Heartwood Charter, Petaluma CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Heartwood Charter

Heartwood Charter is a kindergarten-through-twelfth-grade charter school based in Petaluma that currently operates two distinct program tracks, a shift that redefines what enrollment here means. The school's original model was independent study and homeschool instruction, parent-led and flexible. In recent years the school has added a five-day-a-week, in-person, nature-based Waldorf program for TK through eighth grade, housed at the Bothin Resource Center near Fairfax in Marin County on wooded land with Waldorf-trained teachers. Families must choose between these two pathways when enrolling: the Bothin in-person Waldorf track or the home-based independent-study model that serves K-12. This dual structure is now central to understanding the school's identity.

The student body reflects a mix typical of Sonoma County charters. Enrollment is modest in absolute size but substantial for its charter status, and a minority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with a meaningful share of students identifying as two or more races or Hispanic, and small numbers of Asian and Black students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.

In state testing, Heartwood shows a split picture. English language arts performance is notably stronger than mathematics. Across tested grades, English proficiency sits at a level above the midpoint among districts in Sonoma County. The strength in English is consistent across grades, with upper-middle grades showing higher proficiency than lower ones. Mathematics performance is weaker, with proficiency rates in the lower-to-middle range across all tested grades, and notably lower than the English results. Science proficiency, measured at fifth and eighth grades, falls in the moderate range. The school has only one year of comparable data, so long-term trends cannot be assessed. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Sonoma County districts, but this composite masks a meaningful weakness in mathematics that a parent should understand.

The Petaluma area where the school is based is a mix of historic downtown riverfront and modern suburban development. The downtown core, anchored around the Petaluma River, holds walkable mini-districts with shops, galleries, and restaurants in preserved iron-front buildings. Beyond that core, the city spreads into auto-oriented residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors. The broader Petaluma market reflects housing costs well above California's state median and notably above the national average, with monthly rents reflecting the regional affordability constraints that define North Bay life. The region supports major employers in health care, manufacturing, and retail, with locally based companies including food producers, brewing, and renewable energy firms. A new SMART rail station opened in January 2025 on Petaluma's north side, positioning the area for continued transit-oriented development.

Heartwood's own enrollment has grown substantially in recent years, reaching a mid-sized student body across thirteen grades. For families considering enrollment, the most practical takeaway is that both program tracks now carry enrollment caps and use waitlists and lottery systems during open-enrollment windows. This means families should plan applications around those seasonal cycles rather than expecting open-ended availability. The choice between the in-person Waldorf experience at Bothin and home-based independent study is fundamental and shapes the entire family's weekly rhythm and pedagogical approach. A parent may want to visit both settings and speak directly with the school about which program aligns with their student's learning style and their family's capacity for home-based engagement.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

Not publicly reportedCohort of 4 students · Class of 2021

The federal source does not publish a graduation rate for cohorts this small. The cohort size is shown for context.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

2,394 schools plotted. 142 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 338%

School 38% · district not reported

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 431%

School 31% · district not reported

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 540%

School 40% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 639%

School 39% · district not reported

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 735%

School 35% · district not reported

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 835%

School 35% · district not reported

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 342%

School 42% · district not reported

▲ 1 pts above state median · even with county median

Grade 452%

School 52% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 562%

School 62% · district not reported

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 663%

School 63% · district not reported

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

Grade 754%

School 54% · district not reported

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 865%

School 65% · district not reported

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Science

Grade 554%

School 54% · district not reported

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 853%

School 53% · district not reported

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income45%Higher-income40%5 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income43%Higher-income57%14 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income49%Higher-income79%30 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income55%Higher-income66%11 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income40%Higher-income61%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income71%Higher-income60%11 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income39%Higher-income38%2 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income18%Higher-income38%20 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income34%Higher-income48%14 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income25%Higher-income46%21 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income33%Higher-income36%2 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income53%Higher-income24%28 pp gap