Hidden Valley Elementary, Santa Rosa CA

Original Research by School Decision on Hidden Valley Elementary

Hidden Valley Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Santa Rosa, a mixed-character county seat where residential neighborhoods range from urban downtown lofts to single-family districts. The school sits in the Bonita Vista area, part of the Santa Rosa City Elementary School District, which has been undergoing significant consolidation and restructuring over the past two years.

The school's most recent state test results show uneven performance across subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, results vary considerably: third grade sits at solid ground, fourth grade dips lower, but fifth and sixth grades recover, with sixth graders showing notably strong proficiency. Math results are weaker overall, with third and sixth grades near the middle range and fourth and fifth grades substantially below. Science proficiency in the tested grade (fifth) falls below half. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, the school's overall proficiency sits slightly above the midpoint among the county's districts, but the grade-by-grade volatility suggests uneven support or instruction across the building or changing student cohorts.

Enrollment stands at a modest size for an elementary school, with a notably larger kindergarten and smaller upper grades. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, an indicator of economic need. The student body is roughly split between white and Hispanic students, with Asian students forming the next-largest group, and smaller numbers of students from other backgrounds. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available, so the full scope of students needing specialized support is unclear.

The broader district context matters considerably for families considering Hidden Valley. The Santa Rosa City Elementary School District closed two campuses in 2025, with a third closure planned for 2026, consolidating students into remaining schools. This consolidation has crowded receiving schools; staff cuts have reduced counseling, wellness, and teaching positions by more than fifty since 2024; and target class sizes have risen substantially, with elementary classes above kindergarten projected to reach about thirty-two students. These operational changes directly affect the classroom experience. Additionally, voters approved a long-term bond in 2022 (Measure G) for facility upgrades, and the district has signaled interest in a parcel tax to stabilize finances. Families moving into the area will encounter ongoing property-tax costs tied to school funding.

Santa Rosa itself offers mixed walkability and park access. Downtown has concentrated walkable commercial life around Courthouse Square and Fourth Street, with farmers markets and civic events, but most neighborhoods are more car-dependent. An interconnected system of city and county parks adjoins wilderness, allowing recreation from urban streets into trails and preserves. The city prioritizes infill growth within its urban boundary rather than sprawl, with recent downtown housing projects underway and new zoning to allow duplexes and smaller apartments near transit. Housing values in the zip code are well above the state benchmark, and affordability remains a challenge; rents are moderate but home purchase carries a high ratio to local income.

Hidden Valley's solid overall proficiency position and mixed grade-level results suggest a school with some academic foundation but notable gaps, particularly in math and in the fourth and fifth grades. The school's fit depends partly on where a family stands on class size and staffing support at a time when the district is lean. Given the district's fiscal constraints and ongoing reconfiguration, parents may want to discuss with the school its specific staffing, class composition, and support resources to understand the tangible environment for their child.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 357%

School 57% · District 33% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 439%

School 39% · District 26% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 21% · ▲ 15 pts above district

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

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 28% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 350%

School 50% · District 30% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 446%

School 46% · District 29% · ▲ 16 pts above district

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

Grade 559%

School 59% · District 33% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 677%

School 77% · District 40% · ▲ 38 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Science

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 24% · ▲ 18 pts above district

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

This schoolSanta Rosa Elementary, 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-income30%Higher-income61%31 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income30%Higher-income54%24 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income44%Higher-income71%27 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income77%Higher-income77%0 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income31%Higher-income71%40 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income15%Higher-income51%36 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income16%Higher-income54%38 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income45%Higher-income63%18 pp gap