English
31%
scored Proficient or Advanced.
36331813California44%
Public school · McKinleyville Union Elementary
Dow's Prairie Elementary
3940 Dows Prairie Road, McKinleyville · 283 students · Grades TK–3
Campus map · © OpenStreetMap
Drawn from OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map it, so a new building may be missing. Buildings with no mapped height are drawn one storey high.
A picture of the campus, not an attendance boundary or a rating.
Schools maintain a closed campus policy. For students’ safety, visitors may enter a campus only with the school’s official permission; this drawing implies no permission to enter.
No Scope ScoreDow's Prairie Elementary has no 2026 Scope Score.
Well below California in English (reading and writing) and math, grade 3, spring 2026: 31% and 29% scored Proficient or Advanced, against 44% and 47%.
Source for this line
- Source
- California’s state tests (CAASPP), California Department of Education, spring 2026
- Students
- all students tested in grade 3: 75
- Comparison
- California: CDE’s grade 3 rows for the whole state combined, weighted by students tested (our calculation; 390,924 in English and 391,944 in math tested).
In its own words
What does Dow's Prairie say about itself?
We haven’t read Dow's Prairie’s website yet. Until we do, the school’s own site is the best place to hear it in its own words.
Tests
How did students here do on state tests?
Well below California in both subjects.
Math
29%
scored Proficient or Advanced.
4922218California47%
MinimalDeveloping levelProficientAdvanced
In grade 3, spring 2026, 31% scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 29% in math, against 44% and 47% across California.
The state published these results on October 15, 2026. What changed across California. Spring 2026, grade 3 combined. From spring 2026, the state calls its top two levels “Proficient or Advanced” (formerly “Met or Exceeded”). Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).
All four test levels, with the number of students tested
| Students | Advanced | Proficient | Developing level | Minimal | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English, grade 3 · This school | 13% | 18% | 33% | 36% | 75 |
| English, grade 3 · California | 24% | 20% | 23% | 33% | 390,924 |
| Math, grade 3 · This school | 8% | 21% | 22% | 49% | 75 |
| Math, grade 3 · California | 22% | 25% | 22% | 31% | 391,944 |
Spring 2026, grade 3 combined: 75 tested in English, 75 tested in math. California combines the state’s results for the same grades, weighted by students tested (our calculation).
Who goes here
Who goes here?
White students are the largest group here, at 44% of students. 94 of 387 students missed 10% or more of school days.
Missing school, 2025–26
322023–24292024–25242025–26
24in 100
students were chronically absent. That means they missed 10% or more of school days (94 of 387 students).
Students, 2024–25
283
students in grades TK–3.
White 44%Two or more races 20%Hispanic or Latino 19%Not reported 8%American Indian or Alaska Native 7%
Family income
64%
of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25, 181 of 283. California: 63%.
Teachers, 2024–25
13
teachers, with 14 years of experience on average.
0% were in their first year.
94% of teaching positions had the right credential, 2021–22.
Suspensions, 2025–26
5.9%
of students were suspended at least once (24 of 410).
Sources: California Department of Education. Each tile names its year.
Full student mix, 2025–26
| Students | Here |
|---|---|
| White | 44% |
| Two or more races | 20% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 19% |
| Not reported | 8% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 7% |
| Asian | — |
| Black or African American | — |
| Filipino | — |
| Pacific Islander | — |
Where these figures come from
Attendance and suspensions: California Department of Education, 2025–26. Student mix: the students the state’s attendance file counts, 2025–26; a dash means our records hold no count. Student count: California Department of Education enrollment, 2024–25. Teachers: California Department of Education staffing files, 2024–25.
Teaching credentials: California’s School Accountability Report Card, 2024–25, measured in 2021–22: 16.5 of 17.5 full-time teaching positions. It counts positions, not individual teachers.
Student groups
How do kids like mine do here?
White students scored well below the same group across California.
