Math
15%Grades 3 & 5 · Proficient or Advanced
Public elementary school
McDowell Elementary
The scores are below where anyone wants them. Here's what they don't tell you.
13% of tested students are Proficient or Advanced in English and 15% in math. Explore the evidence alongside the opportunities your child would use.
SchoolScope archetype
Building Momentum
What this means for your family
This label means the data doesn't clearly sort the school one way or the other — ask what the school is proud of, and what it's working on.
How archetypes are assigned →Data sources · Methodology · State tests: 2025
Contact
Phone(707) 778-4745
DistrictPetaluma City Elementary
PrincipalRuth Miller
GradesTK-6
Enrollment329 students
English
13%Grades 3 & 5 · Proficient or Advanced
Students
329Total enrollment
Chronic absence
23%Students absent 10% or more of school days
What are you trying to decide?
The overall score is a starting point.
Look at subject results, trends and student groups, then consider the opportunities your child would use.
View school performance →Start with your child’s daily experience.
Explore teaching, coursework and student-group results. A schoolwide average cannot predict an individual experience.
Explore student experience →Confirm the enrollment route.
Check the address, grade and enrollment requirements directly with the district or school.
Check attendance and enrollment →Compare the options you can access.
Use comparable evidence alongside entry requirements, cost and location.
Compare nearby schools →Academic performance
What do the results tell us?
2025 results · Grades 3 & 5 · weighted by students tested within each subject.
Proficient or Advanced combines Levels 3 and 4, formerly Standard Met and Standard Exceeded. California changed the names for 2025–26; the cut scores did not. About the labels →
Share at Proficient or Advanced
● Math┄ English
Gaps in the lines mark years without annual results.
Exact annual results
| Year | Math | English |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 25% | 23% |
| 2022 | 13% | 15% |
| 2023 | 15% | 16% |
| 2024 | 22% | 21% |
| 2025 | 15% | 13% |
Each year describes that year’s tested students. Changes between years do not follow the same children over time. Cohort-growth evidence, when available, is labeled separately below.
How achievement is distributed
AdvancedStandard Exceeded
7%ProficientStandard Met
8%DevelopingStandard Nearly Met
16%MinimalStandard Not Met
69%AdvancedStandard Exceeded
3%ProficientStandard Met
10%DevelopingStandard Nearly Met
15%MinimalStandard Not Met
72%Achievement-level percentages are not percentiles. “Developing” here is a test achievement level, separate from the SchoolScope performance band with the same name.
Annual results and the full academic record
Is it getting better · CAASPP 2019 to 2025
Climbed from the 8th to the 24th percentile since 2019 — past roughly 700 elementary schools.
Most rating sites would stop at “13% proficient” and call it done. McDowell deserves a closer read. Four in five of its students qualify for free or reduced lunch (California: 64%) — and reading the numbers without that context misreads the school.
The headline number: +5.6pp separates this year's grade 3 from its grade 5. The state average rises 4.6pp over the same span. Following the school's returning cohort from 2023 G3 → 2025 G5 points the same way.
155 tested · 3 of 3 grades published · no cohort tracked
McDowell Elementary scores 26 of 100 on SchoolScope's Scope Score — the 24th percentile of 5,721 California elementary schools (CDE CAASPP 2025).
This school hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic: 13% meet the standard today, versus 26% in 2019 — a gap worth asking about on a visit.
Percentile among 5,721 elementary schools statewide
ShowHide the by-grade tables, year by year
ELA — % met or exceeded, by grade
| Grade | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 7% | 14% | 0% | 14% | 5% |
| Grade 4 | 31% | 23% | 21% | 16% | 14% |
| Grade 5 | 38% | 16% | 32% | 31% | 21% |
| Grade 6 | 45% | 29% | 10% | 37% | 34% |
Math — % met or exceeded, by grade
| Grade | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 15% | 18% | 12% | 24% | 17% |
| Grade 4 | 29% | 20% | 15% | 6% | 10% |
| Grade 5 | 35% | 7% | 17% | 19% | 12% |
| Grade 6 | 24% | 19% | 3% | 16% | 12% |
Where students land · CAASPP 2024–25
One in ten of students here meet the standard. 5% clear it by a lot.
