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McDowell Elementary

Public Grades K-6

5708^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,817 California Elementary Schools

Better than 2% of California elementary schools

Summary

McDowell Elementary serves 329 students in kindergarten through sixth grade in Petaluma, California. Its clearest challenge is low performance across core subjects: in 2025–2026, 9% of students were proficient in English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA), 13% in math and 10% in science. Those were the lowest rates among the nine nearby elementary schools in each subject, and all three were well below state and district results.

McDowell’s results trail local and broader comparisons in every core subject. The nearby-school averages were 56% in ELA, 52% in math and 43% in science; McDowell’s results were lower by 47, 39 and 33 percentage points, respectively. State proficiency rates were 49% in ELA, 38% in math and 36% in science, putting McDowell behind by 40, 26 and 26 points. Sixth grade is a relative strength within the school: its 19% proficiency in both ELA and math was higher than McDowell’s results in other tested grades, though still far below state and district results. A small bright spot came in fifth-grade Spanish assessments, where writing and reading proficiency exceeded the state rates.

Recent trends are mixed, and the overall standing remains very low: SchoolDigger ranked McDowell at the 2nd percentile with 0 stars in 2025–2026, down from the 19th percentile in 2023–2024; nearby schools ranged from the 31st to the 95th percentile. Over four years, ELA proficiency fell 7 percentage points and science fell 6, while math rose by about 1 point; the state’s ELA and science rates increased, widening the gaps. Context includes McDowell’s 86% free/reduced lunch eligible measure in 2024–2025, the highest among nearby schools, and a student-teacher ratio of 23.5, nearly the local average of 23.6. SchoolDigger’s statewide percentile for English Language Learner Students also fell sharply, from 46 in 2021–2022 to 4 in 2023–2024, while the overall percentile rose from 13 to 19.

329

Students ?

23.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,862

Per pupil spending ?

86.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

≥ 98%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

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%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare McDowell Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 24th percentile in 2009 → 2nd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (11% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (2nd percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2009

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school11%

District avg40%

California avg42%

5,708^th of 5,817

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 2%▼ down 14 pts since 2017

From bottom 16% (2017) to bottom 2% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 5Elementary Schools in the Petaluma City Elementary

661^st of 1,530Petaluma 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
2026	7.8	5708 of 5817	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	7.0	5538 of 5581	0.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	9.4	4984 of 5094	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	7.4	5357 of 5423	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	10.4	5392 of 5603	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
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 (2026)4th percentile~ school

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

Hispanic (2026)2nd percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)1st percentile~ school

Female (2026)1st percentile~ school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

Listening22%~ state avg

Mathematics13%-26 vs state

Writing11%-6 vs state

Science10%-26 vs state

English Language Arts/Literacy9%-40 vs state

Overall4%-6 vs state

Reading4%-3 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CSA Spanish Overall (2026)				CSA Spanish Listening (2026)				CSA Spanish Writing (2026)				CSA Spanish Reading (2026)				CAST Science (2026)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)					Vaccination (2024-25)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CSA Spanish Overall 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 3rd Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 4th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading 5th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	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%)	7.8	5708^th of 5817 public elementary schools	1.9%		11.1	5560^th of 5857 public elementary schools	5.1%	148	0.0	8.0	4.2	4.1	20.8	16.0	29.2	21.9	0.0	20.0	12.5	11.0	0.0	8.0	4.2	4.1	10.2	10.2	6.1	6.7	8.3	18.8	9.2	12.0	13.3	8.3	18.8	12.6	≥ 98%		$17,862	$1,774	$16,088
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%)	65	1823^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	68.7%		62	1962^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	66.5%	139																	42.1	42.1	52.9	52.6	55.3	67.9	57.8	47.1	34.2	34.2	54.7	43.9	≥ 98%		$20,369	$1,311	$19,058
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%)	43.7	3007^th of 5817 public elementary schools	48.3%		43.1	3000^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.8%	7																	22.9	22.9	27.0	39.0	39.6	56.5	39.4	38.1	45.8	35.4	43.5	40.7	≥ 98%		$20,610	$1,238	$19,372
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%)	46.4	2825^th of 5817 public elementary schools	51.4%		43.7	2967^th of 5857 public elementary schools	49.3%	142																	26.7	26.7	35.3	51.8	41.3	43.6	43.9	26.5	46.4	37.8	35.5	37.6	97%	0%	$17,301	$976	$16,325
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%)	29.3	4042^nd of 5817 public elementary schools	30.5%		15.2	5251^st of 5857 public elementary schools	10.3%	1209																	20.0	20.0	31.9	31.4	43.3	25.5	32.1	40.4	42.9	23.3	14.6	30.0	≥ 95%		$22,168	$1,775	$20,393
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%)	95.5	287^th of 5817 public elementary schools	95.1%		93.3	451^st of 5857 public elementary schools	92.3%	164																	66.7	66.7	87.5	83.1	73.3	78.0	80.3	87.5	84.8	70.0	66.1	76.9	≥ 98%		$18,830	$1,111	$17,719
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%)	62.9	1937^th of 5817 public elementary schools	66.7%		61.1	2010^th of 5857 public elementary schools	65.7%	73																	51.1	51.1	37.5	51.9	60.0	48.7	51.1	37.5	48.2	40.0	48.7	43.6	≥ 98%		$19,219	$1,122	$18,097
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%)	75.8	1339^th of 5817 public elementary schools	77.0%		69.2	1639^th of 5857 public elementary schools	72.0%	300																	47.7	47.7	51.1	54.4	61.4	66.0	58.3	56.3	55.3	50.0	64.0	56.6	94%	0%	$18,772	$639	$18,133
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	648^th of 5817 public elementary schools	88.9%		90.1	653^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	88.9%	5																	48.9	48.9	72.7	68.6	68.8	79.7	72.4	80.0	72.9	56.3	71.2	70.3	93%	0%	$16,555	$1,018	$15,537

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 1.9% 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 data (updated)NewNov 2, 2026

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresOct 15, 2026

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.