Sonoma Academy
Sonoma Academy is a private, independent, co-ed college preparatory high school in Santa Rosa, California, serving 335 students in grades 9-12 from Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 100% college placement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersSanta Rosa, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sonoma Academy does
Sonoma Academy is a private, independent, co-educational college preparatory high school serving 335 students in grades 9-12 on a 34-acre campus at the base of Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa, California. Founded in 2004, the school is the only private, independent college preparatory high school in Sonoma County and draws students from 30+ cities across Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties. The school offers 85+ courses including Advanced Studies (AS) courses exceeding AP rigor, alongside signature programs such as Intersession (immersive experiential learning between semesters), the Passport Program (which includes a free first international Intersession trip), Health & Wellness Education, and Academic Concentrations. The co-curricular program includes 8 varsity/JV sports, visual and performing arts (60% student participation), competitive speech & debate, and robotics, with 30+ leadership opportunities available.
The institution operates as a nonprofit organization with no publicly traded equity, no parent company, and no institutional investors. Revenue is generated through tuition and fees, supplemented by fundraising via the Sonoma Academy Fund, with approximately 50% of families receiving roughly $5.2 million in tuition assistance annually (average award $27,000). The go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer: prospective families engage through Open House events, Visit Days, virtual tours, and word-of-mouth referrals from current families. Technology infrastructure is centered on a Blackbaud-powered mySA student portal for academic administration, with campus systems including geothermal HVAC, solar panel monitoring, and standard A/V.
The school is led by Percy L. Abram, Ph.D. (Head of School since summer 2025; prior Head of School at The Bush School in Seattle) and Juliet Clothier (Chief Financial and Operating Officer, with prior CFO/COO roles at Glide Foundation and United Way Bay Area). Additional leadership includes Rolando Crisostomo (Director of College Counseling), Luc Martin (Director of Admissions and Enrollment), Megan Malone (Director of Marketing & Communications), and Chris Ziemer (Director of Athletics & Physical Education, 20-year tenure). The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1 with average class size of 16, and 85% of faculty hold advanced degrees. Outcomes include 100% college-bound rate, 92% acceptance to top-five college choices for the Class of 2023, and 53%+ of that class receiving merit scholarships averaging $19,356 annually.
Sonoma Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sonoma Academy
- Legal name
- Sonoma Academy
- Website
- https://sonomaacademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Sonoma Academy is a private, independent, co-ed college preparatory high school in Santa Rosa, California, serving 335 students in grades 9-12 from Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 100% college placement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sonoma Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private College Preparatory Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)
Keywords
Where Sonoma Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Rosa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sonoma Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Private school tuition revenue supplemented by tuition assistance programs funded by donations. The school collects tuition from families and provides financial aid to approximately 50% of families totaling $5.2 million annually.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Tuition assistance available to 50% of families |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Sonoma Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sonoma Academy is a private, independent, co-ed college preparatory high school serving 335 students on a 34-acre campus in Santa Rosa, California. It provides 85+ college preparatory courses including Advanced Studies (AS) courses that exceed AP rigor, supplemented by signature experiential programs (Intersession, Passport Program, Health & Wellness Education), comprehensive College Counseling, athletics, visual and performing arts, robotics, and speech & debate. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, with approximately 50% of families receiving tuition assistance averaging $27,000 per year.
Product overview
Sonoma Academy is a private, independent, co-ed college preparatory high school serving 335 students on a 34-acre campus in Santa Rosa, CA. The institution offers a unified educational program centered on college preparatory academics with Advanced Studies (AS) courses exceeding AP standards, complemented by signature programs including Intersession (immersive experiential learning), the Passport Program (international cultural exchange), Health & Wellness Education, and comprehensive College Counseling. The school supports student development through athletics (8 sports), robotics, speech & debate, and visual/performing arts. A Blackbaud-powered student portal (mySA) provides families access to academic information. The institution is the only private, independent college preparatory high school in Sonoma County.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- College Preparatory High School Education Core four-year college preparatory program for grades 9-12, offering 85+ courses across STEM, Humanities, World Languages, and Visual & Performing Arts, including Advanced Studies (AS) courses designed to exceed AP rigor. Delivered on a 34-acre Santa Rosa, CA campus serving 335 students from more than 30 cities across Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties.
- Signature Programs: Intersession Immersive alternative learning experience between semesters that takes students outside the traditional classroom for exploration, risk-taking, travel, and experiential learning. Runs as a recurring offering each year.
- Passport Program International cultural exchange program providing students the opportunity to learn to communicate across cultures; every student receives one free international Intersession.
- Health & Wellness Education Signature program developing student competencies to navigate the transition to adulthood, including social-emotional learning and wellness education.