ELA19% met or exceeded
Exceeded 5%Met 14%Nearly Met 20%Not Met 61%
Math13% met or exceeded
Exceeded 5%Met 7%Nearly Met 24%Not Met 63%
Exceeded Met Nearly Met Not Met
California elementary schools · average21% exceeded · 43% met or exceeded
This school against the California average
2019–2025 trend · CDE CAASPP
| Scope | % Exceeded | % Met+ | Growth | Absence | Suspension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This school | 26 | 5% | 13% | — | 22.9% | 3.2% |
| CA average · Elementary School | 39 | 21% | 43% | — | 17.9% | 1.6% |
This schoolCA avg
Scope2639
% Exceeded5%21%
% Met+13%43%
Growth——
Absence22.9%17.9%
Suspension3.2%1.6%
Students & opportunity
Who shares in the school’s results?
Who it works for · CAASPP 2024–25
Low-income students here meet the ELA standard behind the same group statewide.
At McDowell Elementary in Petaluma, 15.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 25.4% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. McDowell Elementary trails its district average for low-income students by 9.7 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (11.7% Math proficient); Hispanic students (17.9% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 18.7 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 141 students tested.
Low-income students here trail the state average for their group by 22 points in ELA — worth asking how the school is closing that gap.
Met or exceeded · reading and math combined
All students at this school: 16% met or exceeded
All StudentsAll Students: this school 16%, district —, state 43%16%
Socioeconomically DisadvantagedSocioeconomically Disadvantaged: this school 14%, district 25%, state 32%14% · −2 vs school
Hispanic/LatinoHispanic/Latino: this school 15%, district 21%, state 32%15% · −1 vs school
FemaleFemale: this school 15%, district 47%, state 44%15% · −1 vs school
MaleMale: this school 16%, district 43%, state 42%16% · +1 vs school
English LearnersEnglish Learners: this school 4%, district 4%, state 11%4% · −12 vs school
9 of 15 student groups here are too small to report — a privacy protection, not a gap.
this school district, same group California, same group
ShowHide Student-group results by grade
Student-group results by grade
Results compare different grade groups in the same year, relative to the lowest tested grade. They do not track the same children over time. Groups with fewer than 10 tested students per grade are not shown.
Low-income student ELA proficiency rises by 10.3pp from grade 3 to grade 5 at this school. District average: +8.4pp.
ShowHide California's growth model by student group
No student-group growth record is available for this school in this data release.
The daily experience
What is it like to be a student here?
Students per teacher
Student–teacher ratio is a schoolwide staffing measure, not an average class size.
Teacher experience
Average teacher experience in the published staffing record. It does not measure individual teacher effectiveness.
Chronically absent
The share of students absent for at least 10% of their enrolled school days. Attendance reflects both school and out-of-school circumstances.
The people teaching · CDE staffing 2024–25
About 24 students for every teacher here.
Context — never part of the Scope Score
Students per teacher24 · district 24
Teaching staff16 teachers
Avg. experience9.6 years
Fully credentialed80%
First-year teachers13%
Intern / emergency permit6.7%
PrincipalRuth Miller
Attendance & discipline · 2024–25
Kids here miss more school, and get suspended more, than the state average.
22.9% of students miss a month or more of school, versus 17.9% statewide. High absence often tracks community stress — the data can't say why.
Chronic absenteeismChronic absenteeism: this school 22.9%, district 16.5%, state 17.9%22.9% · +5.0pp vs state
Suspension rateSuspension rate: this school 3.2%, district —, state 1.6%3.2% · +1.6pp vs state
This schoolDistrictCalifornia
ShowHide attendance by student group and by grade
Chronic absenteeism by grade band
Grades 4–623.3%
TK/K25.3%
Resources & neighborhood
What sits behind the school experience?
