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McDowell Elementary

Public Grades K-6

5560^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 5% of California elementary schools

Summary

McDowell Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 329 students in the Petaluma City Elementary district, but it faces significant academic challenges, ranking in the bottom 5% of all California elementary schools with a notable recent decline in performance.

The school's proficiency rates in English (18.7%), math (12.7%), and science (3.0%) are dramatically lower than both district and state averages, creating the largest performance gap among nearby schools; for example, Grant Elementary achieves over 70% proficiency in English and math, while even the closest comparable school, Miwok Valley Elementary Charter, outperforms McDowell academically. Furthermore, chronic student absenteeism at 23.5% is higher than at neighboring schools and exceeds district and state averages, which correlates with the school's academic struggles.

Despite spending $19,320 per student—more than most area schools—McDowell's outcomes remain the lowest, indicating that factors beyond funding, such as instructional effectiveness or school culture, are at play; this is particularly concerning given the school's steep one-year ranking drop and its difficulty in effectively serving its high-need student population, where 86% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

329

Students ?

23.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,656

Per pupil spending ?

86%

Free/discounted lunch ?

421 South McDowell Blvd.
Petaluma, CA 94954-3753

(707) 778-4745

District: Petaluma City Elementary

Students who attend McDowell Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Petaluma Junior High
High:	Petaluma High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

83.0%

White:

6.4%

Asian:

3.3%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 14th percentile in 2008 → 5th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (14% vs 41% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (5th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2008

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school14%

District avg43%

California avg41%

5,560^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 5%▼ down 11 pts since 2017

From bottom 16% (2017) to bottom 5% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6Elementary Schools in the Petaluma City Elementary

787^th of 1,543Petaluma City Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	11.1	5560 of 5857	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.9	4781 of 5869	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	13.7	5412 of 5859	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.2	5140 of 5883	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	24.1	4446 of 5789	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.3	4393 of 5662	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	19.0	4786 of 5692	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	15.5	4881 of 5314	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	26.3	3956 of 5193	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	19.5	4376 of 5113	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	21.4	4177 of 5113	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	17.9	4143 of 4818	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	15.9	4266 of 4822	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	30.0	3244 of 4809	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2018	26.3	1629 of 2128	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	20.9	3043 of 3162	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	21.4	3076 of 3245	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	40.3	1786 of 3311	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	54.2	1038 of 3275	68.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	52.8	1129 of 3246	65.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	11.2	5356 of 5597	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.8	4370 of 5612	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.9	5143 of 5609	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	16.2	5068 of 5635	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.5	4426 of 5492	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	18.4	4666 of 5413	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	13.3	4847 of 5107	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	27.4	3927 of 5107	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.8	4558 of 5087	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.5	4404 of 5084	13.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.4	3865 of 4963	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.0	3624 of 4830	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	11.9	5233 of 5460	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	26.6	4262 of 5517	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.4	4935 of 5363	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	23.2	4398 of 5264	16.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	35.6	3463 of 5173	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.9	3773 of 5084	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	12.5	5290 of 5628	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.6	4771 of 5643	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.4	5206 of 5638	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.3	4683 of 5663	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	27.1	4017 of 5510	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.7	3794 of 5431	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2018)23rd percentile~ school

Male (2025)6th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)5th percentile~ school

Female (2025)4th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)4th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2024)4th percentile-15 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy19%-30 vs state

