Dow's Prairie Elementary

Dow's Prairie Elementary operates as an intimate elementary campus in McKinleyville, California, part of McKinleyville Union Elementary. Current enrollment sits at 283 students spanning grades K through 2. Compared to the state average of about 465 students per school, that is 39% leaner than typical.

Across the 3 schools in McKinleyville Union Elementary (840 students total), Dow's Prairie Elementary accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

On the student-mix side, Dow's Prairie Elementary logs that the largest single group is White at 51%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 22% multiracial, 18% Hispanic, 8% Native American. That is meaningfully less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 72%.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Dow's Prairie Elementary has 13 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 21.8:1. That tracks the state average closely. Around 64% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

In the surrounding community, community-level numbers for Humboldt County indicate median household income runs about $61,160, 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. Across Humboldt County's 92 public schools (combined enrollment of about 17,319 students), Dow's Prairie Elementary is one campus in the mix.

McKinleyville High is the nearest neighboring public school, about 1.6 miles from this campus. 5 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The campus sits in a town-based setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Dow's Prairie Elementary's enrollment has shrank 33% since 2018, when it stood at 420 (now 283). White enrollment moved from 66% to 51% across the same window.

In the discussion threads here, posts here usually surface around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.