Explore school spending and the district budget
What gets spent
It spends $17,862 per student, more than the California average.
Context — never part of the Scope Score
$1,273 per student arrives as federal Title funding — a measure of concentrated need, not school quality.
Per-pupil spendingPer-pupil spending: $17,862, CA average $14,491$17,862 · spent at this school
Federal share$1,273 per student
This schoolCalifornia
Source: NCES F-33 · Full district breakdown →
The neighborhood · ACS 2024
Four in five of students here qualify for free or reduced lunch, versus three in five statewide.
Context — never part of the Scope Score
Worth knowing
Transitional kindergarten is offered here — confirmed by actual Census Day enrollment, not just the listed grade span.
On the state's science test (CAST), 3% met or exceeded the standard — science is tested in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school, and it never enters the Scope Score.
Hispanic or Latino83.0% · district 35.4% · CA 56.1%
White6.4% · district 50.6% · CA 19.9%
Asian3.0% · district 3.0% · CA 10.2%
Black2.4% · district 0.9% · CA 4.8%
Other5.2% · district 10.1% · CA 9.0%
Free or reduced lunch86.0% · CA 64%
Median income$114K · CA $85K
Median home value$841K · CA $659K
Bachelor's degree+38% · CA 35%
ZIP population37,574
Median age45 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024) · ZIP-level
Culture & philosophy
What is the school’s approach?
School-stated approach · questions for your visit
Look beyond the brochure
A source-reviewed culture summary is not available for this profile yet. Ask how teaching, student support and family communication work day to day.
Read the school’s own website ↗Family voices
What would you want another family to know about the daily experience here?
Ask a current family: “When your child needs help, how does the school respond?”
Educator voices
What should families understand about teaching, support and the school community?
Ask an educator: “How do you adapt a typical day for children with different needs?”
Compare nearby schools
What are the alternatives?
Compare schools serving the same grade stage. Private schools have no comparable state-test score.
2025 · elementary schools · combined reading and math measures. Percentiles compare schools within their enrollment group.
No nearby schools in this category are listed. The school being viewed stays visible for reference.
| School | Type | Performance band | Advanced | Proficient or Advanced | Distance | Select |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell Elementary | Public | Needs Support | 5% | 13% | School being viewed | |
| Sonoma Mountain Elementary | Charter | Strong | 51% | 79% | 1.4 mi | |
| Meadow Elementary | Public | Strong | 50% | 77% | 1.9 mi | |
| River Montessori Elementary Charter | Charter | Strong | 36% | 57% | 2.3 mi |
More nearby public and private options
Your other options
Your other options
Nearby public schools across grade levels, plus private options within 10 miles.
Private schools do not receive a Scope Score or statewide ranking on SchoolScope.
6 private schools within 10 miles
Not scored
What should I check before applying?
- District public
- Confirm the attendance boundary and any permit options.
- Charter
- Check applications, priorities and deadlines with each school.
- Private
- Confirm admission requirements, tuition and financial aid.
Moving & enrollment
Which schools could serve my child?
Check your address with the district
School location and nearby schools do not establish attendance eligibility. Confirm boundaries and permit requirements with Petaluma City Elementary.
District information →School website →Schools across the K–12 journey
Elementary · K–5
Middle · 6–8
No school established for this stage.
High school · 9–12
Schools are grouped by grade stage. Nearby schools are not confirmed feeder links or address assignments. Verify the current path and eligibility with the district.
Plan your next step
What should I do next?
Worth a school visit
Ask what changed in the last two years, and what the school is asking families for. Growth shows up in these numbers a year or two after it shows up in classrooms.
- Ask how the school follows up when a student starts missing days — chronic absence often starts outside the classroom, not inside it.