Mathematics13%-25 vs state

Science3%-30 vs state

★

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Schools Near McDowell Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McDowell Elementary	Public	K-6	421 South McDowell Blvd.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Petaluma City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4745	329	14	23.5	86.0%	21 (6.4%)	8 (2.4%)	273 (83.0%)	11 (3.3%)	4 (1.2%)	6 (1.8%)	6 (1.8%)	11.1	5560^th of 5857 public elementary schools	5.1%		20.9	4781^st of 5869 public elementary schools	18.5%	779	3.0	3.0	5.1	14.3	21.2	34.2	18.7	17.1	10.4	12.1	11.6	12.7	92.9	94.6	96.4	94.6	94.6	94.6	$23,656	$21,882	$1,774
La Tercera Elementary	Public	K-6	1600 Albin Way	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Old Adobe Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 765-4303	295	13	23.6	37.3%	157 (53.2%)	8 (2.7%)	107 (36.3%)	7 (2.4%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	12 (4.1%)	62	1962^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	66.5%		43.4	2968^th of 5869 public elementary schools	49.4%	1006	35.7	35.7	48.3	54.1	58.2	72.1	59.2	45.2	43.2	25.0	52.3	39.9							$27,309	$25,998	$1,311
Loma Vista Immersion Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	207 Maria Dr.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Old Adobe Union	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 765-4302	451	18	24.5	45.9%	101 (22.4%)	4 (0.9%)	329 (72.9%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.7%)	43.1	3000^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.8%		37.8	3317^th of 5869 public elementary schools	43.5%	317	33.3	33.3	32.8	35.2	47.1	31.7	36.6	40.9	46.3	41.2	26.8	39.6							$27,786	$26,548	$1,238
McKinley Elementary	Public	K-6	110 Ellis St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4750	368	15	24.5	50.8%	125 (34.0%)	6 (1.6%)	172 (46.7%)	26 (7.1%)	6 (1.6%)	2 (0.5%)	29 (7.9%)	43.7	2967^th of 5857 public elementary schools	49.3%		55.8	2245^th of 5869 public elementary schools	61.7%	722	20.0	20.0	41.5	33.3	37.3	48.4	40.7	41.5	38.3	31.7	43.8	38.8	84.4	89.1		90.6	87.5	87.5	$23,332	$22,356	$976
Valley Oaks Elementary (Alternative)	Public	K-6	540 Vallejo St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4794	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Miwok Valley Elementary Charter	Public, Charter	K-6	1010 Saint Francis Dr.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Old Adobe Union	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 765-4304	288	14	20.5	64.6%	61 (21.2%)	8 (2.8%)	187 (64.9%)	16 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.6%)	15.2	5251^st of 5857 public elementary schools	10.3%		19.4	4909^th of 5869 public elementary schools	16.4%	342	4.9	4.9	12.8	24.2	21.1	31.4	22.1	24.3	21.6	9.8	22.2	19.2							$30,051	$28,276	$1,775
Sonoma Mountain Elementary	Public, Charter	K-6	1900 Rainier Cir.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Old Adobe Union	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 765-4305	422	17	24.8	15.4%	294 (69.7%)	1 (0.2%)	60 (14.2%)	22 (5.2%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (10.0%)	93.3	451^st of 5857 public elementary schools	92.3%		85.9	912^th of 5869 public elementary schools	84.5%	461	60.7	60.7	87.5	79.6	80.0	66.7	78.5	85.7	79.6	64.3	59.3	72.3							$25,155	$24,044	$1,111
Old Adobe Elementary Charter	Public, Charter	K-6	2856 Adobe Rd.	Petaluma	94954	Sonoma County	Old Adobe Union	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 765-4301	278	11	25.2	34.5%	192 (69.1%)	1 (0.4%)	68 (24.5%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.8%)	61.1	2010^th of 5857 public elementary schools	65.7%		66.2	1766^th of 5869 public elementary schools	69.9%	244	37.2	37.2	57.7	57.1	58.1	47.4	55.1	53.9	44.9	34.9	34.2	41.0							$25,744	$24,622	$1,122
McNear Elementary	Public	K-6	605 Sunnyslope Ave.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4752	343	15	22.8	27.4%	237 (69.1%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (20.4%)	11 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (6.7%)	69.2	1639^th of 5857 public elementary schools	72.0%		69.3	1626^th of 5869 public elementary schools	72.3%	13	43.1	43.1	43.2	55.3	54.0	59.0	53.4	47.8	51.4	52.9	55.0	52.1	96.6	96.6					$26,611	$25,972	$639
Grant Elementary	Public	K-6	200 Grant Ave.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4742	386	16	24.1	18.4%	284 (73.6%)	1 (0.3%)	44 (11.4%)	9 (2.3%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	45 (11.7%)	90.1	653^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	88.9%		90.1	699^th of 5869 public elementary schools	88.1%	46	69.1	69.1	76.8	65.4	72.7	64.4	70.6	85.5	63.5	69.1	51.1	69.2	93.7			96.8	96.8		$21,798	$20,780	$1,018

Frequently Asked Questions about McDowell Elementary

What is the racial makeup of McDowell Elementary?

Students at McDowell Elementary are 83% Hispanic, 6% White, 3% Asian, 2% African American, 2% Pacific Islander, 2% Two or more races, 1% American Indian.

Is McDowell Elementary a good school?

McDowell Elementary ranks in the bottom 5.1% of California elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of McDowell Elementary attend?

Students who attend McDowell Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Petaluma Junior High
High : Petaluma High

What district is McDowell Elementary in?

Petaluma City Elementary

How many students attend McDowell Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 329 students attended McDowell Elementary.

Rate McDowell Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.