Excellent
#606 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 6% in state
Dow's Prairie Elementary
Elementary School · Mckinleyville Union Elementary · Mckinleyville, CA
A Mckinleyville Union Elementary elementary school where students score 17 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3940 Dows Prairie Rd., Mckinleyville, CA 95519
- Math 56% proficient (2012)
- Reading 55% proficient (2012)
- 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Dow's Prairie Elementary score 56% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).
2012 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 56% across the 4-year record (2009–2012).
Show all 4 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2012) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2012)
Based on 8 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
62.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Dow's Prairie Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 6Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average580/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$66,687
Median home value
$432,600
Median rent
$1,442/mo
College educated
38.1%
Homeownership
61.3%
Poverty rate
14%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95519; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seaforth MontessoriPrivate · tuition | Not rated | 1–6 | 2.5 mi | 19 | Compare → |
| Fieldbrook ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | K–8 | 3.5 mi | 111 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Mckinleyville Union Elementary
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #1 of 3
- District spending per student
- $16,485NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Dow's Prairie Elementary is listed in McKinleyville Union Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Dow's Prairie Elementary
Dow's Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school in Mckinleyville, CA, part of Mckinleyville Union Elementary, serving approximately 317 students in grades Kindergarten-2nd with a 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #606 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2012) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2012).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dow's Prairie Elementary
What grades does Dow's Prairie Elementary serve?
Dow's Prairie Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 2nd.
How many students attend Dow's Prairie Elementary?
Dow's Prairie Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 317 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dow's Prairie Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dow's Prairie Elementary is 21.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Dow's Prairie Elementary rank in CA?
Dow's Prairie Elementary ranks #606 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Dow's Prairie Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Dow's Prairie Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Dow's Prairie Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dow's Prairie Elementary has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2012) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2012).
Is Dow's Prairie Elementary a charter school?
No, Dow's Prairie Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Dow's Prairie Elementary a Title I school?
No, Dow's Prairie Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Dow's Prairie Elementary?
62.8% of students at Dow's Prairie Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 2nd
- Enrollment
- 317
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 15
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Humboldt County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.5%
- Phone
- (707) 839-1558
- Area population (ZIP 95519)
- 18,792
- Area average commute
- 21.7 min
- Area median age
- 40.2
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2012 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2012 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2012 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2012 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 95519; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2012; directory SY 2023–24
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