- Ask how teachers track each child's growth over the year, not just where the class lands on test day.
- Ask whether the tour can step into a working classroom — watch how the teacher handles a student who's stuck.
- Ask to tour while school's in session, and notice how hallways and transitions feel — culture shows up between classes, not just in them.
- Ask how the school communicates with families when a child starts to struggle.
- Ask what a typical day looks like for a new student in the first few weeks.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is McDowell Elementary a good elementary school?
McDowell Elementary has a Scope Score of 26 out of 100, placing it in the 24th percentile of California elementary schools and ranked #4,346 statewide. 4.7% of students exceeded the state standard on the 2025 CAASPP assessment, which is 16.6 percentage points below the California average of 21.4%. The Scope Score weights 6 dimensions for elementary schools: exceeded standard (42%), met or exceeded (proficient) (23%), grade 3-to-5 growth (20%), chronic absenteeism (5%), suspension rate (5%), and ELPAC English Learner proficiency (5%). Data source: California Department of Education CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What are McDowell Elementary's CAASPP test scores?
On the 2025 CAASPP Smarter Balanced Assessment, 13.4% of students at McDowell Elementary met or exceeded the state standard in ELA and Math combined, and 4.7% exceeded it. The gap between those numbers matters: 8.6% of students are at the proficiency floor, while 4.7% went beyond it. Most rating sites report only the combined "proficient" number. SchoolScope surfaces the exceeded-vs-met split because it shows how many students go beyond the standard rather than only meeting it. 236 student-subject combinations were assessed.
How does McDowell Elementary rank in California?
McDowell Elementary ranks #4,346 among California elementary schools by Scope Score, placing it in the 24th percentile. This ranking is based on a weighted composite of 2025 CAASPP test performance (exceeded and met rates), grade-level growth (Grade 3 to grade 5 growth), chronic absenteeism, and suspension rate. Unlike single-number ratings, the Scope Score shows what drives the ranking so parents can decide what matters most to their family. See full methodology.
What is the attendance and school culture like at McDowell Elementary?
22.9% of students at McDowell Elementary are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school days), compared to the California average of 17.9%. The suspension rate is 3.2%. SchoolScope includes these culture metrics in the Scope Score because they reflect day-to-day school experience in ways test scores alone cannot.
How does McDowell Elementary compare to other schools in Petaluma?
McDowell Elementary scores 26/100 (24th percentile) among California elementary schools. To compare with nearby schools, SchoolScope shows the same metrics side by side: exceeded rate, proficiency, growth trajectory, and school culture indicators. The school serves 329 students. Use the schools in Petaluma page or the map view to compare all elementary schools nearby.
How does McDowell Elementary serve low-income and underrepresented students?
At McDowell Elementary in Petaluma, 15.8% of low-income students met or exceeded the ELA standard in 2025, compared to 25.4% district-wide and 38.2% statewide. McDowell Elementary trails its district average for low-income students by 9.7 percentage points in ELA. Other subgroups: Low-Income students (11.7% Math proficient); Hispanic students (17.9% ELA proficient). The largest proficiency gap is 18.7 percentage points for english learner students. Data source: California Department of Education, CAASPP 2024-25. 141 students tested. SchoolScope shows disaggregated test scores by demographic subgroup so you can see how a school performs for your child's specific group — not just the school-wide average. Subgroup data is context, not part of the Scope Score: we don't penalize schools for who they serve. See our equity approach.
A low score doesn't tell the whole story. Read: Your School Scored Low — Here's What That Actually Means
Use the published evidence to prepare questions, then verify fit and access with the school.
Behind the evidence
Inspect the full record
Public sources, visible methods and the underlying school record. Source years and limitations stay attached to the evidence.
How the Scope Score is calculated
On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways to see the state comparison and weights.