This schoolThe same group, California
- Low-incomeEnglish · 51 tested25%California 33%
- Low-incomeMath · 51 tested27%California 36%
- WhiteEnglish · 34 tested24%California 57%
- WhiteMath · 34 tested26%California 60%
24% of White students scored Proficient or Advanced in English and 26% in math (grade 3, spring 2026), against 57% and 60% for the same group across California.
Share who scored Proficient or Advanced, grade 3, spring 2026. Each group is compared with the same group in the same grades. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP).
Every group’s results, with the district
Low-income is the state’s “socioeconomically disadvantaged” group.
Proficient or Advancedgrade 3 · spring 2026
| Group and subject | Here | vs McKinleyville Union Elementary | vs California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-income · 51 tested | |||
| English | 25% | 025% | −833% |
| Math | 27% | 027% | −936% |
| White · 34 tested | |||
| English | 24% | 024% | −3357% |
| Math | 26% | 026% | −3460% |
Each gap is to the same group, grades and subject: in McKinleyville Union Elementary, and across California. No group that is behind across California does 10 or more points better here.
Students of two or more races: fewer than 30 tested here. No published rate here for Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Black or African American, Filipino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, homeless and military-family students, English learners, students with disabilities and foster youth. That can reflect privacy rules or small numbers; it isn’t evidence of a gap. This table covers groups by income, race or ethnicity, language and disability; girls and boys aren’t split out.
Family and staff answers
What would staff tell you?
Staff in this district cannot yet answer a short set of questions about Dow's Prairie. These are not star ratings or reviews.
- The questions are about the school, never a person.No question asks about a named teacher or staff member.
- Answers are never part of the Scope Score.They sit beside the state’s records and do not change a school’s score.
Staff
Staff can’t answer for this school yet
We don’t check staff emails for McKinleyville Union Elementary yet. Tell us your district’s email domain and we’ll work on adding it.
The school day
What is the school day like?
Dow's Prairie has transitional kindergarten (TK). Our records do not hold school hours or before- and after-school care yet. Ask the office.
Transitional kindergarten (TK), 2025–26
66
TK students in 2025–26.
TK is California’s free public program for four-year-olds.
TK count: California Department of Education, Census Day enrollment, 2025–26. Find TK schools near you
Money
Where does the money go?
$20,382 for each student in 2024–25. California’s elementary schools spent $20,288 for each student. McKinleyville Union Elementary’s plan for 2026–27 covers $17 million.
$20,382
for each student at this school, 2024–25- Spent at the school
- $11,688
- The school’s share of district office costs
- $8,694
- Of the total, from federal funds
- $2,301
- Dow's Prairie$20,382
- California elementary schools$20,288
The district and California figures combine their elementary schools, weighted by enrollment (our calculation, 5,053 California schools). Spending does not show how well money is used. Source: California Department of Education, per-school spending report, 2024–25. Funding records ↓
McKinleyville Union Elementary’s yearly plan
$17million
in the district’s plan for 2026–27This is the district’s plan. It is not this school’s own budget. The plan has 4 goals. The district’s page lists each one. Source: McKinleyville Union Elementary Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), 2026–27.
The neighborhood
What is the area around Dow's Prairie like?
These figures are for everyone who lives in ZIP code 95519. They are not figures for the families at Dow's Prairie.
Typical household income in a year
$73,280
Typical means half are higher and half are lower. The ZIP code is the school’s address, not its attendance area. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024, ZIP code area 95519.
- Typical home value
- $469,400
- People who live in this ZIP code
- 18,728
- Typical age
- 41.7 years
- Adults 25 and older with a four-year college degree
- 39%
What you can do
Who can act on Dow's Prairie’s results?
The state took Dow's Prairie out of extra targeted support; McKinleyville Union Elementary’s board decides its plan.
When the plan is set
McKinleyville Union Elementary’s board must adopt its yearly plan (LCAP) by July 1, after at least one public hearing at an earlier meeting.
How to take part
- Watch the board’s agenda: the hearing is posted at least 72 hours ahead.
- Send written comments on the actions and spending the plan proposes.
- Raise questions through the district’s parent advisory committee; the superintendent must answer its comments in writing.
