Petaluma Junior High

Summary:

Petaluma Junior High is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in the Petaluma Joint Union High School District, with 451 students located in Petaluma, CA. While the district is ranked 447 out of 1568 in California and rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger, Petaluma Junior High appears to be underperforming compared to the district and state averages, particularly in academic achievement as measured by standardized test scores.

The school's test scores are generally lower than the district and state averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, Petaluma Junior High had 42.4% proficiency in ELA End of Course, compared to 54.31% for the district and 47.04% for the state. In math, the school had 32.14% proficiency in End of Course, compared to 37.44% for the district and 35.54% for the state. Additionally, Petaluma Junior High has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 7.4% in 2018-2019 to 20.6% in 2022-2023, which is higher than the state average. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 39.6% to 45.91% over the past few years.

Comparing Petaluma Junior High to nearby schools highlights the need for the school to identify and address the factors contributing to its lower performance. For instance, Petaluma Accelerated Charter significantly outperforms Petaluma Junior High and the district in academic achievement, while Kenilworth Junior High, another middle school in the same district, performs better academically with test scores closer to the district averages. Strategies to improve student engagement, attendance, and academic support could be beneficial for Petaluma Junior High.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 700 Bantam Way
       Petaluma, CA  94952-1709


(707) 778-4724

District: Petaluma Joint Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
1214th of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $7,551 Help


Students who attend Petaluma Junior High usually attend:

High:    Petaluma High

Feeder schools for Petaluma Junior High:

Elementary:    Cinnabar Charter
    Dunham Charter
    Grant Elementary
    Laguna Elementary
    More...

Student/teacher ratio:  20.5 Help
Number of students:  451

Racial breakdown:

White:
60.1%
Hispanic:
31.9%
Two or more races:
4.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  41% Help


 See top rated California middle schools

 Compare Petaluma Junior High to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Petaluma Junior High ranks better than 56.3% of middle schools in California. It also ranks last among 3 ranked middle schools in the Petaluma Joint Union High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 47.91. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (60.1%), Hispanic (31.9%), two or more races (4.2%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 41% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Petaluma Junior High is 20.5. 1 middle schools in the Petaluma Joint Union High School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Petaluma Junior High employs 22 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Petaluma Junior High is $7,551, which is the highest among 3 middle schools in the Petaluma Joint Union High School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Petaluma Junior High:

SchoolDigger ranks Petaluma Junior High 1214th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See Petaluma Junior High in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Petaluma Joint Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Petaluma Joint Union High 447th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Petaluma Junior High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 69.18 443rd 1769 75.0%
2005 68.96 462nd 1777 74.0%
2006 74.48 387th 1804 78.5%
2007 73.27 416th 1999 79.2%
2008 72.65 436th 2005 78.3%
2009 71.00 489th 2063 76.3%
2010 74.77 431st 2179 80.2%
2011 77.70 345th 2236 84.6%
2012 65.51 689th 2259 69.5%
2013 70.18 590th 2379 75.2%
2015 83.23 368th 2477 85.1%
2016 81.67 409th 2497 83.6%
2017 75.54 562nd 2508 77.6%
2018 63.03 779th 2480 68.6%
2019 62.55 852nd 2715 68.6%
2021 62.11 299th 894 66.6%
2022 62.80 835th 2740 69.5%
2023 60.26 896th 2802 68.0%
2024 47.91 1214th 2777 56.3%
See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 47.27 358th 665 46.2%
2023 83.49 83rd 678 87.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.83 578th 1364 57.6%
2019 45.85 524th 1442 63.7%
2021 28.63 327th 363 9.9%
2023 28.66 1294th 1529 15.4%
2024 33.64 1029th 1477 30.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 44.48 671st 1538 56.4%
2024 40.90 750th 1550 51.6%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.89 1232nd 2230 44.8%
2019 46.74 1116th 2369 52.9%
2021 50.34 295th 721 59.1%
2022 56.13 837th 2458 65.9%
2023 55.26 876th 2549 65.6%
2024 39.46 1392nd 2575 45.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.90 745th 2262 67.1%
2019 64.90 731st 2380 69.3%
2021 68.52 199th 738 73.0%
2022 59.09 834th 2509 66.8%
2023 51.01 1033rd 2547 59.4%
2024 49.40 1075th 2546 57.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.40 499th 1369 63.6%
2019 54.79 475th 1491 68.1%
2021 43.87 150th 354 57.6%
2022 51.34 543rd 1531 64.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 67.86 57th 193 70.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 61.46 747th 2273 67.1%
2019 58.23 842nd 2407 65.0%
2021 54.74 310th 763 59.4%
2022 65.03 716th 2527 71.7%
2023 66.59 684th 2558 73.3%
2024 44.90 1211th 2547 52.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.04 851st 2072 58.9%
2019 45.65 1072nd 2213 51.6%
2022 46.94 1078th 2359 54.3%
2023 39.12 1300th 2391 45.6%
2024 38.49 1350th 2383 43.3%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Petaluma Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.85 714th 1496 52.3%
2019 52.13 751st 1602 53.1%
2022 52.16 728th 1555 53.2%
2023 48.35 771st 1552 50.3%
2024 34.84 983rd 1535 36.0%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Petaluma Junior High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Petaluma Junior High