What the score weighs · CAASPP 2024–25
Growth carries this score — its returning cohort's growth from grade 3 to grade 5. The test levels sit just under the state's.
| What we weigh | Here | State | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exceeded standard | 4.7% | 21.4% | 42% |
| Met or exceeded | 13.4% | 42.7% | 23% |
| Chronic absenteeism | 22.9% | 17.9% | 5% |
| Suspension rate | 3.2% | 1.6% | 5% |
| EL proficiency (ELPAC) | 6.7% | 18.0% | 5% |
| Grade gap (G3→G5, different students) | +5.6pp | -2.9pp | — |
Source CAASPP 2025 · California Department of Education. Measures test performance, attendance, and climate — not arts, community, or your kid. How the score is built
A closer look at the evidence
McDowell Elementary: reading the evidence
McDowell posts low test scores — and the returning cohort gains more here than at most schools between grade 3 and grade 5. If this is your zoned school, the numbers below are where to start a conversation, not where to end one.
Subject proficiency describes tested students, while graduation describes a graduating cohort. These figures are not successive stages followed by the same students.
This label means the data doesn't clearly sort the school one way or the other — ask what the school is proud of, and what it's working on.
Explore the underlying data →Every number: score factors, grades, student groups and downloads
Every number · For the data nerds
Every number on this page
Score factors, grade-level breakdowns, subgroup proficiency, and nearest schools.
McDowell Elementary is ranked #4,346 statewide · #5 of 6 in Petaluma City Elementary.
01Score factorsWeighted composite · 2024–25
| Factor | School | State | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exceeded standard | 4.7% | 21.4% | 42% |
| Met or exceeded | 13.4% | 42.7% | 23% |
| Chronic absenteeism | 22.9% | 17.9% | 5% |
| Suspension rate | 3.2% | 1.6% | 5% |
| EL proficiency (ELPAC) | 6.7% | 18.0% | 5% |
| Grade gap (G3→G5, different students) | +5.6pp | -2.9pp | not scored |
- Exceeded standard
- ↓ vs CA 21.4% · index 34 · 50 = CA elementary-school midpoint
- Met or exceeded
- ↓ vs CA 42.7% · index 28 · 50 = CA elementary-school midpoint
- Chronic absenteeism
- ↓ vs CA 17.9% · index 42 · 50 = CA elementary-school midpoint · ▼ 3.2pp lower vs 2024
- Suspension rate
- ↓ vs CA 1.6% · index 37 · 50 = CA elementary-school midpoint · ▲ 0.6pp higher vs 2024
- EL proficiency (ELPAC)
- ↓ vs CA 18.0% · index 36 · 50 = CA elementary-school midpoint
- Grade gap (G3→G5, different students)
- ↑ vs CA -2.9pp
02By grade & subgroupCAASPP 2024–25 · % of tested students
ShowHide table 02 — By grade & subgroup
| ELA | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 39 | 0% | 5% | 15% | 79% | 5% | −38 |
| Grade 4 | 42 | 5% | 10% | 21% | 64% | 14% | −30 |
| Grade 5 | 33 | 6% | 15% | 15% | 64% | 21% | −26 |
| Grade 6 | 41 | 10% | 24% | 27% | 39% | 34% | −12 |
| Math | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT | MET+ | +/CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 41 | 7% | 10% | 15% | 68% | 17% | −28 |
| Grade 4 | 48 | 4% | 6% | 31% | 58% | 10% | −31 |
| Grade 5 | 33 | 6% | 6% | 18% | 70% | 12% | −23 |
| Grade 6 | 43 | 5% | 7% | 30% | 58% | 12% | −23 |
We show the grade rows CDE publishes for this school. A missing grade or dash can mean the school does not serve that grade, that we hold no valid result for it, or that the tested group was too small to report. It does not mean zero.
| Science (CAST) | Tested | EXC | MET | NEAR | NOT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schoolwide | 33 | 3% | 0% | 52% | 45% |
CAST is tested in grades 5 and 8, then once in grade 10, 11, or 12. This row is the school's all-student aggregate. Not part of the Scope Score.