- Read the midyear report, due by February 28.
What has the state flagged?
The state took the school off the list for 2025–26. The school was on the list in 2024–25.
Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source
Extra state help for the district
The state is giving McKinleyville Union Elementary extra help in 2026. It qualified on the 2025 California School Dashboard. The county office must help the district for at least three years, including a review of its yearly plan.
Extra help for McKinleyville Union Elementary: CDE’s assistance status file for the 2025 California School Dashboard. Source
Reading screening in kindergarten through grade 2
California law requires schools to screen kindergartners through second graders for reading difficulties every year, with some exceptions. You get notice at least 15 days before, results within 45 days, and can opt out in writing.
Kindergartners can’t be screened before the 91st school day; transitional kindergarten isn’t covered.
If screening shows your child may be at risk for reading difficulties, the school must provide supports. That result isn’t a diagnosis, and screening can’t be used to delay a special-education evaluation.
Ask how many K–2 students screening found at risk last year, and how many got extra reading help.
California Education Code § 53008. Source
Questions to ask
What should I ask, and when?
Bring these 4 questions to Dow's Prairie. Confirm anything about applying with the school itself.
On a tour
- What extra help do White students get, and how do you know it’s working?24% of White students scored Proficient or Advanced in English, grade 3, spring 2026 (34 students tested); the same group across California: 57%
- What are the school-day hours and after-school care options?
At the office
- What time does the day start and end, and is any day shorter?
- Is there care before or after school, and what does it cost?
Getting in
What comes after Dow's Prairie, and how do I get in?
Ask McKinleyville Union Elementary which school serves your address.
- Elementary · this schoolDow's Prairie ElementaryGrades TK–3
- MiddleScope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile · 2026Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
- HighLink not recordedAsk the district about this stage.
These links come from past records and from distance. Confirm your child’s school with the district. Each school’s standing compares it with California schools at its own level. Explore schools on the map
All recorded links and nearby alternatives
Middle-school links
- McKinleyville Middle
Its zone mostly overlaps this school’s zone on a historical federal map (2015–16)
Scope Score 70 · Needs Support · 19th percentile · middle · 2026
100% historical overlap of origin attendance-zone area · not a share of students
Links do not guarantee placement. Charter, magnet, transfer and other admission routes can differ. Each school’s percentile compares it with California schools at its own level (continuation and alternative schools only with their own kind); the stages are not one ranking. Older zone links come from the federal School Attendance Boundary Survey (NCES SABS).
Where it is
Where is Dow's Prairie?
- Address
- 3940 Dows Prairie Road, McKinleyville 95519Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
- Office
- (707) 839-1558
- Website
- dowsprairie.mckusd.org
- Administrator
- Ashley LankilaAs the state’s school directory lists it, last updated September 16, 2025.
A school’s place on the map is its address in the state directory. It does not show which homes the school serves. See nearby schools on the map
Short answers to 3 common questions
How do I get in?
Ask McKinleyville Union Elementary which school serves your address. See the details ↓
How many students reached the top test level here?
In grade 3, spring 2026, 13% scored Advanced in English and 8% in math. 69% scored below the standard in English and 71% in math. See the details ↓
How often do students miss school or get suspended?
24 in 100 students were chronically absent in 2025–26 (94 of 387), meaning they missed 10% or more of school days. 5.9% of students (24 of 410) were suspended at least once in 2025–26. See the details ↓
The full record
Source records
This page is built from 9 sets of records from public data sources. Every figure keeps its source, grades, year and count.
Data updated
October 15, 2026
- Record sets on this page
- 9
- Sources
- California Department of EducationU.S. Census Bureau
- State test years
- 2025–2026
Results
Students
Money and staff
Place, downloads and method
CDE assessment recordsCDE CAASPP 2026 · every level, as published · raw grade–subject rows
What each level means: California's level descriptions.
