About Us

All about Us!

Our district is home to two small, award-winning public schools in the rolling hills near Sebastopol, California. We provide strong academic programs and outstanding creative arts and music instruction in a safe, rural setting. The links for the California School Dashboard are below.

Gravenstein Union School District is a Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade school district with an enrollment of approximately 750 students. The district is located in the southeast rural section of Sebastopol in West Sonoma County.  Approximately 65% of the students attending our schools live outside of the original district boundaries. There are four schools in the district. Gravenstein School is a K-5 charter school with the exception of some first grade classes (called Gravenstein First School). Hillcrest Middle School is a 6th - 8th grade charter middle school; the district also has a Community Day School.

Gravenstein and Hillcrest's location reflect the rural nature of the community. The relatively small enrollment at each site, excellent staff and very involved parents have worked together to establish a student body that has achieved some of the highest California state test scores in Sonoma County for the last 15 years.

Enrichment CLASSES!

We are extremely proud of our "ENRICH! For All" program, a K-8 magnet program which includes drama, STEM, sports education, music and choir, maker lab, and many more classes designed to push our students to new heights!

Interested in our acclaimed Enrichment Classes for grades TK-8? Just click here!

Looking for a Great Middle School?

Hillcrest Middle School has the highest test scores in Sonoma County and rates 10 out of 10 in California's rankings.

Hillcrest has earned four California Distinguished Schools awards since 2000, the most of any Sonoma County school.

In 2013, Hillcrest was the only Sonoma County school to earn a California Exemplary Arts Award. In addition, Hillcrest was nominated for a National Blue Ribbon School award.

Got Music? We Do!

The Gravenstein school district boasts one of the finest elementary music and performing arts programs in Sonoma County. Read more here.