| Subgroup · ELA | Tested | MET+ | vs district | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socioeconomically Disadvantaged | 141 | 15.8% | −10 | −22 |
| Hispanic/Latino | 136 | 17.9% | −5 | −21 |
| English Learners | 72 | 2.8% | −0 | −8 |
03Nearest elementary schoolssorted by Scope Score · Grade gap = grade 3 vs grade 5, this year, different students; Cohort growth = one school's returning cohort tracked across grades (mostly, not exactly, the same kids), in scale-score points — that's the measurement the Scope Score weights
| School | Dist | Scope | EXC | MET+ | Grade gap | Cohort growth | Susp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell Elementary ← | — | 26 | 4.7% | 13.4% | +5.6pp | — | 3.2% |
| Sonoma Mountain Elementary | 1.4 mi | 66 | 50.7% | 79.5% | −14.5pp | — | 0.1% |
| Meadow Elementary | 1.9 mi | 65 | 50.4% | 76.5% | −15.3pp | — | 0.6% |
| River Montessori Elementary Charter | 2.3 mi | 55 | 35.7% | 57.1% | −9.5pp | — | 0.4% |
| California average | — | 39 | 21.4% | 42.7% | −2.9pp | — | 1.6% |
04More measurescontext · not all part of the Scope Score
ShowHide table 04 — More measures
| Year | Scope | Pctile | Rank | Exc | Met+ | Absent | Susp | Grade gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 19 | 8 | #5022 | 4.7% | 25.8% | 11.1% | 4.4% | +25.8pp |
| 2022 | 19 | 16 | #4783 | 4.7% | 16.5% | 34.2% | 0.9% | -4.4pp |
| 2023 | 17 | 8 | #5214 | 3.6% | 16.3% | 27.5% | 3.3% | +18.7pp |
| 2024 | 23 | 14 | #4907 | 4.5% | 18.1% | 26.1% | 2.6% | +6.0pp |
| 2025 | 26 | 24 | #4346 | 4.7% | 13.4% | 22.9% | 3.2% | +5.6pp |
Grade gap = this year's grade 3 vs grade 5 result, two different sets of students, not a trend for any one child — it is not the measurement the Scope Score's growth dimension uses. See §01 above and /methodology#verdicts for the school's actual scored (cohort) growth.
NO STATEWIDE TESTING 2020–21 (COVID) · SCORE AND PERCENTILE ARE RELATIVE TO EACH YEAR'S FIELD
What we can't show
- — Low-income students here trail the state average for their group by 22 points in ELA — worth asking how the school is closing that gap.
05Climate by student groupchronic absenteeism · 2019 vs 2025 — the two years CDE publishes at subgroup level
ShowHide table 05 — Climate by student group
| Group | 2019 | 2025 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 12.3% | 22.1% | +9.8pp |
| Male | 10.2% | 25.0% | +14.8pp |
| Hispanic/Latino | 10.6% | 25.2% | +14.6pp |
| White | 11.1% | 22.7% | +11.6pp |
| Students with Disabilities | 14.3% | 28.8% | +14.5pp |
| English Learners | 9.6% | 19.9% | +10.3pp |
| Homeless | 5.7% | 13.3% | +7.6pp |
| Socioeconomically Disadvantaged | 11.2% | 24.0% | +12.8pp |
| All Students | 11.1% | 23.5% | +12.4pp |
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EXC = exceeded standard · MET+ = met or exceeded ("proficient") · Source: CA Dept. of Education · CAASPP 2024–25 · n=5,721 elementary schools · Vintages: climate subgroups 2019+2025 · district finance per its label · ACS 2022 · Data updated 2026-09-18
SchoolScope scores and verdicts are our interpretation of public California Department of Education data — independent analysis, not an official rating. How we analyze · Request a correction