All Grades is an aggregate, not another group of students. Same-year grade groups are not matched children. A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.
| Grade · subject | Students tested with scores | Proficient or Advanced | Advanced | Proficient | Developing level | Minimal | Mean scale score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 · ELA · 2026 | 75 | 30.67% | 13.33% | 17.33% | 33.33% | 36% | 2388.3 |
| All Grades · ELA · 2026 | 75 | 30.67% | 13.33% | 17.33% | 33.33% | 36% | not on file |
| Grade 3 · Math · 2026 | 75 | 29.33% | 8% | 21.33% | 21.33% | 49.33% | 2381 |
| All Grades · Math · 2026 | 75 | 29.33% | 8% | 21.33% | 21.33% | 49.33% | not on file |
CDE CAASPP 2026: 2 individual grade–subject records; 2 records with a positive known tested count.
0 grade–subject counts unavailable; 0 grade–subject attainment rates unavailable.
Results by gradeEnglish and math · grade 3 · spring 2026 · % of tested students
English · 2025–26 results by grade
| English | Tested | Advanced | Proficient | Developing level | Minimal | Proficient or Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 75 | 13% | 18% | 33% | 36% | 31% |
Math · 2025–26 results by grade
| Math | Tested | Advanced | Proficient | Developing level | Minimal | Proficient or Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 75 | 8% | 21% | 22% | 49% | 29% |
A grade the school doesn't teach has no row. “Suppressed” marks a result CDE blanks because fewer than 11 students tested (CDE’s reporting rule); “none tested” marks a grade CDE lists with no students tested; “not on file” marks a result missing from the records we hold. None of them means zero.
Every tested year2025–2026 · rates, tested counts, and each grade
English and math by test year · all tested grades
| Year · subject | Students with scores | Top level | Top two levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · English | 75 | 13% | 31% |
| 2026 · Math | 75 | 8% | 29% |
| 2025 · English | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 · Math | 0 | — | — |
Each year names its school year end (2026 = 2025–26). “Students with scores” counts each subject on its own, so don’t add the English and math counts together. A dash is unavailable, not zero.
Earlier years · grade and subject
| Year · grade · subject | Students with scores | Met or exceeded |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 · Grade 3 · English | 0 | — |
| 2025 · Grade 4 · English | 0 | — |
| 2025 · Grade 3 · Math | 0 | — |
| 2025 · Grade 4 · Math | 0 | — |
Current 2025–26 grade results appear above. “Students with scores” counts the students tested in that grade, subject and year. A missing result is not zero, and each year’s row is a different group of children.
Student groups: test resultsEnglish · spring 2026
| Group · English | Tested | Proficient or Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Low-income | 51 | 25% |
| White | 34 | 24% |
Shown as reported, with no comparison.
Attendance and suspensionsState records · this school and each student group · 2018–19 and 2025–26
CDE’s all-students school rates for 2024–25 and 2025–26; the change is the difference between the two rates as printed.
| Year-over-year school rates |
|---|
| Chronic absenteeism2024–25 · 29 in 100 → 2025–26 · 24 in 100 · −5 in 100 |
| Suspension rate2024–25 · 4.9% (15 of 306) → 2025–26 · 5.9% (24 of 410) · +1.0 percentage points |
| Group | 2018–19 | 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|
| Female | 18 in 100 | 25 in 100 |
| Male | 12 in 100 | 24 in 100 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11 of 47 | 23 of 75 |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 10 of 35 | 3 of 26 |
| Two or more races | 8 of 32 | 25 of 76 |
| White | 10 in 100 | 20 in 100 |
| Students with disabilities | 18 of 78 | 26 of 69 |
| English learners | 4 of 32 | 4 of 12 |
| Homeless | 6 of 24 | 6 of 14 |
| Low-income | 20 in 100 | 31 in 100 |
| All students | 15 in 100 | 24 in 100 |
Two reported school years only; no intervening-year result is implied. Where fewer than 100 students were counted, the cell shows the count and no change is printed. Source: CDE school-level chronic absenteeism by student group.
