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McKinley Elementary

Q: Is McKinley Elementary a good school?

McKinley Elementary ranks 2967 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

2967^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 49% of California elementary schools

Summary

McKinley Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 368 students in the Petaluma City Elementary district, representing a community with a mix of economic backgrounds.

Academically, the school's overall state ranking has declined in recent years, now placing in the middle range, with particular strengths in special education and a better-than-expected performance for a school with its level of economic need. However, there are significant challenges, most notably in science proficiency, where scores are well below both district and state averages. The school manages student attendance relatively well, with a chronic absenteeism rate lower than the district and state, and it does this while spending less per student than several nearby schools like McDowell Elementary and Miwok Valley Elementary Charter.

When compared to other local schools, McKinley sits in the middle of its own district, performing better than higher-poverty schools like Valley Vista Elementary but not as well as lower-poverty schools like McNear Elementary. The school shows a dramatic difference in how it serves various student groups, with very low performance rankings for economically disadvantaged students and English learners contrasting with strong results for students in special education. This indicates a need for targeted support to ensure all students succeed.

368

Students ?

24.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$23,332

Per pupil spending ?

50.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

110 Ellis St.
Petaluma, CA 94952-3305

(707) 778-4750

District: Petaluma City Elementary

Students who attend McKinley Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Petaluma Junior High
High:	Petaluma High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.7%

White:

34.0%

Two or more races:

7.9%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare McKinley Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 88th percentile in 2019 → 49th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 88th-percentile peak (2019) to 49th (2025)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 13 pts below the California average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school37%

District avg43%

California avg41%

2,967^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 49%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

From top 48% (2015) to bottom 49% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^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	43.7	2967 of 5857	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.8	2245 of 5869	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.3	2120 of 5859	63.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.4	1514 of 5883	74.3%	★★★★☆
2019	89.3	681 of 5789	88.2%	★★★★☆
2018	77.6	1234 of 5662	78.2%	★★★★☆
2017	66.9	1706 of 5692	70.0%	★★★★☆
2016	53.8	2307 of 5614	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	46.2	2671 of 5611	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	30.7	3991 of 5530	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.4	4223 of 5390	21.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.0	4901 of 5377	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	40.6	3133 of 5314	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2009	30.7	3653 of 5193	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	23.8	4060 of 5113	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	9.8	4926 of 5113	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	27.2	3503 of 4818	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	17.8	4119 of 4822	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	21.8	3807 of 4809	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	94.2	112 of 2227	95.0%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	22.6	2968 of 3162	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	18.4	3190 of 3245	1.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	24.5	2977 of 3311	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	63.3	743 of 3246	77.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.5	2927 of 5597	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.2	2204 of 5612	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.6	2326 of 5609	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.7	1612 of 5635	71.4%	★★★★☆
2019	86.7	734 of 5492	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	78.1	1128 of 5413	79.2%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	16.3	4684 of 5107	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.9	3679 of 5107	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	3799 of 5087	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	57.7	1747 of 5084	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.2	2142 of 4963	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.3	2716 of 4830	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	16.2	4982 of 5460	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	38.5	3252 of 5517	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	30.3	3870 of 5363	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	59.1	1727 of 5264	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.1	3109 of 5173	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.4	2276 of 5084	55.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	45.5	2771 of 5628	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.8	2120 of 5643	62.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.8	1813 of 5638	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	73.8	1355 of 5663	76.1%	★★★★☆
2019	87.9	693 of 5510	87.4%	★★★★☆
2018	74.9	1278 of 5431	76.5%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.0	1156 of 2847	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.8	606 of 2635	77.0%	★★★★☆
2023	60.2	655 of 2420	72.9%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	52.8	1326 of 2598	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.4	1026 of 2651	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	66.1	931 of 2661	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	827 of 2726	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	94.6	8 of 2834	99.7%	★★★★★
2018	93.5	24 of 2737	99.1%	★★★★★

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 (2022)95th percentile+21 vs school

Special Education (2025)59th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)51st percentile~ school

White (2025)49th percentile~ school

Female (2025)48th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)9th percentile-41 vs school

Hispanic (2025)8th percentile-41 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)6th percentile-56 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy41%-8 vs state

Mathematics39%~ state avg

Science20%-13 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, February 7, 2020

We are so impressed with this innovative school that is constantly re-evaluating and improving. The staff is young and highly motivated and constantly looking into new training opportunities. There is a strong commitment to project-based learning and a special track for accelerated students. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, May 7, 2018

We have two children at the school... I am very impressed by the principal and teaching staff... Close Quote

Schools Near McKinley 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	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 8th 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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th 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 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th 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
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
Live Oak Charter	Public, Charter	K-8	100 Gnoss Concourse Bldg. 1	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Live Oak Charter District	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 762-9020	271	13	21.6	26.6%	197 (72.7%)	5 (1.8%)	27 (10.0%)	8 (3.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	30 (11.1%)	59.2	2106^th of 5857 public elementary schools	64.0%		61.4	2008^th of 5869 public elementary schools	65.8%	98	51.6	62.5	56.4	50.0	40.0	58.1	72.4	75.0	75.0	61.8	25.0	32.0	33.3	50.0	44.8	64.0	41.3	81.6	86.8	81.6	86.8	86.8	92.1
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)
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
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
Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley	Public, Charter	K-8	1001 Cherry St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma Joint Union High	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4740	494	19	26.2	26.5%	359 (72.7%)	1 (0.2%)	59 (11.9%)	6 (1.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (12.3%)	72	1516^th of 5857 public elementary schools	74.1%		73.5	1433^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	75.6%	83	58.5	46.9	53.5	53.7	50.9	64.6	60.3	70.7	63.3	60.3	47.2	58.5	53.1	34.9	56.1	50.0	49.4	76.9	82.7	84.6	84.6	88.5	84.6	$22,158	$21,634	$524
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
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
Valley Vista Elementary	Public	K-6	730 North Webster St.	Petaluma	94952	Sonoma County	Petaluma City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(707) 778-4762	155	8	19.3	66.5%	54 (34.8%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (52.3%)	3 (1.9%)	3 (1.9%)	4 (2.6%)	10 (6.5%)	18	5010^th of 5857 public elementary schools	14.5%		30.8	3872^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	34.0%	1138	0.0		0.0	0.0	21.1	16.7	34.8			20.3	12.5	25.0	8.3	30.4			21.1	92.6	96.3	96.3	94.4	94.4	96.3	$32,846	$31,574	$1,272
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

Frequently Asked Questions about McKinley Elementary

Is McKinley Elementary a good school?

McKinley Elementary ranks 2967^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of McKinley Elementary attend?

Students who attend McKinley Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Petaluma Junior High
High : Petaluma High

What is the racial makeup of McKinley Elementary?

Students at McKinley Elementary are 47% Hispanic, 34% White, 8% Two or more races, 7% Asian, 2% African American, 2% American Indian.

How many students attend McKinley Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 368 students attended McKinley Elementary.

What district is McKinley Elementary in?

Petaluma City 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.