Skip to main content

Below Average

#7997 of 9,539 schools in CA

Edward M. Downer Elementary

Elementary School · West Contra Costa Unified · San Pablo, CA

A West Contra Costa Unified elementary school where students score 21 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1231 18th St., San Pablo, CA 94806

  • Math 13% vs CA 38% (2024)
  • Reading 17% vs CA 45% (2024)
  • 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.9Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.49 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics2.6Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency12.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency17.4% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-33.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-25.4 pts
Overall Proficiency15% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-20.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
Resources & Environment3.6Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio23.8:1
District spending per student$19,205
Chronic Absenteeism44.4%

Students at Edward M. Downer Elementary score 15% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency13%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
38%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency17%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
45%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 6 points since 2018, to 15% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
35%
ELA
25%
2010
Math
45%
ELA
29%
2011
Math
39%
ELA
28%
2012
Math
43%
ELA
30%
2014
Math
15%
ELA
17%
2015
Math
17%
ELA
21%
2016
Math
17%
ELA
24%
2017
Math
15%
ELA
20%
2018
Math
16%
ELA
24%
2019
Math
16%
ELA
24%
2022
Math
15%
ELA
13%
2024
Math
13%
ELA
17%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 21% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

68.6%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Edward M. Downer Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Francisco Bay Area map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 71Very Walkable
  • Transit 42Some Transit
  • Bike 53Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,196/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (San Pablo), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$82,818

Median home value

$582,000

Median rent

$2,013/mo

College educated

22.7%

Homeownership

50.6%

Poverty rate

11.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94806; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Cesar E. Chavez ElementaryEnrollment path unverified2.7K–60.4 mi433Compare →
Dover ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.1K–60.4 mi485Compare →
Ford ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.4K–60.6 mi368Compare →
St. Paul SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–80.6 mi95Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

West Contra Costa Unified

Schools in district
54
Rank in district
#33 of 52
District spending per student
$19,205NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
13.2%Census SAIPE · 2024

Edward M. Downer Elementary is listed in West Contra Costa Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Edward M. Downer Elementary

Edward M. Downer Elementary is a public elementary school in San Pablo, CA, part of West Contra Costa Unified, serving approximately 405 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #7,997 of 9,539 schools in CA.

State assessment records show 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Edward M. Downer Elementary

What grades does Edward M. Downer Elementary serve?

Edward M. Downer Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.

How many students attend Edward M. Downer Elementary?

Edward M. Downer Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 405 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Edward M. Downer Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Edward M. Downer Elementary is 23.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Edward M. Downer Elementary rank in CA?

Edward M. Downer Elementary ranks #7,997 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Edward M. Downer Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Edward M. Downer Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Edward M. Downer Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Edward M. Downer Elementary has 21% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 21% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Edward M. Downer Elementary a charter school?

No, Edward M. Downer Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Edward M. Downer Elementary a Title I school?

No, Edward M. Downer Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Edward M. Downer Elementary?

68.6% of students at Edward M. Downer 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 – 6th
Enrollment
405
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Contra Costa County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
44.4%
Area population (ZIP 94806)
61,749
Area average commute
34.1 min
Area median age
36.3
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 · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
  • 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 94806; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.