Average
#6800 of 9,539 schools in CA
Mcdowell Elementary
Elementary School · Petaluma City Elementary · Petaluma, CA
A Petaluma City Elementary elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
421 South McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, CA 94954
- Math 16% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 24% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mcdowell Elementary score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2018, to 20% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 26% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
85.1%
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 Mcdowell 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 81Very Walkable
- Transit 36Some Transit
- Bike 83Very Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,469/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Petaluma), 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
$107,564
Median home value
$790,100
Median rent
$2,405/mo
College educated
36.9%
Homeownership
66.7%
Poverty rate
5.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94954; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Tercera ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | K–6 | 0.6 mi | 313 | Compare → |
| Live Oak CharterCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.4 | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 250 | Compare → |
| Loma Vista Immersion AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 7.5 | K–6 | 0.7 mi | 468 | Compare → |
| Mckinley ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | K–6 | 0.7 mi | 385 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Petaluma City Elementary
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #6 of 7
- District spending per student
- The source marked this value as not applicable.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mcdowell Elementary is listed in Petaluma City Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mcdowell Elementary
Mcdowell Elementary is a public elementary school in Petaluma, CA, part of Petaluma City Elementary, serving approximately 296 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #6,800 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mcdowell Elementary
What grades does Mcdowell Elementary serve?
Mcdowell Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Mcdowell Elementary?
Mcdowell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 296 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell 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 Mcdowell Elementary rank in CA?
Mcdowell Elementary ranks #6,800 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Mcdowell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Mcdowell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 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 Mcdowell Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mcdowell Elementary has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Mcdowell Elementary a charter school?
No, Mcdowell Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mcdowell Elementary a Title I school?
No, Mcdowell Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mcdowell Elementary?
85.1% of students at Mcdowell 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
- 296
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Sonoma County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.4%
- Phone
- (707) 778-4745
- Area population (ZIP 94954)
- 38,000
- Area average commute
- 31 min
- Area median age
- 44.8
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 94954; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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