Fundingschool and district spending, from state and federal finance records · each row names its fiscal year and measure
Per-pupil spending
District · current expense$13,199 per pupil
NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · fall district membership: 971 pupils
California · selected district mean$14,491 per pupil
NCES F-33 · FY 2020–21 (2021) · SchoolScope’s unweighted mean across 818 selected California district finance records
School-level federal expenditures$1,043 per pupil
CDE ESSA · school-attributed per-pupil record · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 283
Central federal expenditures attributed here$1,258 per pupil
CDE ESSA · central expenditures attributed to this school · FY 2024–25 (2025) · source denominator: 283
District current expense · FY 2024–25$18,619 per ADA
CDE SACS Current Expense of Education · district fiscal year ending 2025 · average daily attendance denominator
These figures are not directly comparable: school ESSA attributed spending and NCES district current expense use different measures and populations. Their fiscal years are labeled above.
How the California mean was selected
SchoolScope starts with its selected California finance records, not every NCES California district. For FY 2020–21, it calculates an unweighted mean of NCES F-33 current expense per pupil. District records contribute once, regardless of enrollment. The calculation keeps records with positive per-pupil current expense, enrollment over 100, CCD agency type 1, and a recorded district name; it excludes names ending in County Office of Education, Department of Education, or Superintendent of Schools. This is a SchoolScope calculation, not a state-published spending average.
Selected General Fund operating costs · FY 2024–25 · SchoolScope calculation
Instruction 62%Instruction support 12%Student services 8%Administration 8%Buildings & maintenance 9%Other 1%
| Group | Dollars | Share, to two decimals | Printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instruction | $8,590,528 | 62.14% | 62% |
| Instruction support | $1,614,338 | 11.68% | 12% |
| Student services | $1,068,821 | 7.73% | 8% |
| Administration | $1,095,824 | 7.93% | 8% |
| Buildings & maintenance | $1,320,788 | 9.55% | 9% |
| Other | $134,309 | 0.97% | 1% |
| Total | $13,824,608 | 100.00% | 100% |
These shares are our arithmetic: each group’s dollars divided by the $13,824,608 total of the groups shown, rounded to whole percents by largest remainder so they add up to 100. Dollar amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar, so they can differ from the total by a dollar. SchoolScope groups district-level CDE SACS UserGL actuals from Fund 01, using operating objects 1000–5999 and excluding retiree benefits, food and community services, facilities acquisition, other outgo, and nonagency goals. These shares use that filtered total; they do not exactly break down CDE's official current expense per ADA above. The school-level ESSA figure uses a separate source.
NCES F-33 district fiscal-year history, 2017–2021; latest district record shown: 2021
2021$13,199 per pupil
2020$11,758 per pupil
2019$11,698 per pupil
2018$10,806 per pupil
2017$10,148 per pupil
Staffing recordsstate teacher credential-and-placement and district salary records · each for its own year
Additional workforce records
Properly assigned intern credential holders0.0%
CDE 2024–25 SARC, Teacher Preparation and Placement table; measured school year 2021–22. Share of reported school teaching-position full-time equivalents assigned to properly assigned intern credential holders. A reported 0.0% is shown; unavailable rates are omitted. This is a position share, not a count of current teachers or of emergency permits.
The surrounding ZIP codeCensus Bureau survey, 2020–2024 · ZIP 95519 · not the school’s students
| Measure | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,280 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) | 39% |
| ZIP-area population | 18,728 |
| Median age | 41.7 years |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Median household income covers the past 12 months and is reported in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars. Bachelor's degree or higher uses adults age 25 and over as its population. A dash is unavailable, not zero; a reported zero remains zero. ZIP-area figures do not establish the school's attendance area or describe its enrolled students. See all schools in ZIP code 95519 →
Downloads and methodologyCSV · sources · corrections
- Download CSV
- Methodology
- Data updates
- State test research files, California Department of Education (opens in new tab)
- Report a data issue
Data sources: public data sources, including the California Department of Education · state tests (CAASPP) 2025–26 · Census survey (ACS) 2020–2024 · staffing and finance name their own sources and years beside each figure · Data updated October 15, 2026.
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