Santa Rosa Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Santa Rosa Elementary

Santa Rosa Elementary School District serves kindergarten through eighth grade across multiple campuses in Santa Rosa, California. The district is in the midst of significant structural change driven by fiscal pressure and declining enrollment.

On the academic side, state test results show persistent challenges across proficiency measures. In English language arts, the district's overall proficiency rate hovers in the low range. The strongest performance is in sixth grade, where proficiency is somewhat higher, but this drops considerably in seventh and eighth grades. Math proficiency is notably lower across all grade levels tested, with the steepest declines in the upper grades. Science proficiency at both tested grades is similarly low. These patterns suggest students struggle more with math and science, and that performance tends to weaken in the middle grades. The district's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among Sonoma County districts, and chronic absenteeism sits well above the county median, which can compound academic challenges.

The district serves a majority-Hispanic student population alongside smaller populations of White, Asian, and multiracial students. Enrollment totals around mid-size for the grade bands served, though this has shifted significantly due to recent school closures.

The housing market in the district's Santa Rosa catchment area is expensive, with median home values in a range well above the state average and rents reflecting similarly high cost of living. This means families choosing homes in the district are making a substantial long-term commitment to the area.

The district faces acute operational stress. It closed two elementary schools in June 2025 and has planned a third closure for June 2026. The receiving schools are now markedly overcrowded, with class sizes for elementary grades after kindergarten projected to reach around 32 students per class, among the largest the district has targeted. Since 2024, the district has eliminated over 50 teaching and counseling positions and cut mental-health staff, directly reducing support services. Grade configurations have been restructured, with some campuses converting to serve only kindergarten through third grade while others consolidate upper elementary and middle grades in different arrangements.

A Measure G bond approved in 2022 funds facility repairs and upgrades but carries property-tax implications for homeowners through 2059. The district has also been considering a parcel tax to address ongoing budget deficits, and a citizens group formed in 2026 to pursue one via ballot initiative, which would add another property-tax layer if approved.

A parent considering enrollment should weigh the current academic results against the classroom conditions created by consolidation and staffing cuts. The volatile district environment means families moving into the area will encounter an actively restructuring school system with significantly larger classes and reduced specialized support than existed before 2024.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

4,741

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 66%

Black 2%

White 23%

Asian 3%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

23%

—

Gr 3

18%

55%

Gr 4

18%

55%

Gr 5

21%

64%

Gr 6

32%

59%

Gr 7

35%

39%

Gr 8

22%

38%

Math

Gr ALL

17%

—

Gr 3

22%

55%

Gr 4

17%

48%

Gr 5

12%

45%

Gr 6

20%

47%

Gr 7

13%

24%

Gr 8

16%

Science

Gr 5

13%

54%

Gr 8

17%

Gr HS

12%

—

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

Brook Hill Elementary

Luther Burbank Elementary

Santa Rosa French-American Charter (SRFACS)

Helen M. Lehman Elementary

Hidden Valley Elementary

Abraham Lincoln Elementary

James Monroe Elementary

Proctor Terrace Elementary

Steele Lane Elementary

Albert F. Biella Elementary

Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts

Cesar Chavez Language Academy

Lewis Early Learning Academy

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

33%

Grade 3

26%

Grade 4

21%

Grade 5

28%

Grade 6

16%

Grade 7

11%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

30%

Grade 3

29%

Grade 4

33%

Grade 5

40%

Grade 6

36%

Grade 7

27%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

24%

Grade 5

12%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

32%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$747,472

Year-over-year change-2.1%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$635K to $822K

vs. state typical0.96x

vs. national typical2.03x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95404	Santa Rosa	$822K	-1.7%	40.5%
95403	Santa Rosa	$730K	-2.6%	27.7%
95401	Santa Rosa	$656K	-2.7%	24.7%
95405	Santa Rosa	$742K	+0.2%	4.9%
95407	Santa Rosa	$635K	-2.1%	2.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,552/mo

Year-over-year change-0.3%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$2,339 to $2,814/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95404	Santa Rosa	$2,494	+0.1%	40.5%
95403	Santa Rosa	$2,814	+0.6%	27.7%
95401	Santa Rosa	$2,339	-2.8%	24.7%
95405	Santa Rosa	$2,632	+2.0%	4.9%
95407	Santa Rosa	$2,540	+2.9%	2.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$3,772/mo

Home price / national median income8.9x

Annual rent / national median income36.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,219/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.