194 (70.8%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (11.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (16.4%)	94.7	359^th of 5857 public elementary schools	93.9%		97.4	133^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	97.7%	226	63.8		63.8	71.1	84.6	77.1				77.6	82.1	82.1	68.8				77.0				$17,508	$688	$16,820
Laurel Dell Elementary	Public	K-5	225 Woodland Ave.	San Rafael	94901	Marin County	San Rafael City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(415) 485-2317	287	12	23.9	93.7%	15 (5.2%)	5 (1.7%)	261 (90.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	44.8	2896^th of 5857 public elementary schools	50.6%		48.4	2644^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.9%	252	10.2		10.2	24.4	59.2	46.9				44.1	23.9	54.9	42.0				40.8	94.3		95.7	$19,099	$1,971	$17,128

Frequently Asked Questions about Sun Valley Elementary

Is Sun Valley Elementary a good school?

Yes. Sun Valley Elementary ranks in the top 8.6% of California elementary schools.

How many students attend Sun Valley Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 523 students attended Sun Valley Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Sun Valley Elementary?

Students at Sun Valley Elementary are 55% White, 28% Hispanic, 11% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Sun Valley Elementary attend?

Students who attend Sun Valley Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : James B. Davidson Middle
High : San Rafael High
High : Terra Linda High

What district is Sun Valley Elementary in?

San Rafael City Elementary

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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.