- Enrollment
- 472
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Petaluma, CA
Mcdowell Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Mcdowell Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 17/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063023004719
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdowell Elementary earns 17/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of California schools.
- #24 of 25
- elementary schools in Petaluma · Resource Index
- 17
- Resource Index · Lower
- 27.4:1
- large classes for California
- 71.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdowell Elementary has class sizes larger than 91% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Elementary ranks #24 of 25 elementary schools in Petaluma, CA.
School address
District: Petaluma City Elementary · California
NCES ID 063023004719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+51 students YoY
Mcdowell Elementary grew from 245 students in 2022-23 to 296 in 2023-24 (+20.8%).
Teacher FTE added 12.0 → 14.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+51 students YoY 063023004719 · Petaluma, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
329 enr · 27.4:1 · 71.0% lunch · RII 17
Nearest enrollment peer: Penngrove Elementary (472 students)
Mcdowell Elementary grew from 245 students in 2022-23 to 296 in 2023-24 (+20.8%). Teacher FTE added 12.0 → 14.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Mcdowell Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Penngrove Elem
Penngrove Elementary
472 students
- Grant Elementa
Grant Elementary
386 students
- Mckinley Eleme
Mckinley Elementary
368 students
- Mcnear Element
Mcnear Elementary
343 students
- This school
Mcdowell Elementary
329 students
- Valley Vista E 155
Valley Vista Elementary
155 students
What this shows Mcdowell Elementary reports 329 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mcdowell Elementary compares
Mcdowell 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 | 27.4:1 | ▲ 27% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.0% | ▲ 28% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 329 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
27.4:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
329
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
27.4:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 91% in California - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
25.5%
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.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 83.0%
White 6.4%
Asian 3.3%
African American 2.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.8%
Two or More 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 83.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.5, Mcdowell Elementary is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
How Mcdowell Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penngrove Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Grant Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mckinley Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mcnear Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valley Vista Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcdowell Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 386
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 368
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 343
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 155
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Petaluma
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley
Standard public school
494 students 29.1:1 students per teacher
Loma Vista Immersion Academy
Standard public school
451 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Sonoma Mountain Elementary
Standard public school
422 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Corona Creek Elementary
Standard public school
403 students 22.4:1 students per teacher
Grant Elementary
Standard public school
386 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Meadow Elementary
Standard public school
384 students 24:1 students per teacher
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 (~329 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mcdowell Elementary
How many students attend Mcdowell Elementary?
Mcdowell Elementary has 329 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Petaluma, CA. CCD year-over-year: 245 (2022-23) → 296 (2023-24), up 51.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdowell Elementary is 27.4:1, which is 27% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 75% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mcdowell Elementary?
71.0% of students at Mcdowell Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcdowell Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Mcdowell Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 83.0% of enrollment, in Petaluma, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdowell Elementary?
Mcdowell Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 17/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mcdowell Elementary rank among elementary schools in Petaluma?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdowell Elementary ranks #24 of 25 elementary schools in Petaluma, 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 Petaluma on the city page.
What other schools are in Petaluma City Elementary?
Besides Mcdowell Elementary, Petaluma City Elementary also operates Penngrove Elementary (472 students), Grant Elementary (386 students), and Mckinley Elementary (368 students). See the Petaluma City Elementary district page for the complete list.