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 539 8 19 31 0 n/a n/a 0 597
1989 523 5 12 40 2 n/a n/a 0 582
1990 567 5 12 66 3 n/a n/a 0 653
1991 586 6 16 60 4 n/a n/a 0 672
1992 613 8 21 39 2 n/a n/a 0 683
1993 653 12 21 57 3 n/a n/a 0 746
1994 683 10 11 74 3 n/a n/a 0 781
1995 734 5 18 72 8 n/a n/a 0 837
1996 734 5 18 72 8 n/a n/a 0 837
1997 703 12 10 83 10 n/a n/a 0 818
1998 673 11 12 104 8 n/a n/a 0 808
1999 709 12 17 108 9 n/a n/a 6 861
2000 690 14 16 106 6 n/a n/a 15 847
2001 690 4 12 81 5 n/a n/a 18 810
2002 748 9 21 151 5 n/a n/a 0 934
2003 748 9 21 151 5 n/a n/a 0 934
2004 706 6 35 147 10 n/a n/a 3 907
2005 632 12 24 132 9 n/a n/a 2 811
2006 578 14 16 137 8 n/a n/a 3 756
2007 514 10 19 143 8 n/a n/a 22 716
2008 484 9 14 138 6 n/a n/a 0 651
2009 425 8 17 133 3 3 20 0 609
2010 465 15 16 133 5 6 6 0 646
2011 453 13 10 149 5 3 9 0 642
2012 423 6 11 189 3 3 12 0 647
2013 496 11 12 191 2 1 11 0 724
2014 516 12 17 178 8 1 17 0 749
2015 490 10 22 154 6 2 14 0 698
2016 437 5 16 148 3 4 25 0 638
2017 418 3 8 191 5 4 24 0 653
2018 411 4 8 188 5 3 22 0 641
2019 376 10 12 163 3 2 19 0 585
2020 334 7 12 173 3 1 28 0 558
2021 264 3 11 176 3 1 36 1 495
2022 278 3 7 169 2 3 38 1 501
2023 271 3 3 144 2 3 19 6 451

