Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. Charter schools are authorized by a local public school district board or county board of education. They can be created, designed, and operated by a group of teachers, parents, and community leaders. They are paid for with tax dollars and open to all who wish to attend them.

The charter creating each school is a contract that outlines the school’s program, goals, students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. Charter schools must show their sponsor agency that they can produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. Charters are granted in California for five years at a time. At the end of the initial term, the school can apply for a five-year renewal to the school board that granted the charter.

There are about 53 charter schools in Sonoma County. There are different ways to access the list of charter schools and/or information about them.

CDE Listing of Sonoma County Charter Schools
This listing is from the California Department of Education’s official records of charter schools. It provides links to school websites and statistical reports.

Find a School
This is an online directory of Sonoma County public schools, which includes charter schools. School addresses, websites, and administrator contacts are provided.