Fabrication Studio
A large, open space configured as needed, with an assembly area up front and big equipment in back.
About Sonoma Academy
Known, seen, and celebrated.
Sonoma County’s only private, independent, college preparatory high school, on 34 acres at the base of Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa.
Our mission
Creative, ethical, and committed to learning.
Sonoma Academy calls its students to be creative, ethical, and committed to learning. The school nurtures inspiring teachers and engages with the surrounding community, and its students communicate across cultures as they prepare to become leaders in a dynamic world.
To discover your true self, to develop a passion for learning that extends beyond grades, to connect with peers across interests, grade levels, backgrounds and experiences, to express gratitude and appreciation to and for one another, to honor different perspectives, and to respect the world around you: these are the values of an SA education, and one that prepares our students to lead a purposeful life.
Teenhood
Four short years, from childhood to adulthood.
The change from 8th grade to 12th grade is rivaled only by the change from 1 month to 4 years. During this time of radical development, a sense of belonging and powerful connections with peers become paramount.
In the right environment, the desire to belong works as it should: helping students feel connected to a community that enhances their wellbeing and supports them in becoming the best versions of themselves. And while teens move along the pathway to adulthood, they still need and cherish opportunities to play and have fun. We build all of this into the school day and year.
Our philosophy
Teenagers are wired to learn.
Our philosophy rests on what we know about adolescence, and on the teachers and community that help it flourish.
01
High school is too important to leave to chance.
Our faculty and staff are trained professionals, deeply knowledgeable both in their subject areas and in adolescent development.
02
Extraordinary capacities are ready to emerge, or could go dormant.
The teenage brain is wired to take risks, and is ruled by impulse rather than logic because the prefrontal cortex is not yet developed.
03
Teens need a rich, challenging, multifaceted program.
Students complete a rigorous liberal arts curriculum of core and elective courses in humanities, math and science, world languages, and the arts.
04
Teachers can make or break a teen’s curiosity.
All of our teachers are great teachers: recruited nationally, evaluated on their teaching, and given ongoing training.
05
Teenagers profoundly influence, and are influenced by, their classmates.
Ethics and character are being developed at the same time as an overwhelming need to fit in socially.
Sonoma Academy at a glance.
335
students, 30% of whom self-identify as students of color
34
acres, surrounded by 1,000 acres of protected open space
12:1
student to teacher ratio, with an average class size of 16
17
languages besides English spoken in our students’ homes
85%
of faculty hold advanced degrees
50%
of families receive tuition assistance
Head of School
Percy L. Abram, Ph.D.
Percy joined Sonoma Academy in the summer of 2025. He was previously Head of School at The Bush School in Seattle and at Gateway School in Santa Cruz, and Upper Division Director at Brentwood School in Los Angeles. Early in his career, he directed multicultural services at Menlo School and taught Spanish at Brewster Academy.
He holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Education from UCLA, and an M.A. in Sociology and a Ph.D. from Stanford University.
Our campus
A campus built for exploring.
From the Fabrication Studio to the Buckeye Tree, every space is designed for a different kind of learning.
Recording Studio
A separate control room, soundproofing and a green screen for original music, podcasts and broadcasts.
The Commons
Where we eat, study, play games, and enjoy tea and toast between classes, indoors and out.
Teaching Kitchen
Induction stovetops and a double oven for learning the culture of food, cooking techniques and nutrition.
Library
Over 12,000 books, CDs and DVDs, 15 subscription databases, and a full-time librarian.
Gymnasium
Home of the Coyotes, and of Community Meetings, dodgeball, pick-up games and PE.
Ziemer Field
An all-weather turf field named for Athletic Director Chris Ziemer, saving millions of gallons of water a year.
Jackson Banke Amphitheater
Named for a founding Trustee, it hosts outdoor events and is a lovely place to hang out.
Leadership
Meet our leadership.
Just like our students, each of our staff and faculty members (we call ourselves “staffulty”) brings unique perspective, passion, and expertise.
Percy L. Abram, Ph.D.
Head of School
Juliet Clothier
Chief Financial & Operating Officer
Janine Extavour
Director of Teaching & Learning
Luc Martin
Director of Admissions and Enrollment
Jessica Walton
Director of Student Experience and Belonging
Oona McKnight
Director of Academic Services; Registrar
Rolando Crisostomo
Director of College Counseling
Caroline Adams
Director of Counseling
Visit
See it in person.
Open House, Visit Days and our virtual tour are the best ways to get a feel for life at Sonoma Academy.