About Santa Rosa Academy

Our Mission & Vision is to create a school that is highly regarded for
 academic excellence within a flexible and innovative learning environment 
that will effectively develop, sustain and enhance the skills necessary to be
 lifelong learners and productive citizens

History of Santa Rosa Academy

The school was founded by a group of teachers and administrators, Mrs. Badillo, Mrs. Heron, Mrs. Tina Shannon, Mrs. McMullen, and Mrs. Miller, who wanted to provide more educational opportunities for students in southwest Riverside County. At the heart of our inception is the dedication to developing the whole child. The founder’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that students not only deserve an excellent education, but a conscious development of good character, sincere respect regardless of past performance, social status, or affiliation, and a dedication to the principles of a democratic society through an education in civic responsibility and a commitment to patriotic ideals.

The charter was developed over several months and thoughtful consideration was given to the name of the school. As a tribute to the Santa Rosa Plateau, in the hills of West Murrieta, the name was chosen out of many selections of local, historical significance.

Our mascot, the Ranger, was also chosen out of several hundred names and two years of discussion as to the importance of what we represent as a school community: responsible, dedicated, tough, a protector, one who maintains order on the “frontier.” While the Santa Rosa Plateau has its own Rangers whose duty is to protect and preserve the local park and open spaces for future generations, we too, see the symbol as one of great importance for our “Rangers,” dedicated to the protection and preservation of ideals.

We opened our doors in September 2005, to fifty-nine homeschooled students, and seven staff members, and operated out of a garage while our newly-leased offices were being built. How many of you would have signed up for a school that didn’t even have a home? Those first fifty-nine were so committed that they became the foundation upon which our school was laid. Over time, we had grown to have over 1500 students and 100 staff members. Our leased facilities included over 20,000 square feet of space at Mount San Jacinto Community College and an additional seven classrooms at our SRA West Campus. All the while though, we had been raising funds in hopes of someday building Santa Rosa Academy its own permanent home.

In 2013 our dream had been realized; we finished the construction of our current campus at 63,000 square feet which now houses over 1,500 of our Santa Rosa Rangers from Kindergarten to 12th grade. We were able to implement tackle football for the first time in 2014 with our very own football field and have had the privilege of hosting home games for our soccer teams. Our new campus, in its own Spanish mission style, is a shining example of what can be accomplished when a group of hard-working and dedicated people comes together to enrich the futures of our sons and daughters.

The future is wide open. Our Strategic Plan includes developing partnerships with local businesses, historical societies, and community members who would like to invest in our children’s future. In October of 2016, our much-anticipated gymnasium and baseball fields were completed. In 2023 Sana Rosa Academy's High School was approved as an Early College High School Program. Our High School students can earn enough college units while in high school to graduate with up to a 2 year college degree if they so pursue to do so. 

Santa Rosa Academy continues to grow and we invite you to partner with us so that together we may realize this vision for the children of southwest Riverside County where honorable character and strong education spring forth a mindset for success.

Energy Efficiency Program

Santa Rosa Academy is dedicated to our Energy Efficiency Program, which uses different methods to cut down on yearly energy consumption. This reduction of energy usage allows us to save money on our operating expenses.

As part of our efforts to reduce our energy and water consumption, we have always focused on conservation. 

Our energy efficiency program includes the following:

• 162 solar panels on the gymnasium roof (completely paid for!)
• Low flow toilets
• Energy-efficient windows
• Many windows to provide natural light inside
• LED lighting
• Drought tolerant plants/trees
• Trees planted in specific areas provide a shady/cooler campus
• 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers
• Recycling of plastic water bottles
• Refillable water bottle stations throughout campus
• Recycling of cardboard

Diversity at Santa Rosa Academy

We celebrate our diversity through a focus on our core principles of excellence, integrity, and respect which has involved embedding these values into our culture, policies, and practices. We achieve this through:

• Classroom Activities: Discussions and curriculum may reflect diverse perspectives - highlighting achievements and contributions of individuals from various backgrounds.
• Promoting Academic Excellence: We encourage and celebrate academic achievements regardless of a student's background. We recognize and reward excellence in various subjects, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles.
• Cultivating Respect: We create a respectful environment where students and staff appreciate differences. We implement anti-bullying programs and expect everyone to treat each other with dignity.
• Character Education Programs: We have a long-standing culture of integrating character education programs in our schools that emphasize integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior. This helps in creating a community that values and upholds high moral standards.
• Diverse Role Models: We have diverse role models from different backgrounds who share their experiences and insights in our educational processes.
• Ethical Leadership: We foster a culture of ethical leadership among students and staff. We encourage leaders to lead by example and demonstrate fairness and inclusivity in decision-making.
• Community Engagement: We engage with the local community to understand and appreciate its diversity. Our students participate in community service projects that address the needs of different groups within the community.
• Student-led Initiatives: We encourage students to take the lead in organizing events, clubs, or activities that celebrate diversity. This empowers students to actively contribute to a more active role in their school culture through student leadership.

Our core principles of excellence, integrity, and respect is woven into the fabric of SRA’s culture and involves not only respecting differences but actively promoting understanding and appreciation within our school community.