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Petaluma Junior High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 597 26.5 22.5 n/a
1989 582 26.5 21.9 n/a
1990 653 29.7 21.9 n/a
1991 672 31.9 21.0 n/a
1992 683 32.4 21.0 8.6
1993 746 30.0 24.9 9.1
1994 781 32.0 24.4 10.1
1995 837 34.3 24.4 12.3
1996 837 34.3 24.4 12.3
1997 818 35.2 23.2 18.3
1998 808 38.2 21.2 12.1
1999 861 38.6 22.3 15
2000 847 38.6 21.9 15.7
2001 810 37.0 21.9 11.1
2002 934 41.6 22.5 15.6
2003 934 41.6 22.5 15.6
2004 907 39.8 22.8 17.6
2005 811 36.2 22.4 19.5
2006 756 33.4 22.6 22
2007 716 n/a n/a n/a
2008 651 36.4 17.9 26
2009 609 30.0 17.3 24.8
2010 646 29.8 21.6 26.6
2011 642 n/a n/a 31.5
2012 647 29.4 22.0 n/a
2013 724 31.2 23.2 35.2
2014 749 31.4 23.8 31.6
2015 698 33.0 21.1 28.7
2016 638 29.0 22.0 35.7
2017 653 30.0 21.7 35.8
2018 641 29.2 21.8 28.9
2019 585 26.1 22.3 30.1
2020 558 n/a n/a 40
2021 495 24.0 20.6 39.6
2022 501 26.2 19.0 45.9
2023 451 22.0 20.5 41

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Petaluma Junior High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 597 26.5 22.5 n/a
1989 582 26.5 21.9 n/a
1990 653 29.7 21.9 n/a
1991 672 31.9 21.0 n/a
1992 683 32.4 21.0 8.6
1993 746 30.0 24.9 9.1
1994 781 32.0 24.4 10.1
1995 837 34.3 24.4 12.3
1996 837 34.3 24.4 12.3
1997 818 35.2 23.2 18.3
1998 808 38.2 21.2 12.1
1999 861 38.6 22.3 15
2000 847 38.6 21.9 15.7
2001 810 37.0 21.9 11.1
2002 934 41.6 22.5 15.6
2003 934 41.6 22.5 15.6
2004 907 39.8 22.8 17.6
2005 811 36.2 22.4 19.5
2006 756 33.4 22.6 22
2007 716 n/a n/a n/a
2008 651 36.4 17.9 26
2009 609 30.0 17.3 24.8
2010 646 29.8 21.6 26.6
2011 642 n/a n/a 31.5
2012 647 29.4 22.0 n/a
2013 724 31.2 23.2 35.2
2014 749 31.4 23.8 31.6
2015 698 33.0 21.1 28.7
2016 638 29.0 22.0 35.7
2017 653 30.0 21.7 35.8
2018 641 29.2 21.8 28.9
2019 585 26.1 22.3 30.1
2020 558 n/a n/a 40
2021 495 24.0 20.6 39.6
2022 501 26.2 19.0 45.9
2023 451 22.0 20.5 41

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Petaluma Junior High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $7,551

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Petaluma Junior High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 852nd of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 896th of 2802 Middle schools
 0.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Petaluma Junior High)62.147.1
 15%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Petaluma Joint Union High)64.458
 6.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Petaluma Junior High)4736.4
 10.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Petaluma Joint Union High)51.446.8
 4.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Petaluma Junior High)50.256.1
 6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Petaluma Joint Union High)56.351.3
 5%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Petaluma Junior High)33.229.1
 4.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Petaluma Joint Union High)4337.2
 5.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (Petaluma Junior High)34.631.1
 3.4%
   8th Grade Science (Petaluma Joint Union High)37.736.8
 0.9%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students585451
 22.9%
African American103
 70%
American Indian32
 33.3%
Asian123
 75%
Hispanic163144
 11.7%
Pacific Islander23
 50%
White376271
 27.9%
Two or More Races1919
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients30.1%41%
 10.9%


Schools Near Petaluma Junior High









Frequently Asked Questions about Petaluma Junior High

In the 2022-23 school year, 451 students attended Petaluma Junior High.

Students at Petaluma Junior High are 60% White, 32% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% Not Specified.

Petaluma Junior High ranks 1214th of 2777 California middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Petaluma Junior High usually go on to attend Petaluma High


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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.





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