- College Counseling Comprehensive college preparation service delivering 50 hours of in-class college counseling plus up to 20 hours of in-person one-on-one counseling per student, with 80-90 college admissions representatives visiting campus annually. Drives a 100% college-bound rate and 92% top-five college acceptance.
- Athletics Program Athletic program offering eight sports at Varsity and JV levels. Teams have earned 74 League Championships, 15 NCS Championships, and 4 State Titles.
- Visual & Performing Arts Program Comprehensive arts program spanning music, theater arts, visual arts, and dance, with 60% of students participating in performing arts.
- Speech & Debate Program Award-winning policy debate team ranked #1 in the Golden Gate Speech Association for four consecutive years.
- Robotics Program Competitive robotics team that has qualified for World Championships and received multiple national awards.
- Davis Scholars Program Scholarship pathway for admitted students integrated into the broader student support function led by the Director of Student Support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92% of 2023 graduates accepted into one of their top five choice colleges
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Sonoma Academy
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Sonoma Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sonoma Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sonoma Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Bush School: The Bush School is an independent K–12 school in Seattle, WA, with a comparable college-prep mission and roughly similar scale. The new Head of School of Sonoma Academy previously served as Head of School at The Bush School, where he managed a $28M operating budget, making it a strong operational benchmark.
- Woodside Priory School: Woodside Priory is a private Benedictine college preparatory school in Portola Valley, CA, akin to Sonoma Academy in serving Bay Area families seeking rigorous college-prep education. Sonoma Academy's Director of College Counseling previously held the same role at Woodside Priory, indicating direct operational comparability.
- New Roads School: New Roads School is a private, independent K–12 school in Santa Monica, CA, with a comparable progressive college-prep curriculum and emphasis on experiential learning. The new Director of Teaching and Learning at Sonoma Academy previously served as Academic Dean at New Roads.
- Marin Academy: Marin Academy is a private, independent college preparatory high school in San Rafael, CA, directly comparable to Sonoma Academy in scale, mission, and Bay Area/regional private school positioning. Both serve similar families seeking college-prep education in the North Bay counties.
- Gateway School: Gateway School is an independent K–8 school in Santa Cruz, CA, where the new Head of School of Sonoma Academy previously served as Head of School. Comparable in mission and small-scale independent school operating model in California.
- The Branson School: The Branson School is a private co-ed college preparatory school in Ross, CA (Marin County), serving a similar demographic of families in the North Bay region. Comparable to Sonoma Academy in size, tuition point, and rigorous college-prep curriculum.
- Menlo School: Menlo School is a private, independent college preparatory school in Atherton, CA (Grades 6–12), serving affluent Bay Area families with rigorous college-prep academics. Highly comparable to Sonoma Academy in mission, selectivity, and college counseling emphasis; the incoming Head of School previously served as Director of Multicultural Services at Menlo.
- Crystal Springs Uplands School: Crystal Springs Uplands is a private, independent college preparatory school in Hillsborough, CA (Grades 6–12), serving a similar Bay Area affluent family demographic. Comparable in scale, college-prep rigor, and emphasis on individualized college counseling.
- Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes School: Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes is a private Episcopal K–12 college preparatory school in Alexandria, VA, with comparable emphasis on rigorous college-prep academics, arts, and athletics. A faculty member at Sonoma Academy previously taught History there, indicating similar operational scale and mission.
Regional players
- Justin Siena High School: Justin Siena High School is a private Catholic college preparatory school in Napa, CA, also serving families from Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties. Comparable regional private school competitor in the same North Bay catchment area.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sonoma Academy social profiles
Digital presenceSonoma Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sonoma Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Sonoma Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sonoma Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sonoma Academy
What does Sonoma Academy do?
Sonoma Academy is a private, independent, co-ed college preparatory high school serving 335 students on a 34-acre campus in Santa Rosa, California. It provides 85+ college preparatory courses including Advanced Studies (AS) courses that exceed AP rigor, supplemented by signature experiential programs (Intersession, Passport Program, Health & Wellness Education), comprehensive College Counseling, athletics, visual and performing arts, robotics, and speech & debate. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, with approximately 50% of families receiving tuition assistance averaging $27,000 per year.
Is Sonoma Academy a public or private company?
Sonoma Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Sonoma Academy founded?
Sonoma Academy was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Sonoma Academy based?
Sonoma Academy is headquartered in Santa Rosa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sonoma Academy make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition and Fees.
Who are Sonoma Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Bush School, Woodside Priory School, New Roads School, Marin Academy, Gateway School, The Branson School, Menlo School, Crystal Springs Uplands School and Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes School. Justin Siena High School is listed as a regional player.
Does Sonoma Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sonoma Academy.
What industry is Sonoma Academy in?
Sonoma Academy's product category is Private College Preparatory Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAA, Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.