Wilson Elementary, Petaluma CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Wilson Elementary

Wilson Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Petaluma, a historic river town in Sonoma County with a walkable downtown anchored by boutiques, galleries, and music venues, surrounded by residential neighborhoods and business corridors. The school enrolls a small, relatively stable cohort of students in a single-building district that serves no other schools.

The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students. About a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. English learner and special education enrollment figures were not available in the data.

On the 2024-25 CAASPP assessments, Wilson's results show mixed performance across grade levels. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from half of third graders to nearly three-fifths of both fourth and sixth graders, with fifth grade notably lower. Math proficiency varies more unevenly: fourth grade reaches above three-fifths, but third, fifth, and especially sixth grade fall below or well below the half-proficiency mark, with sixth-grade math proficiency substantially lower than upper elementary grades. Science proficiency, measured only in fifth grade, sits below two-fifths. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint relative to other districts in Sonoma County, but the pattern suggests students may face growing difficulty with math as they move through upper elementary.

The district has faced labor relations strain in recent years. Publicly reported contract negotiations between the district and the teachers union reached impasse and moved to mediation in early 2026, with the union seeking salary increases, expanded medical coverage, and classroom aides while the district offered more modest raises. The district's superintendent has directed efforts to increase teacher compensation by drawing down financial reserves, a choice that reflects a commitment to staff retention but limits long-term flexibility. Additionally, a voter-approved parcel tax that had supplemented school funding expired, and a ballot attempt to renew it fell short of the two-thirds threshold required. The loss of that local supplemental revenue has direct implications for arts, music, counseling, and technology programs.

Petaluma itself is experiencing steady growth, with ongoing development including transit-oriented housing near the new SMART North station and contested proposals for larger neighborhood additions. Home values in the area are substantial, and rental costs run high relative to local income. The town's civic life is layered, with walkable downtown mini-districts offering restaurants and galleries, free public transit including the SMART rail line, and riverfront parks. Most residents drive for daily needs, though the downtown core itself invites foot traffic.

For a family considering Wilson, the school offers the stability and community feel of a small K-6 elementary in a walkable town with clear civic anchors. The recent labor turbulence and parcel tax lapse are realities to discuss with the school directly, as they touch on staffing continuity and program breadth. The academic profile, with uneven math performance in upper grades, is worth exploring in conversation with school leadership to understand support structures and curriculum choices. A parent may want to look into the current status of contract resolution and any planned responses to the funding gap.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 355%

School 55% · District 55%

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

Grade 462%

School 62% · District 60% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 552%

School 52% · District 52%

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

Grade 635%

School 35% · District 35%

▲ 4 pts above state median · even with county median

English language arts

Grade 350%

School 50% · District 50%

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

Grade 459%

School 59% · District 57% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 548%

School 48% · District 48%

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

Grade 659%

School 59% · District 59%

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

Science

Grade 538%

School 38% · District 38%

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

This schoolWilmar Union 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-income33%Higher-income57%24 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income50%Higher-income57%7 pp gap