- Enrollment
- 302
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mckinleyville, CA
Dow's Prairie Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Dow's Prairie Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 062430003650
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dow's Prairie Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of California schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Mckinleyville · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.9:1
- small classes for California
- 59.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Dow's Prairie Elementary has class sizes smaller than 74% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dow's Prairie Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Mckinleyville, CA.
School address
District: Mckinleyville Union Elementary · California
NCES ID 062430003650 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+41 students YoY
Dow's Prairie Elementary grew from 276 students in 2022-23 to 317 in 2023-24 (+14.9%).
Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+41 students YoY 062430003650 · Mckinleyville, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
283 enr · 18.9:1 · 59.1% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Mckinleyville Middle (302 students)
Dow's Prairie Elementary grew from 276 students in 2022-23 to 317 in 2023-24 (+14.9%). Teacher FTE held 15.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Dow's Prairie Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mckinleyville
Mckinleyville Middle
302 students
- This school
Dow's Prairie Elementary
283 students
- Morris Element
Morris Elementary
255 students
What this shows Dow's Prairie Elementary reports 283 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dow's Prairie Elementary compares
Dow's Prairie Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.9:1 | ▼ 12% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.1% | ▲ 6% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 283 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.9:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
283
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.9:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 26% in California - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
20.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,467
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.5%
Two or More 21.9%
Hispanic or Latino 18.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 7.8%
African American 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 50.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.8, Dow's Prairie Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Mckinleyville Union Elementary reports $16,467 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dow's Prairie Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mckinleyville Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Morris Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dow's Prairie Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 255
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~283 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dow's Prairie Elementary
How many students attend Dow's Prairie Elementary?
Dow's Prairie Elementary has 283 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mckinleyville, CA. CCD year-over-year: 276 (2022-23) → 317 (2023-24), up 41.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dow's Prairie Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Dow's Prairie Elementary is 18.9:1, which is 12% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dow's Prairie Elementary?
59.1% of students at Dow's Prairie Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dow's Prairie Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Dow's Prairie Elementary is White at 50.5% of enrollment, in Mckinleyville, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dow's Prairie Elementary?
Dow's Prairie Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Dow's Prairie Elementary rank among elementary schools in Mckinleyville?
By Resource Investment Index, Dow's Prairie Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Mckinleyville, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Mckinleyville on the city page.
What other schools are in Mckinleyville Union Elementary?
Besides Dow's Prairie Elementary, Mckinleyville Union Elementary also operates Mckinleyville Middle (302 students) and Morris Elementary (255 students). See the Mckinleyville Union Elementary district page for the complete list.